Grounds for panel paintings

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I am a painter in search of a bit of advice.

I've been investigating grounds for panel supports for oil painting
but find traditional hide glue gesso preparation more trouble than
it's worth. A couple of painters I've talked to have suggested using
PVAc as a binder instead (with calcium carbonate pigment, as well
as, possibly, titanium white). The little I know about it suggests
that this probably ought to be adequate to the task (perhaps better
than rabbit skin glue in some respects) but I thought I should seek
the opinions of those who might know otherwise.

How about it? What suggestions and concerns might anyone share? What
type of PVAc is recommended? What sort of dilution and mixture is
advisable? What kind of health concerns are there with this stuff?

Dan Hopewell


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:8
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 21, 2004
                        Message Id: cdl-18-8-036
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