Rabbit Skin Glue

In traditional oil painting as practiced by the Renaissance painter, skin glue was used to coat the canvas. This is necessary because the linseed oil that forms the base of most oil paint contains an acid, lineolic acid, that will over time destroy the canvas fibers

When used in painting as a sizing, it is spread thoroughly over a canvas that has been placed on the stretcher. When the glue dries, it tightens the canvas. After this has been allowed to dry, an oil-based primer is then applied. When the oil primer has dried (keep in mind that oil paint dries slowly) the oil painter has an excellent surface upon which to paint. A canvas sized with rabbit-skin glue can be made tighter than with other alternatives such as an acrylic-based gesso because of the shrinkage. This type of canvas is also valuable because it can be sanded to a flatter texture, which allows the painter to achieve a finer level of detail than can be achieved with a typical acrylic gesso ground.

It should be noted that this rabbit-skin glue ground is only appropriate for use under oil paint. Acrylic-based media will flake off a canvas prepared with rabbit-skin glue and are therefore not appropriate.

To use:

• Dissolve 1 part Rabbit Skin Glue to 13 parts cold water.
• Soak overnight until all the water has been absorbed by the glue to a porridge-like consistency.
• Gently heat the mixture in a double boiler, stirring until the glue dissolves (be careful not to let the glue boil).
• Apply to your surface with a stiff brush while the mixture is still warm (not hot).
• Once sized, your surface can be lightly sanded for your ground layer to adhere better.