Streaks in the Base Coat

After putting on one coat of gesso, I was ready to apply the GOLDEN iridescent pearl white acrylic. I'd no idea what brush to use. My guess was at least a 1.5 inch brush but how high quality does this brush have to be. To get a really smooth finish, with as few brush strokes as possible, I was afraid I might have to spend $30 or more. I thought an alternative might be to get a high quality interior paint brush from a home improvement store. I purchased a Performance Select; it had the softest bristles. They still seemed thick and plastic but it was less than $10 so maybe I'd get lucky.

I didn't.


There are terrible streaks, obvious brush strokes and you can definitely see the gesso underneath. Not very iridescent. Did I put it on too thin? I used a wet brush but I didn't add water to the paint. Does it need another coat? The brief note from Christine at Cowpainters indicated it only takes about 2 oz. Was the brush too industrial? I don't know. My inexperience with painting (except for my kitchen) and acrylics is showing.

Believe it or not, I loaded SAM up in the car and hauled him over to Mona Lisa to ask Larry's advice. He was great. He recommended an inexpensive goat hair utility brush. He said the paint needed to go on thick with a dry brush. I'll give that a whirl. If it doesn't work, at least I didn't spend a lot of money. (My friend, Sue, who has painted a lot more than me, got a peak at SAM when he was in the car and she came to the same conclusion - wrong brush.)

Some of you may have deduced that I tend to be on the cheap side. I prefer penny pincher. My Geek says, this can cost you more in the long run. At other times, it can result in innovative solutions to problems.


I have two coats of gesso on the wood base. I would like to put on another but I'm having trouble with my gesso - it's full of clumps. I don't know if this is just the nature of the beast or an indication that it's old. Being too frugal (cough-she's cheap-cough) to throw out what I have, I grabbed a fine mesh strainer out of the kitchen and strained it right into my paint cup. Worked like a charm.