I bought a new canvas for an acrylic painting, do i need to gesso it even though it is new?

There is absolutely no reason you NEED to do anymore than paint on it. If you WANT to change the surface or texture it is fine, go ahead with modeling paste or more coats of gesso. Some artists like to paint the canvas with colored gesso or paint for the purpose of an under-painting.





1st to answer. Last answer you need.I bought a new canvas for an acrylic painting, do i need to gesso it even though it is new?
I am assuming you bought artist canvas that is primed. As the others mentioned if it is raw - yes you need to prime it with gesso. Probably 2-3 coats.

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I bought a new canvas for an acrylic painting, do i need to gesso it even though it is new?
If you check on the label, it should tell you whether or not gesso has been applied to the canvas. However, I always apply at least two or three coats of gesso to any canvas regardless of it coming with a coat on it. I find that by applying the coats of gesso, the canvas has a better ';tooth'; to it and the paint goes on more smoothly. By tooth, I mean texture. So, you will find that painting on a canvas with this extra product on it, that the paint adheres to it and looks better. I tend to tint the gesso, generally a color that will be a background color. To make it interesting, I add more of the color to each application so later if I decide to sand an area of the painting, you see the progression of color. It's just another way of adding interest to your painting. Have fun!
if it's premade, you don't need to as it's also already gessoes, but if it's raw canvas, you don't have to. Gesso only makes paint application more smoother so you don't waste too much acrylic