Our Store
-
John Neal Bookseller
- Weekly Deals
- Books/Videos
- Writing Tools
- Writing Surfaces
- Ink & Paint
- Calligraphy Tools
- Illumination
- Gifts & Kits
- New & Sale Items
- Bookbinding
-
Classes | Events | Guilds
-
Online Classes
- Acorn Arts - Multiple Classes - Private Lessons - Ongoing Dates
- Yukimi Annand - Multiple Classes and Dates
- Deniz Oktem Bektas - Online Classes
- Sunita Auger - Multiple Classes - Ongoing Dates
-
Gemma Black I Multiple Classes - Multiple Dates
- Suzie Beringer - Online Classes
- Pat Blair - Multiple Classes and Dates
- Suzanne Cannon - Beginning Italic Calligraphy - Ongoing
- Shinah Chang (@CrookedCalligraphy) - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
-
Ewan Clayton - Online Classes
- Younghae Chung - Online Classes
- Castle In The Air - Calligraphy Classes
- Barbara Close - Multiple Classes - Ongoing
- Brecken Cook - Online Classes
- Connie Chen - Connie Chen Academy Classes | Ongoing
- Leah Chong - Ultimate Calligraphy Course | Ongoing
- KariAnn Daughtry I Multiple Classes - Ongoing dates
- Joy Vanides Deneen - Online Classes
- Judy Detrick - Online Classes
- Laurie Doctor - Online Classes
- Dreaming in Script - Multiple Classes - Ongoing Dates
-
Carol DuBosch - Multiple Classes
- Carol DuBosch I Ben Shahn - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Bone Script - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Uncial Uprise - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Jubilee Script - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Monoline Italic - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Hand Embossing - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I NEULAND - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch I Folded Pen Adventures - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch - Stamp Carving - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch - Gothicized Italic - Ongoing
- Carol DuBosch - Ben Shahn Lettering - Feb 25
-
Cheryl Dyer - Multiple Classes - Ongoing Dates
- Anne Elser - Bookbinding & Calligraphy Classes
- Reggie Ezell - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
- Janet Faught - Online Classes
- Benoit Furet - Multiple Classes and Dates
-
Connie Furgason - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
-
(NEW) The Gentle Penman - Online Classes - Ongoing
-
Tamer Ghoneim - Online Classes
-
Mike Gold I Multiple Classes I Multiple Dates
- Carla Harris - Beginning Calligraphy - Aug 30 - Oct 18
- Christopher Haanes - Multiple Classes
- Randall M Hasson - Ongoing Classes
-
Heather Held - Multiple Classes I Multiple Dates
- Elinor Holland- Online Classes
- Laura Hooper - Learn at Home Calligraphy Classes | Ongoing
-
Marie Hornback - Multiple Classes - Multiple Dates
- Hoopla Letters - Online Classes | Ongoing
- Joy and Ash Calligraphy - Multiple Classes and Dates
-
Kalli Camp Academy | Ongoing
- Regenia Paige (@regeniapaigecalligraphy) - Center Formatting Your Calligraphy Project - Ongoing
- Carrie Ellis (@carrieelliscalligraphy) - Lettering Unusual Place Cards - Ongoing
- Jane Matsumoto (@GinkgoArts) - Broad Edge Neuland - Ongoing
- Ezra Feller (@ezra_ben_mordecai) - Bonus Class: Intro to Hebrew Calligraphy - Ongoing
- Malka Klein (@malkaklein) - Intro to Broad Edge Flourishing - Ongoing
- Allison McClanahan (@wildwoodcalligraphyandpost) - Addressing Envelopes - Ongoing
- Mike Kecseg - Online Classes
- Aspacia Kusulas - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
-
Catherine Langsdorf - Multiple Dates
-
LearnCalligraphy.com - Multiple Instructors - Ongoing Online Classes | Multiple Dates
- LearnCalligraphy.com - Pointed Pen: Tips and Tricks - Ongoing
- Suzanne Cunningham - Imperial Script - January 18 & 20, 2023
- Suzanne Cunningham - Calligraphy Envelope Addressing & Etiquette - Feb. 21, 24, 28; Mar 3
- Schin Loong - Madarasz Script - Jan 24, 27, 31; Feb 3, 2023
- Ashok Giri - The Striking Hand of Gothic - Jan 23, 26, 30; Feb 2
- Traci Thompson - Flourishing Frenzy - Feb 6 - 9
- Kestrel Montes - Copperplate Script - Feb 7, 10, 14, 17
- Jerome Jonathan - Big Bloom Party: Watercolor Florals - Feb 13, 16, 20, 23
-
Katie Leavens - Online Classes
- Troy Leinster - Principles of Typeface Design
-
Yves Leterme- Online Classes
- Logos Calligraphy - Online Courses | Ongoing
- Schin Loong - Online Classes - Ongoing Dates
- Loveleigh Loops - Brush Lettering Bootcamp | Ongoing
- Sherrie Lovler - Online Classes
- Jen Maton - Dip Pen Calligraphy
- Elizabeth McKee - Online Classes
- Heather Martinez - Online Classes
- Heather McKelvey - Beginner Calligraphy | Ongoing
-
Kathy Milici - Online Classes
- Ann Miller - Online Classes
- Hermineh Miller I Online Classes - Multiple Dates
- Modern Calligraphy Summit | Ongoing
-
Holly Monroe - Online Classes
-
Vivian Mungall - Online Classes
-
Brody Neuenschwander - Online Classes
- Paperfinger | Ongoing
-
Amity Parks I Multiple Classes - Multiple Dates
-
Cora Pearl - Online Classes
-
Sally Penley - Multiple Classes I Multiple Dates
- Massimo Polello - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
- Taylor Powers - Brush Lettering for Beginners | Ongoing
- Debby Reelitz - Multiple Classes and Dates
-
Amanda Reid - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
- Sarah Richardson - Classically Copperplate: Elevate Your Script | Online Calligraphy Course - Ongoing Dates
- Ina Saltz I Learning Calligraphy - Ongoing Dates
-
Carol Measures Scott - Dip Pens, Italic, & Private Instruction I Ongoing
- Jayant Silva I Learn Sanskrit Calligraphy - Multiple Dates
-
Marina Soria - Online Classes - Multiple Dates
-
John Stevens - Multiple Classes - Ongoing Dates
- Jane Sullivan - Online Calligraphy, Illuminated letters and Art classes I Ongoing Dates
-
Cheryl Tefft - Online Classes and Private Tutoring
- Cheryl Tefft - Mastering Dip Pens - Jan 10 - Feb 14, 2023
- Cheryl Tefft - Beginning Calligraphy I (Uncial) - Jan 12 - Apr 13
- Cheryl Tefft - Continuing Copperplate - Jan 11- Mar 8
- Cheryl Tefft - Fabulous Fraktur - Jan 19 - Feb 23, 2023
- Cheryl Tefft - Decorated Letter 2 - Jan 9 through Mar 6, 2023
- Cheryl Tefft - Fantastic Filigree - Jan 14 - Feb 11
- Cheryl Tefft - Modern Calligraphy - Jan 17 - Feb 28
- Cheryl Tefft - Beginning Copperplate - Feb 28 - Apr 25
- Nicki Traikos - Online Calligraphy & Lettering Classes | Multiple Dates
-
Elmo van Slingerland - Online Classes
- Elizabeth White-Pultz - Online Calligraphy & Drawing Classes | Multiple Dates
- Julie Wildman - Online Classes | Multiple Dates
- Sandra Wright - Ongoing Classes
- Alice Young - Strong Lines (Skillshare) | Ongoing
-
Calligraphy Teachers
-
Guilds
-
Conferences/Retreats
-
Online Classes
-
Letter Arts Review
-
Bound & Lettered
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Reviews
Write a reviewVery good!!
Dec 24, 2013 | By Kaori
When I used this, I could have been gotten the best result since I have started gold gilding! Additionally it is very easy for using. If it was more reasonable, I could use this every time...
Great Size
Jan 4, 2014 | By Kaori
This gilding size is the best for my experiences. It is very easy for using and I got a very good result.
I have ever used a lot of kinds gesso, but I could not have gotten good result until using this gesso.
At first I applied this gesso on my work. I waited for drying about 1 day (24hours) before applying gold leaf. It looks like dry, but when I breathed it, instantly it changed the surface to wet. And then I applied gold leaf soon. It was so good it works even edges.
Additionally, I tried 2 and 3 layers. It also very good result. I wait for 2 and 3 days until applying gold leaf. It did not change adhesive strength.
I recommend this Gesso! This gesso is my special one!!
I wrote this review on my blog with some photos. (But it is written in Japanese...)
http://calligraphermew.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-531.html
Kate V
May 1, 2014 | By Kate Van Dyke
I had trouble with this gesso not drying, even after several days, so I contacted John Neal, who put me in touch with Jerry Tresser. Jerry was very helpful. The tricks for getting a good result are first not to lay it too thickly and second to let it dry for 2 days before gilding, then another day or 2 before burnishing. (I used it undiluted from the jar.) It's a slow process, but I like working with it and the finished result is better for me than Instacoll.
Advantages over Instacoll:
-It dries without a ditch!
-The gilding window is much longer.
-No worries about ruining tools with acrylic.
-Same brightness.
Advantages over traditional gesso (that I have bought, not made):
-The gold sticks easily.
-Nontoxic.
-No prep time since it is liquid.
The only disadvantage is that you can't get the mirror finish that is possible with traditional gesso.
It took some experimenting with tools and process, but now I am very happy with this product.
Best gilding preparation out there
May 18, 2020 | By Heather Bungard-Janney
I've worked with several gilding preparations over the past 15 years or so, including some available here at John Neal, and none of them behave as well as Tresser's Gesso. I have to disagree with the reviewer who said it was not possible to get a mirror finish with this stuff, as in my experience it has been the ONLY gilding preparation to give me that finish on the first try! Other gilding adhesives shrink and wrinkle as they dry, and remain sort of "plastic" so that you can't get rid of the wrinkles. The gesso may dimple somewhat if it's over-applied, but once it's dry it is possible to directly burnish the gesso itself, polishing out imperfections and making the surface gleam. Once you gild over that and see the difference, you won't want to use any other product -- I know I sure won't! Absolutely fantastic product.
Jerry Tresser's Liquid Gesso
Jan 20, 2023 | By Graham CopeKoga
This product is one of the best I have used. I don't think you can find a better one on the market. It's important to follow and understand that rules in using it and that you should never mix with water. You will not have an issues and the gold will look amazing when the gesso is dried.