Art Terms and Glossary of materials - In progress

Gesso -- a material, usually white, made of a mixture of chalk, white pigment and glue, which is applied to the painting surface, usually in 2 to 3 layers, prior to the start of oil painting.  It creates a barrier between the support (e.g., made of canvas or panel or paper) and the paint.

• I like Liquitex  (which says it is an acrylic polymer emulsion). It's ASTM D4236 which I think means it's safe. 
• I apply 3 layers to the front of my Masonite panels, including the edges all around, and 1 coat on the back.
• Some people sand in between layers, but so far, I don't.
• I use a sponge brush for application to minimize brush strokes, and 100% strength of gesso, i.e., I don't dilute it with water.
• If I want the gesso to have texture, I use a big cheap hairy brush and pay attention to the direction of the strokes, and think about the energy the underlying strokes might create (e.g., you are not painting a wall -- don't just go left to right as if you are mowing a lawn.  The point is to create texture which will make you and your paint do interesting things.)

             
Taboret or Tabouret  --  a rolling storage cart used to help organize painting materials and provide an additional work surface in conjunction with an easel