Gamblin Oil Painting Ground makes a strong, bright foundation for oil paintings on canvas or panel. Formulated from alkyd resin, titanium dioxide, and barium sulfate (for tooth). The use of this ground will make both linen and canvas stiffer than an acrylic gesso, and more flexible than traditional oil primers.

Before Gamblin Oil Painting Ground can be applied to canvas, the canvas must be sealed with a size. Gamblin recommends using their PVA size. When using oil colours, fabric supports need sizing, while panels only need to have a ground.

Some painters have reported that the ground takes a very long time to dry – adding a few drops of mineral spirits can help the product dry at a normal rate.