Fisher and Wells apply a traditional gesso ground made from gelatine glue (also known as hide glue) and English whiting (calcium carbonate).

A genuine gesso ground is a unique, beautiful, intensely receptive surface that has qualities that no acrylic ground can match. The fine grain, the absorbency, the control that a genuine gesso can give is quite unparalleled.

Traditional Gesso is an absorbent ground so it takes marks well making it most ideal for silverpoint or copperpoint techniques.