Gather cotton duck cloth or heavy linen
Cut the cloth to the desired size
Stretch the cloth tightly over a wooden frame
Secure the cloth with staples or tacks on the back
Mix acrylic gesso with a little water if needed
Apply a thin coat of gesso evenly over the cloth
Let the first coat dry completely
Sand lightly if a smoother surface is desired
Apply two to three more coats of gesso
Let each coat dry before applying the next
Sand lightly between coats if needed
Remove the canvas from the frame after drying, if desired
Store flat or re-stretch on a frame before use