Gesso, the Artist's Best Friend

I bought this head just after Christmas at Ruby Lane. It had been "helped and helped and helped." I love that phrase, which I read in an auction description about an antique doll that was for sale. This doll had been repaired and completely repainted with something that looks like automobile paint for a finish, in a flat way. Perhaps that was correct, but since she's been repainted I feel that she's fair game for repainting for me. :-) I gave her a coat of gesso, with a few more very thin layers to come.

There's something very redemptive about this process.