Gesso - I haven’t thought about that since I dabbled in oil painting years ago! I wonder if artists still gesso their canvases, it used to be required but now I imagine they are pre-gessoed (is that a word?).<<<
LOL, yes many canvases are pre -gessoed.
In thinking about the paper mache bowls, made with flour starch, I had forgotten the need for gesso.
I wonder if gesso is still needed, when Elmers glue is used, as it leaves a plastic like coating ............
I bought a gallon of Elmers, from an office supply place, just before I got so sick and quit crafts....it was cheap, like $10.00 a gallon.