Which term is a white paint mixture used as a ground for painting?

• A. A transparent layer of pigment
• B. A kiln
• C. A grinding medium
• D. Gesso

Answer: (D)

In painting, a ground is the prepared base layer you apply to the support so paint adheres properly and colors stay bright. The white ground used for this purpose is called gesso. Traditional gesso is a white mixture made from a plaster-like powder, a binder, and white pigment; it’s brushed on in thin coats over surfaces like wooden panels or canvas and sanded to a smooth, toothy finish. Modern versions often use acrylic polymer as the binder, but the function remains the same: it seals the surface and creates a receptive ground for oil or acrylic paint.

The other options don’t fit as a white painting ground: a transparent layer of pigment would alter or mute color rather than provide a bright, uniform base; a kiln is a furnace for firing materials; a grinding medium is used to grind pigments into paint, not as a ground.