I think that gesso is, by definition, acrylic. I know that either oil or water-based paints such as acrylic, gouache, or watercolour can be applied over gesso, but water-based paints cannot be applied over oil-based products - they bead up when wet or peel off when they dry. I like thorny's suggestion of using latex house paint. Acrylic paint is essentially latex paint. And house paint surely seems a more economical alternative to gesso, though I wonder if its plasticity equals that of gesso or if it even matters. I've never heard of oil-based gesso, but I did try once to use lead white (a pasty, oil base) as a primer, but it took an inordinately and infuriatingly long time to dry, and I swore I'd never use it again. It's also highly toxic, as the name would suggest. I normally use the cheapest gesso I can find, at MJ Designs (or Michael's or any arts-and-crafts store), applying at least two coats, and it works just fine. I can't tell any difference.
Good luck!
amy
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