Product reviews for Golden Absorbent Ground

A really handy ground for staining and glazing using inks and diluted oils or acrylics. Best applied thinly and a few coats (I use four). Let each coat dry well, overnight is best, before applying the next coat. Holds colour well with no sinking or dry spots. Use it on paper or canvas.

If you're used to using gesso or white paint as a ground, this stuff is different. The chalkiness is repelling me from exploring the coated surface with my hands.  I'm coating amate paper accordian books and they are to be handled; this has an odd feeling to the touch- moist, chalky- not an inviting hand.   Perhaps there's a way to burnish the paper with my natural hand oils after I illustrate them.  I've never had a sensory issue like this, but there it is.
Otherwise, I'd agree with another reviewer:  about letting coats dry a good long time before applying the next coat, and also about applying multiple, thin coats.  Definitely follow the label directions.