Tips on how to Varnish a Portray in Oil, Water-Mixable Oil or Acrylic

Be taught all about find out how to varnish an oil portray, a water-mixable oil portray or an acrylic portray.

A varnish is a coating of resin utilized to the floor of a portray for defense and look. Most work in oil, water-mixable oil, and acrylic will profit from being varnished, each of their look and their longevity. Making use of varnish is an efficient ability to study. There are some primary steps and instruments to make use of. As a part of studying the ability of vanishing chances are you’ll want to strive a number of several types of varnish as there are a variety to select from with completely different traits.

---

 

Contents

Saturation and Sheen

Some General Tips

What Can Go Wrong

Varnish Brushes

How to Varnish Watercolour Paintings

 

 

 

 

 

A poorly varnished portray seems fairly dangerous, so in your first few makes an attempt you’ll in all probability not need to practise in your finest work. It isn’t a tough ability to study, perhaps consider studying find out how to varnish as a small a part of studying to color. Take the time to strive completely different varnishes and completely different purposes and study what you want finest. And don’t take it without any consideration. As an alternative of pondering of varnishing as an afterthought, it’s good to keep in mind that the varnish is a part of the construction of your portray. The longevity of this paintings that you’ve put a lot time, effort and thought into, relies on every little thing from the help to the varnish. And the varnishing can be the ultimate step of your management over the looks of your portray.

 

 

Saturation and Sheen

Saturation
Varnish deepens and enriches colors, the identical approach that wetting a stone makes it look extra saturated. For many work that is fascinating. However you might want to determine if it is a change you’d like in your portray. Gloss often saturates colors greater than satin which does it greater than matt, however in most varnishes all of the sheens will saturate the colors to some extent.

Unifying the Sheen
You too can unify the sheen of a portray. In each oil and acrylics, utilizing differing quantities of shiny mediums as you paint could give areas completely different sheens and a few pigments are extra matt than others, so areas of paint with umbers and different earth colors could look boring and matt. Additionally, in oil paint you will get matt, sunken areas that didn’t have adequate oil due to: a very absorbent floor, or not sufficient oil within the paint combination, or a thirsty underbound paint layer beneath the brand new one. For those who see this as wanting patchy, chances are you’ll want to even out the sheen, making it equally gloss or matt throughout. If in case you have deliberately made some areas shiny and a few matt, then you’ll both need to skip varnishing or to varnish the areas utilizing completely different sheens of varnish.

Be aware:
Photographing sheen is tough with nonetheless images. Glare that we see as gloss simply reveals up on movie as a white space. We additionally see the gloss higher than a digital camera as a result of our eyes are always transferring a bit and we additionally transfer our heads. So to point out the completely different sheens on movie we’ve needed to typically take a number of images for every.

 

 

 

Altering the Sheen
For those who don’t just like the sheen of your portray when you find yourself completed portray and it has completely dried, you may change it to gloss, satin or matt. Gloss varnish can look very nice, just like the paint continues to be moist, actually wealthy and glossy. However there’s a downside, it displays like glass and the image can truly be exhausting to see very effectively. It additionally highlights all of the ridges and bumps and any unintentional texture which may distract out of your intentional marks. A matt floor can get rid of all of this however it could actually additionally make some darkish areas seem a bit paler, because the matting agent is a white powder, and you might want to be very easy and even together with your software or it could actually look streaky. Typically, a combination of the 2 to make satin is the only option to get extra of the great factors and fewer of the dangerous. However actually, you need to determine on the sheen of your end based mostly on the temper and that means of the portray and what impact you’re after.

 

 

 

 

Matt and Satin Varnish
All varnish begins with a shiny base; matt varnish (and satin to a lesser diploma) has matting brokers added to it, both a dry particulate matter or a wax. In each acrylic paint varnishes and oil paint varnishes the matting agent often needs to be redistributed into the varnish by agitation, because the matting agent settles to the underside. It’s simpler to see this glob of matting agent settled within the backside if the container is evident. Which means that you might want to stir or shake the varnish effectively, typically for for much longer than you assume – as a lot as two minutes. In each oil and acrylic varnishes, Gloss is thinner than Satin and Matt has the thickest physique. (So far as the agitation goes: perhaps having your order delivered helps, cos it will get bounced round on its solution to you!)

 

 

For those who assume that you simply don’t need to varnish your completed work since you don’t need it to look shiny, a mat varnish is perhaps a sensible choice. A matt varnish may be fairly lovely, virtually invisible whereas enriching the color. If you wish to apply a matt varnish keep in mind that two or three coats will deposit a number of layers of the matting solids which might construct as much as give a dusty look. The dusty lightening impact is much more seen on darkish colors. To stop this, it’s finest to make use of gloss for the primary one or two coats to seal the portray after which solely use matt for the second or final coat, which will likely be sufficient to knock again all of the shine of the gloss varnish, and can scale back among the matting agent within the layers. With spray varnish I’ve discovered that two coats of gloss and one in all matt work effectively. With brush-on varnishes it typically takes two coats of matt varnish to get an excellent, streak-free coating of the matting agent. With all varnishes, you typically solely want one skinny coat of a brush-on varnish, however you often want at the least three coats of a twig varnish.

 

Back to Contents

 

Some Normal Ideas

• A superb mushy brush is crucial. Care for your varnishing brush, clear it effectively and instantly as a result of it wants to remain mushy.
• When utilizing a varnish that’s new to you, take a look at it by simply varnishing a nook of the portray first. Let it dry to see whether it is what you anticipated.
• Keep in mind that a number of skinny coats of varnish are higher than a thick one, it must dry shortly or it could actually have issues akin to trapping mud, pooling to 1 facet of the portray, operating off the sting, drying cloudy, and never drying correctly in order that it stays sticky.
• The viscosity of the varnish is essential. To stop undesirable brush marks that may often not go in the identical route as your paint marks, the varnish wants to have the ability to easy out, to self-level. So it’s going to have to be skinny sufficient to circulate. However alternatively, it must be thick sufficient to not run off of the sting or be streaky as a result of the resin has been diluted an excessive amount of. So there is a perfect thickness for every kind of brush-on varnish. Most containers will say if the varnish may be diluted and by how a lot. For those who assume your varnish is just too thick, keep in mind that it takes a surprisingly little quantity of further liquid to make a barely too thick liquid circulate extra – typically only a few drops. In each oil and acrylic varnishes, Gloss is much less viscous than Satin and Matt is the thickest.
• For those who assume you’ve gotten simply the precise viscosity, you should still need to give your completed varnish canvas an ever-so-slight tilt at first earlier than it dries to ensure the varnish ranges out. Figuring out if that is essential comes with follow. I’ll typically put a canvas wedge beneath two corners and preserve checking again after which take away them when the varnish has flowed sufficient, then it flows again and settles evenly, after which let it dry.
• It helps should you place a lamp in order that the sunshine rakes throughout the floor and you’ll see the shiny components you’ve gotten accomplished so that you don’t miss a spot and you’ll see if there are ridges being left by your brush that may point out that the varnish wants a really slight dilution. (Utilizing raking mild, shining from a facet angle, to look at your portray is useful as a remaining ending step for the portray section, as effectively.)
• If in case you have used brush-on varnish, when you find yourself completed, wipe away any drips from the perimeters and again of your canvas or panel with a lint-free material. If left, they are going to dry exhausting and be tough to take away.
• Mud is your enemy. Work in a dust-free space and take care to stop mud settling onto your drying varnish. When the varnish is contact dry you may lean the portray up towards a wall with the paint facet dealing with the wall, with simply the sting of the portray touching the wall, to complete drying for a number of days. This may permit any mud to fall on the again of the portray whereas the face of the portray is protected. This can be a good place for drying work generally, that’s why you see so many work dealing with the partitions in artist studios. If the work are small you may create a drying tower. For those who preserve your clear brushes upright in a jar, you’ll want to clear the comb earlier than varnishing as it’s going to have accrued mud that may grow to be noticeable as you apply varnish. However for oil varnishes you want the comb to be dry, so wash it a day prematurely.
• For each oil and acrylic work, some varnishes include safety from UV mild, which suggests they are going to assist to maintain your portray from fading. It doesn’t take the place of utilizing lightfast pigments or protecting a portray out of direct daylight, however ought to be used as further safety.
• Since artist varnish is supposed to be eliminated sooner or later when it’s soiled and a brand new coat utilized, it’s useful to jot down in everlasting marker on the again edge, which varnish you used. The individual cleansing the portray sooner or later will thanks.
• It’s best to attend two weeks for a varnish to remedy utterly exhausting earlier than dealing with it.
• You would possibly need to learn each the oil and acrylic varnish sections as there may be some overlap.

 

 

 

 

 

What Can Go Improper

In case your varnishing has gone fallacious you might be able to take away the varnish and take a look at once more. Most oil varnishes are detachable and can say on the container which solvent to make use of. Nonetheless, just a few water-based acrylic varnishes are detachable and so they typically require specialist conservation solvents.

When the varnishing has gone fallacious there are often only a few causes. By being conscious of them you may higher keep away from them.

• Downside: Gloss varnish is streaky. This is perhaps one in all three issues. For those who over-thin the varnish, there will likely be locations the place there isn’t adequate resin, just like not having sufficient binder in paint. These areas will likely be much less shiny. Or it could possibly be that you simply missed some areas with the comb. So you should definitely have raking mild shining throughout as you apply the varnish so you may see when you’ve got missed a spot. Or it could possibly be that you simply saved brushing the varnish after it began to dry, which may change the sheen. (Superior varnishers can use this final trait to their benefit and ‘overbrush’ varnishes to deliberately change the sheen.)
• Downside: The varnish has pooled up within the paint texture and these thicker areas of varnish are cloudy and later tackle a yellow tint. This occurs as a result of the varnish was utilized too thickly. Both the layer was not brushed out thinly sufficient or the varnish was not runny sufficient. You would possibly need to use a twig varnish for work with loads of texture.
• Downside: The container says Satin or Matt however the dried varnish is shiny or streaky. It’s because the matting agent wasn’t stirred or shaken effectively sufficient. Spray varnishes specifically want a superb lengthy shaking.
• Downside: The portray wasn’t utterly dry when a remaining varnish was utilized. For oil work this will grow to be noticeable sooner or later because the portray tries to dry beneath the varnish and there may be effervescent or cracking. For acrylic work it’s going to grow to be noticeable sooner because the varnish turns into cloudy.
• Downside: The portray and/or brush have been dusty and dirt obtained smeared round on the portray within the varnish. Each brush and portray have to be fastidiously cleaned earlier than varnishing begins. For oil varnishes, wait a day after cleansing for each brush and portray to be completely dry, in order to not lure water within the varnish.

 

Back to Contents

 

 

Varnish Brushes

• A superb varnish brush is mushy, flat, broad, and often skinny slightly than thick. They often have quick handles and also you apply the varnish with the comb held at a low angle. Jackson’s White Artificial Mottler is a superb alternative.
• Maintain a separate brush for varnishing and wash it instantly after use. Maintain it as mushy and clear as you may.
• Be sure you rinse any mud off your brush earlier than you start varnishing; brushes saved in open pots get surprisingly dusty and it could actually grow to be seen should you begin smearing it round in your portray. Dry the comb completely earlier than utilizing it with oil varnishes.

 

 

Back to Contents

 

There’s particular info for varnishing every portray medium, and completely different supplies to make use of. Right here you’ll find details about the completely different varnishes for every medium and step-by-step guides.

 

Varnishing Watercolour Work

It isn’t essential to varnish a watercolour portray and varnishing just isn’t often accomplished for conventional watercolour work. A watercolour is often framed with glass to guard it. However just lately there was some curiosity in varnishing watercolour work as a result of some artists want to paint on canvas or mount the paper on wood panels and need to present their work with out glass, and so they just like the completely different look of a watercolour that has been varnished. So, it’s uncommon, however if you want to strive it, right here is our information to Watercolour Varnish.

 

Tips on how to Varnish Oil Work

Oil Paint Varnishes

In oil portray, a varnish is a resin dissolved in a solvent to grow to be a liquid to be used in portray. Traditionally, resin was the dried sap of a tree and is a translucent mild yellow or amber color. Many coniferous and hardwood bushes have been used for resin and the resins included: Copal, Larch Venice, Mastic, Dammar, and plenty of others. Trendy artificial resins, together with alkyd and ketone resins, have largely changed the normal pure resins, although a number of varieties are nonetheless obtainable. The most typical pure resin nonetheless in use in Dammar. Artificial resins are thought-about superior to pure resins as a result of they don’t yellow or crack as they age like pure resins do, and so they solely require a light solvent akin to odourless mineral spirits to dissolve, whereas the pure resins require a powerful solvent akin to turpentine.

There are three sorts of varnishes utilized in oil portray:

Varnish as an Oil Medium Ingredient

Not all varnish is a remaining coating for a portray. You could have seen recipes for making your personal oil portray mediums that decision for Damar Varnish as an ingredient. (Damar can be spelled Dammar, so chances are you’ll want to go looking each phrases to seek out all of the merchandise.) Some oil portray mediums (which suggests they’re meant to be combined with the paint) have a varnish in them. If the medium accommodates a pure resin akin to Damar or Canada Balsam, the hardened gum should first be became a varnish (that means dissolved in a solvent to make a liquid from the stable resin), then it may be added to linseed oil to make a portray medium. There are a number of completely different oil portray mediums to switch completely different properties of the paint. An oil portray medium could also be simply oil, or can also comprise a solvent, or could have the third ingredient of a resin. For oil mediums that do comprise resin, it has been added for the aim of permitting higher adhesion of contemporary paint to a earlier layer of dried paint, for artists who paint in layers over a protracted time frame. This additionally means no beading up of the brand new paint layer. Some painters additionally really feel there are engaging visible properties to color that has resin in it.

Learn extra about this in our article Tips on how to Make Dammar Varnish

Dammar Varnishes at jacksonsart.com.

 

Retouching Varnish

There’s a skinny sort of varnish that you simply apply to the portray floor in a skinny coat, that is known as retouching varnish. Being skinny and utilized flippantly means there may be solely a diluted coating of resin on the floor of the portray. This skinny layer doesn’t seal the portray like a remaining varnish does, so permits the oil paint to proceed to obtain oxygen and harden (or dry). This implies which you can apply it earlier than the portray is totally dry, which may be very completely different to remaining varnish. The skinny layer additionally doesn’t have an effect on the sheen very a lot.

Retouching varnish may be made with pure resin, like Damar Retouching Varnish, or with artificial resin which is extra widespread.

Historically there are three makes use of that painters have for retouching varnish:

They apply it to areas which are sunken and boring to revive them. A sunken space both doesn’t have sufficient oil or components are drying at completely different charges and the faster drying areas could look matt. A skinny coat of retouching varnish can appropriate this look. However a greater resolution is to stop an space of paint from sinking by ensuring there may be sufficient oil to bind the paint by making certain that the floor isn’t too absorbent for the quantity of oil within the paint, and that there’s a little further oil within the earth colors, which may be much less oily by nature.

Retouching varnish is used to offer some safety from scratches to the floor of a portray that isn’t totally dry, in the course of the ready interval earlier than a remaining varnish may be utilized. This fashion a portray may be exhibited with much less concern of it being broken. It ought to be utilized in as skinny a layer as doable, too many layers or a thick layer will likely be just like a remaining varnish, which you don’t need. As a result of the portray just isn’t totally dry, brushing solvents over the floor can dissolve some areas of paint so I like to recommend utilizing a twig retouching varnish when utilizing it like this as an early protecting coating. Then when the portray is totally dry, the retouching varnish doesn’t have to be eliminated (it in all probability can’t be eliminated because it was utilized to color not totally dry, it’s going to have melded with the paint). If you find yourself prepared to use the ultimate varnish, simply clear the floor and apply the ultimate image varnish on prime of the retouching varnish.

Artists typically apply retouching varnish to a completely dried paint layer to help adhesion of a contemporary paint layer, which in any other case would possibly bead up or not adhere effectively because it dries as a result of the layers are too completely different, the dried paint layer is ‘closed’. (I’ve skilled poor adhesion the place after the brand new paint layer was dried it could possibly be scratched off simply with a fingernail.) This use is the place the title Retouching comes from. Whereas portray extra oil paint on prime of a remaining image varnish just isn’t beneficial, retouching varnish is supposed to be completely different. If a remaining image varnish is utilized between layers of paint it might trigger the paint to grow to be much less immune to solvent, even when the paint is totally dry. This may increasingly create a threat of the paint being eliminated extra simply if the ultimate varnish is ever eliminated sooner or later – as a result of as oil paint dries, it turns into increasingly more immune to solvents, extra everlasting, however the varnish continues to be weak to solvent all the time, as a result of it’s meant to be detachable.

However, not many retouching varnishes declare anymore which you can paint over the varnish, just some do. The unique retouching varnish was damar varnish diluted with twice the same old quantity of turpentine. It might be utilized to small areas to be repainted and the damar bonded with the dried paint layer higher than artificial resin varnishes do. You need your remaining varnish to be simply detachable for future cleansing, however you need your retouching varnish to be exhausting to take away. So it is smart to make use of a damar retouching varnish for including paint on prime of as it’s made with robust turpentine. (And solely apply it the place you might want to add paint). After which use an artificial varnish in your remaining varnish as it’s going to solely want a milder mineral spirits to take away it. A good higher resolution to the adhesion downside, should you paint in layers, is to combine in with all of your paint layers an oil portray medium that accommodates resin.

Retouching Varnishes can be found in aerosol spray cans or as liquids to be brushed on.

 

 

Ultimate Varnish

The third sort of oil varnish is a remaining varnish, the product most individuals consider as ‘varnish’. To be used on oil work it’s also referred to as Image Varnish. Making use of a remaining image varnish to your totally dried oil portray will present many advantages.

A remaining varnish will:
1. Defend the dried oil floor from scratches.

2. Settle for the pollution and grime of the years and when soiled be detachable from the portray so it may be changed with a brand new clear layer.

3. Deepen the saturation of the oil paint that may start to look drier and chalkier because it dries (I believe they often look thirsty).

4. Even out the floor sheen or change it to matt, satin or gloss.

5. Seal the portray from absorbing any extra oxygen and changing into overly dried out, which suggests in impact that you’ll be slowing the ageing course of.

6. Permit it to be extra simply cleaned.

 

 

How Dry Does the Portray Should Be Earlier than It Can Be Varnished?

The very best follow is to attend to varnish your oil portray till it’s completely dry as a result of should you apply varnish earlier than the paint is totally dry the varnish will meld with the nonetheless drying paint and not be a separate detachable layer. It’ll additionally type a tough layer on prime of a nonetheless altering decrease layer and that may end up in it cracking or wrinkling because the altering oil paint pushes and pulls on it. For those who seal the portray, then it could actually’t take up the oxygen it must type the bonds that make it a powerful floor.

There’s some confusion about how lengthy you might want to look forward to an oil portray to be completely dry. The long-standing rule is that it’s most secure to attend 6-12 months, however it may be longer if the paint may be very thick or the setting may be very humid and it may be a bit shorter should you’ve used fast-drying mediums, alkyd oil paints, or have painted very thinly. Gamblin, the makers of the nice varnish Gamvar, consider that the 6-12 month rule is just too obscure and doesn’t keep in mind the massive distinction between the drying time of a portray made with a paint combined with a fast-drying medium and utilized thinly or flippantly (a lot lower than 6 months to dry) and a portray with slow-drying colors or mediums and painted thickly (way more than 12 months to dry). Additionally they level out that the 6-12 month suggestion originated earlier than the unbelievable artificial varnishes we now have now, like Gamvar which is a Regalrez-based varnish. The previous pure resin varnishes have been each brittle and wanted very robust solvents, not like the artificial varnishes right this moment that use the extra light odourless mineral spirits. Gamvar is a superb varnish as a result of it’s a versatile, artificial varnish that won’t yellow. However there’s a present false impression amongst many oil painters that I’ve spoken with that it has uncommon properties that permit it to be utilized when the portray is barely touch-dry. This isn’t true, so I wished to say it specifically. Some artists assume that should you use Gamvar you may varnish in only one to 2 weeks, when the portray is simply touch-dry, as a result of their varnish has a particular high quality that permits oxygen by way of. However all remaining varnishes let some oxygen by way of. Gamblin say ‘Gamvar may be utilized when the thickest areas of your portray are completely dry and agency’. Gamvar is great however it isn’t magical and can’t be utilized any ahead of different comparable artificial varnishes.

 

 

Most artists need to varnish ahead of is beneficial, they should promote the portray or exhibit it and ready months is a irritating downside. In case you are one in all these artists then a number of small modifications would possibly imply that you simply might be able to varnish in as quickly as two months – apply your paint extra flippantly and blend it with a small quantity of a fast-drying alkyd medium. There are a number of other ways to check the dryness of a portray, these embrace: urgent your thumbnail into the thickest half in search of no indentation, urgent the flat of your thumb into the floor and twisting, in search of no change, and wiping with a solvent to check for color removing. I usually go by how lengthy it has been, how thickly I painted and what quick or sluggish drying mediums I used, and if I’m undecided I’ll gently press a nail right into a thick space hoping for no mark. If I’ve an exhibition developing then I give myself a varnishing deadline as a part of the method, so oil work made with a quick drying medium have to be completed at the least 2 or 3 months earlier than. (It’s helpful to have them prepared early for publicity images, as effectively.) If I can’t do this, which is usually the case, then I exploit a skinny spray of retouching varnish now and a remaining varnish later.
 

Back to Contents

 

Storage In the course of the Drying Interval

If you are ready the six or extra months for an oil portray to dry earlier than you may varnish it, it must be out of the way in which and shielded from spatters or accumulating mud. Even whether it is contact dry already, overlaying it tightly in plastic will cease it receiving the oxygen it wants to complete drying, any paper laid on it’s going to often find yourself caught to it, and bubble wrap can go away an impression of its sample on the floor.

So it’s best to depart them unwrapped however sheltered from mud. If in case you have only a few small work, then you may retailer them flat, face-up on a shelf in a closed cabinet or within the hole throughout the tops of books in a bookshelf, or vertically in a home made divider or one thing just like a letter rack or LP rack. If they’re massive, then you may merely tilt the face to the wall on the ground, often elevated on blocks to stop the decrease half accumulating mud blowing round on the ground.

Drying Tower
For small to medium works, I’ve developed a model of a type of tower of drying house utilizing a stack of gator boards or different skinny, inflexible panels, separated by 4 objects, one in every nook (or three in a triangular formation), akin to massive canvas wedges, water bottle caps, small yoghurt cups or comparable, simply so long as all 4 corners are the identical and tall sufficient to raise the following board above the floor of every flat portray, whereas leaving the smallest hole doable between the flat portray and the ‘roof’ above it. Place a moist portray plus 4 objects taller than the flat portray on a board, then place one other board flat on prime of the nook objects and repeat till you’ve gotten a tower of flat, protected work. This works each for drying varnish and for the longer technique of drying oil work.

 

 

 

What Traits to Search for in a Varnish

The very best varnish to make use of will:

1. Not change in look over time (yellow or darken or grow to be cloudy).

2. Stay very versatile as a result of as the highest layer of the portray construction it ought to be probably the most versatile layer of the portray.

3. Stay detachable with a solvent that won’t take away the underlying paint.

4. Some varnishes additionally provide UV safety.

A remaining varnish made with an artificial resin is mostly thought-about higher than a pure tree sap resin (damar, copal, mastic, and so on) as a result of it is not going to change over time changing into darker or yellow, brittle, or much less detachable over time. Essentially the most available pure resin varnish is Damar Varnish and it’ll say Damar within the title. If it doesn’t say, then it’s artificial. Some artists like Damar varnish as a result of it is extremely shiny and often flows very effectively, so you will get a pleasant, skinny even layer.

 

Oil Varnish Codecs

Ultimate varnishes can be found as liquids which are utilized with a brush, in aerosol spray cans, and as wax pastes in jars which are utilized with a material. Every has completely different qualities and professionals and cons. With a brush-on varnish you may combine your personal sheen, you may apply extra varnish to get a excessive gloss and larger safety, chances are you’ll solely want one coat, and it’s extra economical. A can of spray varnish doesn’t go as far, applies a really skinny layer so wants at the least three coats, and requires excellent air flow however is sweet for extremely textured work and is best to use effectively. Paste wax varnishes solely are available matt and have a specific look. Most oil varnishes may have robust solvents and you have to good air flow. Chances are you’ll need to vacate the room for a time after you’ve gotten varnished and let it air out.

 

 

Brush-on Varnish

A brush-on liquid is the normal format however it may be barely trickier than the opposite two codecs for the newbie to get an ideal streak-free and brushmark-free end. With follow you’ll find a favorite model and understand how a lot to skinny it, how thickly to use it, how shortly every coat dries, and should you want extra coats. Most manufacturers do a Gloss and a Matt sheen and a few additionally do a Satin. If a model doesn’t do Satin they often advise which you can combine Gloss and Matt to make a Satin. I’ve discovered that it isn’t a 50:50 ratio when doing this, it could actually take 20% Matt and 80% Gloss to make a Satin, because the matt is often very pervasive. And naturally you may customise your combination to make a shiny satin or an almost matt satin by various the proportions. Brush-on oil varnish is less complicated to get proper than brush-on acrylic varnish as a result of it is extremely fluid, so it ranges out effectively and it takes a number of hours to arrange, so you’ve gotten time to brush it out evenly.

 

 

Aerosol Spray Varnish

Spray varnishes are straightforward to make use of and get a streak-free end. The coating you get is far thinner than with a brush-on varnish so though it received’t give as thick a layer of safety it additionally received’t fill in any texture, so are good for impasto work. You will need to shake the can typically in the course of the course of. There are appreciable fumes and the duty shouldn’t be undertaken indoors with out wonderful air flow. I do it outdoor utilizing a clear cardboard field to assist preserve the spray from blowing away.

 

Back to Contents

 

Rub-on Wax Paste Varnish

As a result of they comprise wax, all wax paste varnishes have a matt sheen and when dry may be buffed with a lint-free material to a mushy satin sheen. They’re utilized with a stiff varnishing brush or a material after which rubbed in with a material. They’re straightforward to use and exhausting to get fallacious.

 

 

How To Varnish an Oil Portray with a Brush-on Varnish

Resolve which varnish to make use of: and select your sheen, or combine one in between.

Wash and dry your brush the day earlier than: it must be effectively dry. Whereas your brush could look clear, a brush will get dusty shortly particularly if saved in an open jar and it’s an unwelcome shock if you begin seeing fibres and bits of mud as you’re brushing the varnish. If this occurs, shortly take away the moist varnish, wash your brush, and begin once more. See earlier brush part.

Make sure your paint is dry: Earlier than varnishing, after you’ve gotten waited at the least six months, take a look at for dryness utilizing one of many strategies talked about earlier: urgent your thumbnail into the thickest half, urgent the flat of your thumb in and twisting, or wiping with a solvent to check for color removing.

Clear the floor: Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it and provides it a superb wipe with a lint-free material with mineral spirits to wipe away any grease or constructed up residue. Verify the material for telltale indicators of color being eliminated that may point out components of the portray aren’t but dry. Let it dry effectively, a number of hours to make sure all water has left the floor so none will likely be trapped in your varnish layer. Propping it close to a radiator to helps.

Arrange your varnishing space: Varnish flat on a desk. Chances are you’ll want to cowl the desk with a protecting sheet. You’ll get drips on the sides so have a material, kitchen paper or sponge to wipe these away, additionally helpful for wiping extra varnish out of your brush. A lamp arrange from the facet to shine raking mild throughout the floor will show you how to see when you’ve got missed any spots. Select a spot to place it whereas it dries. If it’s massive, I often go away it the place it’s and create a roof excessive to guard it from mud. So I put together the roof prematurely – a clear stiff floor propped throughout 4 pots of paint or previous yoghurt cups. When it’s contact dry I transfer it to sit down on pots and lean dealing with the wall.

Stir or gently shake if you’re doing all of your remaining coat in matt or satin varnish: Then let any bubbles settle. In case your satin or matt varnish dries shiny, then you definitely didn’t combine the matting agent in completely sufficient, it’s typically a thick glob sitting on the backside. Stir or shake extra completely and apply one other coat.

Pour your varnish right into a clear dish or broad jar. Some artists pour the varnish straight in a puddle onto the portray, however it may be more durable to get an excellent coating if you begin with all of the varnish in a single place and also you usually tend to apply an excessive amount of. Whether it is too thick, skinny it very barely to a extra fluid consistency. It shouldn’t be thick like honey. It ought to be fluid.

Dip your brush into the varnish and wipe the surplus off on the sting of the container. Brush on the varnish, throughout the portray in lengthy even strokes, utilizing a sluggish light movement to stop foam forming on the floor of the portray. Your brush ought to be at a low angle. Cowl the floor evenly and thinly from the highest left nook, going throughout, working your approach down till you finish on the backside proper nook. Your brush ought to have little or no varnish on it, you’re making use of it sparingly. Chances are you’ll discover that if you come to the tip of the stroke throughout the portray, that slightly than dipping in for extra varnish chances are you’ll simply must flip the comb over and use the varnish on the opposite facet. You’ll be able to return over the portray once more and alongside the sides to ensure it’s all even. Work shortly however gently and methodically. Verify it towards the sunshine as you easy it out. If it appears to be drying then cease. Let it dry and do a second coat slightly than proceed to brush this one.

Let dry to the contact (this will take a number of hours). Verify it in a superb mild and if it seems good you’re accomplished. If it isn’t coated evenly otherwise you need a deeper end, you may repeat the process. Watch out to not do your second coat till the primary one is dry or it will likely be too simply reactivated by the solvent within the moist varnish. Every layer have to be utilized faster than the earlier one and extra gently with much less brushing, to not disturb the earlier layer. Two and even three skinny coats are higher than a thick one which may take eternally to dry, grow to be cloudy, pool up on one facet of the portray or fill in your brushstroke texture, and is extra more likely to present if it yellows.

Wipe any drips from the perimeters and again of your canvas or panel.

Go away to dry, flat and shielded from mud. See Drying Tower above.

Write in everlasting marker on the again of the portray close to the sting, the kind of varnish you used so they are going to know find out how to take away it if wanted sooner or later.

Bear in mind: In case you are a primary time varnisher, do a number of of your much less essential work first to get a really feel for it.

 

Back to Contents

 

How To Varnish an Oil Portray with a Spray Varnish

Resolve which varnish to make use of: and select your sheen. Chances are you’ll want to use a Gloss adopted by two coats of Satin. Use spray notably in case your portray has plenty of impasto texture because the varnish is not going to pool within the low spots.

Make sure your paint is dry: Earlier than varnishing, after you’ve gotten waited at the least six months, take a look at for dryness utilizing one of many strategies talked about earlier: urgent your thumbnail into the thickest half, urgent the flat of your thumb in and twisting, or wiping with a solvent to check for color removing.

Clear the floor: Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it and provides it a superb wipe with a lint-free material with mineral spirits to wipe away any bloom. Verify the material for telltale indicators of color being eliminated that may point out components of the portray aren’t but dry.

Apply: I apply spray varnish to massive work with the portray vertical, first in a single route and after it has dried to the contact, within the perpendicular route. Being certain to maintain the can the identical distance from the floor because it strikes. Spray varnish utilized flippantly dries shortly and you’ll often do a second coat after 3-Quarter-hour. It could be simpler to have a constant spray should you rotate the canvas a ¼ flip, slightly than change route of your spray. Maintain spraying previous the sting. Since because of this there will likely be overspray and there will likely be a layer of varnish across the portray in your wall, so that you would possibly want to defend the wall. You will have air flow, most spray varnish may be very smelly and never good to breathe. For those who can, take it to a sheltered place outdoors or an outbuilding and go away after every coat.
Whether it is small I take it outdoors and spray in a clear cardboard field. I put three flaps of the field as much as create a wind protect, spray from the opposite flap after which shortly shut all of the flaps of the field and go away it to grow to be contact dry. It would be best to do a take a look at run to ensure that if you shut your flaps they don’t are available contact with the portray. Closing it up whereas it dries additionally signifies that no leaves of bugs are available contact with the portray. Repeat twice.

 

 

 

How To Varnish an Oil Portray with a Wax Paste

Resolve which varnish to make use of. Some want a mild warming in a heat water tub. Verify the directions.

Make sure your paint is dry: Earlier than varnishing, after you’ve gotten waited at the least six months, take a look at for dryness utilizing one of many strategies talked about earlier: urgent your thumbnail into the thickest half, urgent the flat of your thumb in and twisting, or wiping with a solvent to check for color removing.

Clear the floor: Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it and provides it a superb wipe with a lint-free material with mineral spirits to wipe away any bloom. Verify the material for telltale indicators of color being eliminated that may point out components of the portray aren’t but dry.

Apply: If it’s the sort that’s utilized chilly, then scoop some out with a agency varnishing brush such because the DaVinci Impasto brush, brush it on after which rub it in with a lint-free material. If it must be warmed then it’s going to liquify and also you apply it with a brush. Let dry for twenty-four hours. Polish with a mushy material to a satin sheen and to assist the varnish obtain a agency floor.

 

 

 

Eradicating Varnish from an Oil Portray

Artist’s oil varnishes ought to be detachable when they’re soiled so {that a} contemporary clear varnish may be utilized. However that doesn’t imply they are going to be straightforward to take away. The varnish will often be eliminated by an expert restorer within the distant future. In case you are doing it your self as a result of you’ve gotten made a nasty job of making use of the varnish, realise that it isn’t a fast factor to do. It ought to be accomplished progressively and you might want to be respectful of the portray. The container of varnish will say which solvent will take away the varnish. Put on gloves and use a lint-free material, work slowly and gently. You will have to let it dry and test it towards the sunshine for modifications in sheen after which work at it some extra.

 

Varnish for Work Made with Oil Paint on Prime of Acrylic Paint

Varnishing an oil portray and an acrylic portray have many issues in widespread. However they do use completely different merchandise. Simply as you can not paint in acrylic on prime of an oil portray, you can not use a varnish that’s meant for acrylic work on an oil portray. However as with paint you may put oil varnishes on prime of acrylic work. So a portray accomplished in oil on prime of acrylic, even when plenty of acrylic is left seen, ought to be varnished with an oil portray varnish.

 

Back to Contents

 

---

 

Tips on how to Varnish Water-Mixable Oil Work

In some ways a portray made with water-mixable oils ought to be handled the identical as a portray made with typical oils. After a number of hours, when the water has evaporated from the paint movie (should you used any water), then the portray is actually merely an oil portray. After you’ve waited the six months or extra for the portray to be utterly dry, you may varnish it with a traditional oil paint varnish or a varnish particularly made for water-mixable oils.

Though varnishing a water-mixable oil portray may be just like varnishing an oil portray, there are a number of variations to contemplate. One of many variations is that almost all manufacturers of water-mixable oils keep considerably sticky, even after they’ve dried. This may vary from feeling barely cheesy to very sticky (this may be confused with not being dry). This makes varnishing them much more essential than for typical oils, as a result of a varnish will give the portray a tough floor that doesn’t appeal to mud and may be cleaned. The second factor to contemplate is that one essential motive that painters select to make use of water-mixable oils is to keep away from the fumes that you simply often get with oil paint solvents. So they might additionally want to keep away from the fumes from oil paint varnishes. There are two makes of varnishes particularly for water-mixable oil work: an Artisan brush-on varnish and a Cobra spray varnish. These have decrease fumes than typical oil varnishes.

 

 

Resolve which varnish to make use of: typical image varnish or water-mixable oil varnish. You need to use typical image varnish for water-mixable oil work however the water-mixable oil varnishes don’t comprise typical solvents, so, just like the water-mixable oils themselves, they’re nice for shared areas and for artists which are avoiding the usage of hazardous solvents. The water-mixable oil varnishes can be utilized on typical oil work in addition to water-mixable oil work.

Make sure your paint is dry: Earlier than varnishing, after you’ve gotten waited at the least six months, take a look at for dryness utilizing one of many strategies talked about earlier: urgent your thumbnail into the thickest half, urgent the flat of your thumb in and twisting, or wiping with a solvent to check for color removing.

Clear the floor: Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it and provides it a superb wipe with a lint-free material with mineral spirits to wipe away any bloom. Verify the material for telltale indicators of color being eliminated that may point out components of the portray aren’t but dry. Make sure that your cleaned brush and portray are completely dry, chances are you’ll need to do that 24 hours prematurely.

Apply: Apply as for brush-on or spray varnish for oils, within the oil varnishing part above.

 

Back to Contents

 

---

 

Tips on how to Varnish Acrylic Work

 

Not like oil varnish which is barely solvent-based, there are each water-based and solvent-based acrylic varnishes (typically referred to as mineral spirit acrylic varnishes MSA). A water-based polymer varnish will permit the portray to slowly proceed to remedy so there may be much less chance of the varnish going cloudy, however many are usually not detachable, and an MSA varnish will present a more durable, extra sturdy end that may be eliminated later with solvents, however the portray have to be very effectively dried and cured earlier than making use of the varnish or it might bloom (grow to be cloudy over time). Each varieties can be found as liquids to brush on or as aerosol sprays. As with all varnishes, you typically solely want one skinny coat of a brush-on varnish, however you often want at the least three coats of a twig varnish.

 

I don’t contemplate my acrylic work completed till they’re varnished. I discover that acrylic paint stays mushy and porous. For those who use gloss mediums, the portray can typically keep sticky even after it’s dry. Which means that the floor will get simply broken as a result of it sticks to something and bits of paint may even come off if you pull two caught collectively work aside. It additionally attracts mud that embeds within the floor and even museums discover it difficult to wash unvarnished acrylic work. Making use of a layer of varnish seals it with a tough, non-sticky layer that stops sticking collectively in storage and makes it straightforward to wipe clear on show.

 

Sheen of Acrylic Work

Every pigment wants a barely completely different proportion of substances and this causes differing ranges of shine for various colors of paint. For those who use a couple of model in a portray that may make even an even bigger distinction within the shine of every color as some makes are extra matt than others.

Since I don’t often intend for sure colors of my acrylic work to be extra matt than others I like my remaining portray to have an excellent sheen. For those who apply an isolation coat to separate the portray from the varnish, that gives you an excellent gloss sheen, which whereas additionally defending the paint floor throughout future varnish removing, additionally provides you an excellent sheen to start varnishing. However gels are even softer and stickier than acrylic paint. So a remaining varnish in your most well-liked sheen will add that useful more durable layer. I like a barely shiny satin end. So I combine 80% Gloss with 20% Satin which leads to a satin end with a slight gloss.

 

How Dry Does the Portray Should Be Earlier than It Can Be Varnished?

Don’t neglect that acrylic paint takes longer to remedy than you would possibly assume. It dries to the contact shortly, so portray with it makes use of a sooner method and you might want to preserve your brushes moist. However the curing of a completed portray is completed by polymerisation like oil paint and you need to wait at the least 72 hours earlier than varnishing an acrylic portray. It could possibly take as much as a month for an acrylic portray with thick paint or plenty of gel to be dry sufficient to varnish. For those who used a retarder or any of the sluggish drying acrylics, it could possibly be even longer. I’ve used thick layers of gel which have taken 3 months to go from cloudy to all the way in which clear. For those who varnish too quickly you may lure in volatiles that need to be launched and your varnish could grow to be cloudy.

 

 

As a result of acrylic work are so mushy and sticky they appeal to mud over time, as effectively. Museum conservators are discovering it tough to wash the acrylic work from the 60’s whose porous, sticky surfaces have trapped loads of mud. A coat of varnish will present a easy exhausting end lowering the tackiness of the floor so much less mud and grime will stick, it’s going to make it simpler to wipe clear over time, and within the far future some conservator could thanks, when all they should do is fastidiously take away your varnish and the portray will likely be like new! Here is a great technical article on acrylic painting conservation.

 

 

Back to Contents

 

Acrylic Varnish Removing

Not like solvent-based varnishes, just a few water-based acrylic varnishes are detachable.

The rule has all the time been that artist-quality varnishes ought to be detachable when they’re soiled so {that a} contemporary clear varnish may be utilized. That is true of all oil varnishes and all solvent-based acrylic varnishes, however many water-based acrylic varnishes which are labelled skilled high quality, are usually not detachable, at the least not by artists within the studio. For those who select an expert varnish that’s detachable, keep in mind that it doesn’t imply that it will likely be straightforward to take away. The varnish will often be eliminated by an expert restorer within the distant future and may have conservator-level solvents. In case you are doing it your self as a result of you’ve gotten made a nasty job of making use of the varnish, realise that it isn’t a fast factor to do. It ought to be accomplished progressively and you might want to be respectful of the portray. Now that Golden not makes their Polymer Varnish that was detachable with family ammonia, there are usually not many water-based acrylic varnishes that may be eliminated within the studio.

 

Isolation Coat

An isolation coat of clear acrylic polymer acts as a protecting barrier and is beneficial to go between the portray and the varnish. Delicate Gel is an efficient alternative for an isolation coat or a fluid polymer medium in gloss akin to Jackson’s Fluid Medium Gloss and Golden now make a product referred to as Isolation Coat. Use a gloss medium and never a matt medium which is able to go away a hazy white layer. Apply it shortly and evenly over the entire portray following the unique brush marks of the paint. Permit to remedy for a number of days or even weeks earlier than varnishing.

Golden has a good video showing how to do this.
Golden says an isolation coat beneath a matte varnish additionally helps forestall the white layer of the matting agent from displaying as a lot.

 

What Traits to Search for in an Acrylic Varnish

The very best varnish to make use of will:
1. Not change in look over time (yellow or grow to be cloudy)
2. Stay very versatile as a result of as the highest layer of the portray construction it ought to be probably the most versatile layer of the portray
3. If doable, stay detachable with a solvent that won’t take away the underlying paint
4. Some varnishes additionally provide UV safety

 

 

How To Varnish an Acrylic Portray with a Brush-on Varnish

Resolve which varnish to make use of. Solvent-based or water-based. Brush-on or spray. We’re utilizing a brush-on varnish right here.

Make sure your paint is totally dry and cured. Thick areas of paint or gels can take months to launch all water and volatiles. For those who used a retarder it might take longer.

Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it. If utilizing a solvent-based varnish, dry it very effectively, maybe leaving it for twenty-four hours to make sure it’s dry.

Wash your brush and if utilizing a solvent-based varnish, make sure the comb is dry. Whereas it might look clear, a brush will get dusty shortly and it’s an unwelcome shock if you begin seeing fibres and bits of mud as you’re brushing the varnish. If this occurs, shortly take away the moist varnish, wash your brush, and begin once more. See earlier brush part.

Arrange your varnishing space. Varnish flat on a desk. Chances are you’ll want to cowl the desk with a protecting sheet. You’ll get drips on the sides so have a material, kitchen paper or sponge to wipe these away. A lamp arrange from the facet to shine raking mild throughout the floor will show you how to see when you’ve got missed any spots. Select a spot to place it whereas it dries. If it’s massive, I often go away it the place it’s and create a roof excessive to guard it from mud. So I put together the roof prematurely – a clear stiff floor propped throughout 4 pots of paint or previous yoghourt cups.

Agitate matting brokers. Stir or shake if you’re doing all of your remaining coat in matt varnish. Then let any bubbles settle. In case your satin or matt varnish dries shiny, then you definitely didn’t combine the matting agent in completely sufficient. Stir or shake extra completely and apply one other coat.
Apply. Pour your varnish right into a dish. Whether it is too thick, skinny it to a extra fluid consistency. It shouldn’t be thick like honey.
Brush out the varnish in even strokes, utilizing a sluggish light movement to stop foam forming on the floor of the portray. Cowl the floor evenly and thinly. For those who apply the varnish too thickly it’s going to crack because it shrinks. See picture beneath.

Drying for second coat. Water-based polymer varnishes could not take very lengthy to dry to the contact, however if you’re making use of a second coat I’d wait a number of hours to ensure that the primary layer is dry as a result of the varnish could possibly be reactivated and components of the dried resin may be picked up and moved, leaving jagged areas that not have a primary coat and the floor seems cratered and terrible. The velocity of drying, how lengthy you may brush for and the way quickly you may apply a second coat safely, are the exhausting components of a brush on water-based acrylic varnish.

Two or three skinny coats are higher than a thick one which may take eternally to dry, grow to be cloudy, pool up on one facet of the portray or fill in your brushstroke texture, and is extra more likely to present if it yellows.

Wipe any drips from the perimeters and again of your canvas or panel.

Go away to dry, flat and shielded from mud. The beneficial time for curing of the end earlier than dealing with or wrapping is often two weeks.

Make a remark. Write in everlasting marker on the again of the portray close to the sting, the kind of varnish you used so they are going to know find out how to take away it if wanted sooner or later.

Bear in mind: In case you are a primary time varnisher, do a number of of your much less essential work first to get a really feel for it.

 

 

 

How To Varnish an Acrylic Portray with a Spray Varnish

Resolve which varnish to make use of: and select your sheen. Chances are you’ll want to use a Gloss adopted by two coats of Satin. Use spray notably in case your portray has plenty of impasto texture because the varnish is not going to pool within the low spots.

Make sure your paint is completely dry and cured: Thick areas of paint or gels can take months to launch all water and volatiles. For those who used a retarder it might take longer.

Clear the floor effectively with water to take away any mud, dry it. If utilizing a solvent-based varnish, dry it very effectively, maybe leaving it for twenty-four hours to make sure it’s dry.

Apply: I apply spray varnish to massive work with the portray vertical, first in a single route and after it has dried to the contact, within the perpendicular route. Being certain to maintain the can the identical distance from the floor because it strikes. Spray varnish utilized flippantly dries shortly and you’ll often do a second coat after 3-Quarter-hour. It could be simpler to have a constant spray should you rotate the canvas a ¼ flip, slightly than change route of your spray. Maintain spraying previous the sting. Since because of this there will likely be overspray and there will likely be a layer of varnish across the portray in your wall, so that you would possibly want to defend the wall. In case you are utilizing an MSA spray varnish you have to air flow, it is extremely smelly. For those who can, take it to a sheltered place outdoors or an outbuilding and go away after every coat.
Whether it is small I take it outdoors and spray in a clear cardboard field. I put three flaps of the field as much as create a wind protect, spray from throughout the opposite flap after which shortly shut all of the flaps of the field and go away it to grow to be contact dry. It would be best to do a take a look at run to ensure that if you shut your flaps they don’t are available contact with the portray. Closing it up whereas it dries additionally signifies that no leaves of bugs are available contact with the portray. I go away the can on prime to carry the flaps closed. Repeat twice.

 

 

Varnishing Outside Murals

Acrylic paint is an efficient alternative for portray a mural as a result of it adheres effectively to a well-prepared floor, can face up to climate if varnished correctly, dries shortly and may be cleaned up simply with water. For a long-lasting mural you have to to organize the floor effectively, use paints with lightfast pigments and it is extremely essential to seal it to guard it from the climate circumstances and daylight. Golden MSA (Mineral Spirit Acrylic) is beneficial for varnishing out of doors murals as a result of it has UVLS (Ultraviolet Gentle Stabilizers) and offers a really sturdy end. It’s a Mineral Spirit Acrylic Varnish and is beneficial for inside and exterior use and is available in an aerosol spray or in a tin to be diluted with turpentine and brushed on. Bear in mind that not all solvents will dilute the Golden MSA Varnish – chances are you’ll want to learn our earlier article Diluting MSA Varnish to find out about which solvents will work.

 

Fumes From Acrylic Varnish

Not like oil varnish which is barely solvent-based, there are each water-based and solvent-based acrylic varnishes. The 2 varieties are actually completely different by way of fumes and the necessity for air flow. If utilizing mineral sprit acrylic varnishes indoors, you have to wonderful air flow. You may also need to think about using the MSA varnishes a number of weeks earlier should you intend to ship the portray, as a result of the odour stays for a very long time and the recipient could open the field to robust smells.

 

Varnish for Work Made with Oil Paint on Prime of Acrylic Paint

Varnishing an oil portray and an acrylic portray have many issues in widespread. However they do use completely different merchandise. Simply as you can not paint in acrylic on prime of an oil portray, you can not use a varnish that’s meant just for acrylic work on an oil portray. However as with paint you may put oil varnishes on prime of acrylic work. So a portray accomplished in oil on prime of acrylic, even when plenty of acrylic is left seen, ought to be varnished with an oil portray varnish.

 

 

Back to Contents

 

---

 

Additional Studying

Tina Mammoser’s blog

Golden Artist’s Colours

Golden’s Intro to Varnishing

 

Store Varnish on jacksonsart.com