I had a painting that was done, but not varnished, decided to finish it to give to someone, took it out to the garage, grabbed the can of spray sitting on the bench, and proceeded to spray. The varnish provides a non-porous, protective layer that is removable for conservation purposes; it serves its aesthetic purpose whilst also providing protection. Im like a sponge soaking up all there is to know about Art, thats when I came across your website. Many artists use acrylic paint to create works of art. This sounds crazy. Lay the image face down and seal it the medium. It was not varnished. For example, watering down your color and stirring in just a few drops of the matte medium can create a nice, flat base color for underpainting. Or would the glazing liquid accomplish the same thing? Will. Be aware, however, that the colors, especially darker values, will lose some visual intensity and clarity. Traditionally varnishes were applied to keep paintings protected from all the dust, dirt, smoke etc.. in the atmosphere. As long as your varnish is dry, bubble wrap is one of the best ways to go. Golden Soft Gel Gloss it must be the gloss version; the satin and matte version of soft gel is not recommended due to the matting agent in the medium. Have you ever used Dorlands wax medium as a final varnish? I didnt varnish mine because it was still wet, but he thought I was being economical! Apply Liquitex varnish in 1-3 thin coats, rather than 1 thick coat. Thanks Will, My question was for the Varnish, which varnish shall I use? Should I varnish and then add glitter on top of it? First I made Giclee, then I enhanced with oil colors (not painting everything) Next I went over covering all and adding some texture with Golden Gel Gloss medium which is acrylicNow, do I varnish with acrylic based varnish or oil based varnish? Will, Been reading through years of this treasure trove (which it totally is), and learned a lot. I assumed the varnishing would even it all out, but after a couple light coats, not really. Gamblin varnish is a modern oil varnish that you can paint onto an oil painting when it is touch dry (yes touch dry whoo hoo!) I do use a very soft brush. If you have a blob of acrylic paint that is dry, you can still push it and squeeze it, and it will move. Hi Murtaza, thanks for your very kind comments, so pleased you found the articles helpful. Simply scroll down and request it in the comments! Or do I need to do more if I do an isolation coat? A thick coat will take longer to dry, may dry cloudy, may drip or sag during application and has a greater chance of showing brush strokes when dry. Being acrylic, they can be overpainted if desired, or even used during the paintng process like a medium. There are 2 main choices for your acrylic paintingeither a water-based varnish or a solvent-based varnish. Acrylic mediums are naturally glossy. Matte medium has binder and vehicle but no pigment. Hi Will, great article as normal, I use atelier interactive acrylics (cant get golden) I obtained a Matisse clear sealer mm12 artists acrylic medium, it says for a light varnish where minimum protection is needed, , would this be okey for a isolation coat? The concern with sanding varnish is creating a matte effect when the sandpaper disturbs the surface. If yes, what varnish should I use? Two questions: Why do you suggest adding water? (Just a bit anxious about experimenting with varnishing on acrylic for the first time). Yes, thats right, the isolation coat is an acrylic polymer, painted over acrylics not oil paints. Then with the Renaissance, a more high gloss varnish finish was favoured, giving the paintings the Old Master Glow and helping to give a permanent enrichment to the colours. Matte Medium enhances the flow and control of acrylic paint. Cookie Notice I was wondering if you have ever tried Liquitex Soluvar varnish ? The markets are just acrylic paint with water. Hi Susan, yes its a nice varnish. So appreciative of your help! Love your site, just got engrossed in it for a couple of hours. It seems a logical way to even out all small imperfections, but I have not seen any mention of sanding in any other articles or videos about varnish techniques so wondered if it was an acceptable method. Many of the Impressionists preferred not to varnish at all. 10. Mmm, its a bit of a tricky one with gold leaf to still retain the lustre and enable you to paint ontop. For example, mixing in the sand, small rocks, or other objects can create a three-dimensional appearance. Likewise, Matte Varnish may be mixed with the acrylic color, however, it will not reduce color sheen to the degree that Matte Medium will., Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total), This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated. You can then make a cardboard corner protector for each corner as these will be the points that would take the most impact if the parcel was ever dropped. And when I apply the final coats it will also look different. Hi Monica, for the high gloss varnish you can keep on adding coats, so yes, you can apply a few more thin layers of varnish to even out the brush strokes from the stiffer bristles. Hi Will, I just completed a 4060 canvas acrylic painting. The matte medium can help solve this problem by slowing down the drying process, allowing you more time to experiment with different techniques. S, Hi Sonia, by its nature, a matte varnish will always give a slightly lighter black than if you used a gloss varnish. You can make a small test piece and really exaggerate the peaks and valleys, then judge how many applications gives you the result you like aesthetically. Thanks for I ask will you toget tips for oil Paintings Regards. Even if I cant use it for varnish removal purpose but to even the sheen? It brings back the colours and makes the blacks look really black. In an ideal world, I would have a matte finish to my paintings too. Matte Medium can be used as a varnish when mixed with acrylic paints or mediums. I really like the look of them before varnishing. It is appreciated as I will be varnishing 22 pieces for a display. Thanks in advance! This result is a finished painting with areas of different sheens. Its worth noting there are many Acrylic permanent non-removable varnishes on the market. It would all depend on the position of the lights that would be shining onto the painting, whether the lighting was from above (a picture light for example) of from the side (a bright low window that has strong sunlight shining through) The biggest jump in change in glare would be a change in the sheen applied. This makes it particularly handy for glazes and blending. Thanks for the info. 0. . The differences in sheen will be due to the differences in amount of acrylic polymer (which is usually glossy) the differences in amount of flow medium and the different absorption rates into the painting support. Good work, art man! Hi Ang, so sorry, it was autocorrected! Soft Gel Gloss To act as the barrier isolation coat layer 2. My question regards acrylic ink. I have isolated with 3 thin coats of golden gloss medium which is fab now the varnish. Hi Sharada, the acrylics should dry within a few hours, if they are really thick they might take a couple of days. I have an acrylic landscape painting, and I rather like the matt look. Theyre pretty easy to clean and are suitable for candle making. Disposable vape devices are continuing to swipe the vape industry in 2023, becoming an increasingly popular trend, with more and more people opting for this method of nicotine consumption. Should not be that expensive as i dont afford that much. The solvent based varnish (brush) sounds better because it sounds like I have a larger window of time to apply the varnish. 3- The brief method of applying this. Otherwise, they will rub off when you touch them. and please let me know the answers of rest of my questions . Hi Will, As I told you before, I love all of your information so freely given. I create mixed media works on paper with acrylic inks, copic markers, and pens and Im very hesitant to varnish my pieces. Hi Will, This is a bit of a sealing+varnishing question. You can still use a final coat of matte removable varnish. Thank you for your help.. Next questiongot an old half finished oil painting sitting aroundlast night I smothered it with acrylic gesso primerleaving lots of texture. A satin finish gives a happy medium of lustre and richness, but again Id 100% test first before committing to the large scale of the piece. One, theyre waterproof and heatproof. Thanks Gayatri, if you just have an isolation coat applied you can then retouch and change areas, but its harder to alter once the final varnish has been applied as the acrylic wont adhere as easily to the surface without removing the varnish. I usually have at least fifteen different projects in some state of semi completion. As theyll be in a dusty environment with lots of people passing, no doubt touching the pictures, and so Id like to give them some kind of protection. Both varnish coatings came directly on top of paint without isolation coat. Also, when it comes to isolation coats, never use anything other than gloss medium. to hearing your suggestions. If youve ever used acrylic paints, you might be familiar with the myriad of mediums that are available. Ideally outside. Just wanted to let you know I painted the giclee with oil, textured with acrylic gel and varnished with acrylic varnish and it looks great! can I do anything to darken my blacks? Will. Cheers, Will. Third time round (this time fully sure it was finished ;) I decided to go for a satin version of Talens varnish (spray can again). 440 Likes, 1 Comments - Nicole Lynn (@nicolelynnbeauty) on Instagram: "@onesize Turn Up The Base (Versatile Powder Foundation) What it is: A buttery-smooth, buil." Then leave it to dry for 24 hours so I can assess the level of sheen that best suits the painting colours and the environment in the painting will hang (if its a specific commission). Is it better to use gloss first and satin over that? thanks, and happy new year! Im currently in the process of making a two-panel painting for my school project thatll be shown in an exhibit a month from now, and Im planning on using both oil and acrylic paint as mediums, but my problem is what type of coat can I use as a finish that can be applied to oil and acrylic? Totally love LOVE your site! Hello Will, Im in my mid forties and have just begun painting and Im loving every minute of it. Read on. And not framed, and I cant varnish it for at least six months.. I worried about putting a varnish that stays in place permanently, now I know that I must take the removable. Now please help me. Hopefully, this has helped to demonstrate the many different applications for this easy-to-use paint additive! Thank you for the information, well-timed for me! Hi Eva, they will each give you a different aesthetic finish, which will often vary depending on personal preference and the style and mood of the painting. They didnt like the visual effect or the ostentatious feel of a highly glossed surface. 6. Employ matte tiles on kitchen countertops as they feature a higher resistance to scratching. Dear Will, I am new to the acrylics rather in painting, I mostly do on the Canvas but on the cardboard too. Thinning with water (ideally distilled water): Pro tip: If youre having problems working quickly enough with water-based varnishes, then you can use a large sponge to apply. Could you please advise me if it is better to use as a varnish the satin finish as opposed to the gloss or matt varnishes for portraits, based on your experience? The safest way to cover all bases to see which image you prefer is to set up your camera on a tripod and then photograph at each stage. Ive read horror stories about storing and shipping paintings oil and acrylic. One question what would you use as an isolation coat if you were working with ATELIER products? 4. The base black colour is completely dry. Clean up with water Dry quickly No strong smell No need for mineral spirits for cleaning, Tricky to apply Dry very quickly Not as hard varnish finish Milky when wet. Choose from 4-, 8-, 16-,32-, or 128-ounce containers. Hi Jay, pleased you found the article helpful, to answer your questions: If the varnish is sealed its pretty good for years, its only if air gets into the mix it can start to change the consistency of the varnish. Thanks Will for taking your time and energy in putting your website together! It is greatly appreciated. They provide a good level of protection and small to medium pieces are an easy, great choice, especially if you work from a small studio within your home. Thanks in advance. I painted and varnished a painting that I no longer like. I received a reply from Liquitex and am sharing it with anyone who is interested. Hi Michael, on the Liquitex site they dont recommend diluting the gloss varnish at all, so just use it straight. Cheers, Will, Hi Will, thanks for this very thorough information! Do you recommend I change my habits? varnish layer (final finish, can be gloss, satin or matte), isolation coat (must be with the gloss medium). Ive been doing graphics for years and I had an old painting that I never finished, and knew I never would, so I gessoed over it and I am nearing completion of a sunset that is renewing my painting days. I guess they lack the binding quality of the traditional paint? Alternatively, due to the size of the canvas and the fact that the canvas could be moved around a lot you could also use yacht varnish. Thank you for all of the information on your website. Some sources advise not to mix acrylic paint with more than 50 percent water. As to how much you can thin it, several variables come into play, such as quality of paint, the surface, and whether you're using a medium (and what kind). How to Paint a Moonlit Harbour: Step-by-Step Painting Tutorial, How to Paint a Moka Coffee Pot with Acrylics, New Still Life Peaches Acrylic Painting Course, Thought Id add a little sugar to go with the co, Painting inspiration from some epic coffee we had, Women in Blue Reading a Letter Halloween means black and that was the main color on all the paintings. Whether you simply want a matte finish or are looking to play around with several effects, we have recommendations for some of the top acrylic matte mediums (and one matte varnish). 3. Is this an acceptable practice? Hi Lois, Ill be covering oil painting varnishing in a future article, the polyethylene furniture varnish usually has a tendency to yellow more over time. Thank you. It is a Krylon UV Archival Varnish(Satin). This is helpful for artists who do a lot of blending, or want to use oil painttechniques, or those who paint en plein air. Thank you for your speedy reply and also for your very informative article on varnishing. Thanks, Toby, Hi Toby, yes, you can match the different sheens by matching diferent varnishes (matte, saton or gloss) to the different areas of the painting. Select double-glazed . Distilled water is the ideal, but personally Ive never had any problems using regular tap water. WE ALSO LIKELiquitex Professional Acrylic Matte MediumOne advantage of Liquitexs medium is that, unlike additives like retardants, the binder withinthem means that you can add as much medium to your paint as youd like without affecting the paints adhesion or structural integrity. Good question. The matte medium binds everything together. You are truly thorough and most enthusiastic, which I find very refreshing. Modern painter Robert Motherwell had to accept the aesthetic implications of the varnish. Matte medium is beneficial when glazing. It is available in 8-, 16-, 32-, and 128-ounce jars. The medium has a lot of practical uses, and its something I always keep around. You mix different mediums into the pigment to give your acrylic paintings a special effect. I went back to an old box of art supplies from art school and found some Soluvar Matte Varnishes (Permanent Pigments) that still seem to be in good shape after years of being stored (never in cold environment always room temp and DRY. Its a fairly easy process that involves matte medium, distilled water and a picture printed with a laser printer. These varnishes are not removable, and are usually called something like a "varnish medium". Ive been an oil painter for many years but want to try experimenting with acrylic ink on heavy hot press watercolor paper as well as acrylic gessoed canvas. This makes it particularly handy for glazes and blending. It's perfect doable - you can make up your own satin varnish from scratch by mixing matt and gloss, ending up with something more or less glossy than the commercial version - so you can of course add more gloss to any existing satin varnish to make it slightly shinier. The biggest drawback with MSA Varnishes is that they must be thinned before use, with full-strength spirits. I dont really want to varnishI was just hoping to add gloss and create depth of color. A sponge brush works best for this. Heres an article on applying an isolation coat that goes through the materials and brushes I use. Should I use matte or glossy varnish? Thanks as always for your wonderful site and advise! Gracias. Gamvar from Gamblin is a good choice. If not, what is the best ratio that you would recommend? The World's Premier Art Magazine since 1913. I am using a satin spray varnish. This protects the paint layers from abrasion when your removable layer is removed. I truly am an amateur as you can see in my etsy store, but just need your advice. One common issue is how the paints dry quickly and do not allow for much time for other layers to be added. Your advice would be appreciated. A little bit of water can be used together with pouring medium but not instead of pouring medium. thanks again. If you want to make something look dirty or rusty this is the stuff. If there are certain areas of your painting where you would like some parts to be lighter or darker but dont want to repaint them, you can add a few drops of matte medium to the paint in those areas. Once again thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my question. I live in Calgary Canada and sometimes its harder to find the full range of the products of these brands, but i will find the ones you recommend. What would you suggest to use as a sealant, Hi Roxanne, I havent personally ever sealed a reverse painting, but I would be tempted to add a sheet of perspex on the back to sandwich the painting in-between so you have a flat surface you can then attach to the wall. You can incorporate an additive into your paint to increase the finished pieces matte or flat quality. Trying to re-use old unsuccessful canvases. Most acrylic mediums come in two finishes: glossy and matte. Youre welcome Tomoko, yes its often just feeling a sense of confidence that can help, pleased you enjoyed the white article. So when a painting has yellowed and looks suitably dirty, the varnish can be removed (and all the dirt with it), restoring the painting to its vibrant, former glory, then a new varnish can be applied to protect it for the next 100 years or so. Merry Christmas and Many Thanks Sue from Texas. I want to keep the contrast without the shine if possible. Some ways to use a matte medium with acrylic paint: You can use the matte medium in various ways, even with light colors. Im Wondering if I can apply a satin varnish or gel isolation coat to bring down the shine over top, and what that will do to the colour saturation? Goldens website also covers this topic. It can also be used as a sort of primer to give the paint something to stick to and prevent it from changing its appearance on different surfaces. Thats what I figured, but I really appreciate your expert advice! These types of varnish usually will say they are strippable varnishes. Once before varnishing, once after varnish has dried and once when framed. About a year ago I completed a large acrylic on canvas (120 x 120cm) which also has areas of gold leaf applied to it. I meant to say satin. The anxiety and disappointment that comes with varnishing can sometimes seem too much. Can you please, please tell me why they make permanent varnish? 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The glazing liquid accomplish the same thing your very kind comments, sorry! Sense of confidence that can help, pleased you enjoyed the white article help pleased... To demonstrate the many different applications for this easy-to-use paint additive glazing liquid accomplish the thing... Keep paintings protected from all the dust, dirt, smoke etc.. in the atmosphere, they. Have an acrylic landscape painting, I am new to the acrylics in. If desired, or 128-ounce containers on your website and varnished a that... Or flat quality and I cant varnish it for varnish removal purpose but to even the sheen this treasure (... Be thinned before use, with full-strength spirits I want to make something look dirty or rusty this is best!