varnishing oil paintings

jojoamethyst · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 29

i am very new to oils so don't really know what to do once i think it is finished

i picked up some damar varnish today - is this what people use as a final coat?

advice would be appreciated

thanks
Smile

jo

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: Newcastle

Don't use a varnish yet! You need to wait until it is dry. Some people I know wait a year before varnishing. Other people will be able to give you more technical stuff.

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

Is it a spray can of damar or will you be painting it on?

Leave it to dry at least a month - six months if possible. If not possible because you want to exhibit it in the near future, then spray it with touch up varnish and varnish it properly in six months time (or tell your buyer if selling it that they need to varnish it after six months or so).

Some experts say you should wait months, others say it makes little difference at all when you varnish it as long as the paint is not wet, so that the varnish layer doesn't integrate itself with the paint layers. The main purpose of varnish is to protect the paint from dirt and grime by providing a discrete layer that can be cleaned and/or removed in the future if necessary without damaging the painting.

jojoamethyst · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 29

thanks
i wont varnish it yet as it isnt properly dry

just keen to do it as it is for someone and he wants to get it framed - not much use framing it until it is varnished and finished properly i am thinking

it is a paint on not spray - havnt seen the spray - a bit limited in supplies in albany

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

If painting on varnish you need to do it with reasonably small brush strokes, in alternating directions, a few inches square one way then the adjoining square in the perpendicular direction. You also need a good flat varnish brush - fairly fine but that will not drop hairs. Don't try to put it on too thick. Several thin layers are better than one thick one.

David Coles · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Melbourne

David Coles from Langridge Colours here. I thought I'd post a reply to your question as we get many more questions about varnishing than any other technical queries.
First, I would defintely recommend waiting a minimum of six months from completion of painting. This will allow oxygen to be fully absorbed by the oil and completely harden. The application of a final picture varnish will prevent the oxygen reaching the paint surface potentially leading to uneven drying which can be detrimental to the long term stability of the paint.
If needing to varnish before the six months, apply Retouch Varnish which is a lower solids varnish that allows oxygen to pass through.
A Retouch Varnish is only a temporary varnish though and will not provide full long term protection of the painting from pollutants, handling, etc.
A tip on applying any varnish on a painting you may think is dry enough to varnish:
Take a soft white cotton cloth, dip lightly in turpentine or similar artists' solvent and in a corner of the painting (not the middle!) gently wipe the surface 3-4 times. If no colour comes up on the cloth the painting is dry enough and you can varnish. If colour is seen the paint is still too soft and any varnishing will lead to colour bleed. Wait a couple more days and repeat testing procedure until no colour comes off before varnishing.
Hope this is of some interest to you.

framed · Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Sydney

Sorry to dig up a 2yr old post, but I was just wondering what brand of varnish people recommend?

I am painting with art spectrum oils if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

One more question. Some of my paintings I want to do a matte varnish on, I have been told that you should do a normal gloss varnish coat before doing the matte varnishing, is this true?

Thanks for the help.

Daz

jspinella2000 · Joined: 11 May 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Sydney

I'm also at a stage where I'm thinking about varnishing one of my paintings. I paint on canvas boards mainly and I trying to work out if it is even necessary. Will it extend the life of the painting.

I was thinking of using a Matte varnish.

Kind regards
Joseph Spinella

Tram Art - paintings of trams http://www.josephspinellaart.com/tram-art.htm

Tango · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1360 Location: Melbourne

Yes always varnish for all the reason already stated in this thread, it will protect and preserve... though in my opinion avoid damar varnish, it is a traditional varnish used by a lot of artists , but in time it will darken/yellow and crack , also the longer it's on the harder it is to remove...There are a lot of modern varnishes spray-on or brush-on that don't yellow and therefore wont have to be removed ,,, I use Winsor & Newton Conserv-Art Gloss Varnish which has excellent optical qualities, they also make a good Matt varnish.. You can also get varnishes which give UV protection , I know Old Holland make one..

jspinella2000 · Joined: 11 May 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Sydney

Thanks Tango for your reply. My local art store stocks Winsor & Newton products so I'll try out their matte varnish.

Many thanks
Joseph Spinella

Tram Art - paintings of trams http://www.josephspinellaart.com/tram-art.htm

serena · Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Sydney

Varnish is also used to even out the gloss levels in a painting. If you have used different mediums in your painting which have different gloss levels then a varnish will bring it back to one unifying sheen.
Chroma Solvent Varnishes, Gloss and Satin are made for this purpose. The Satin is a bit on the matt side so it won't give sheen. If the painting already has sheen that you like and you don't need to even out levels then the Invisible Solvent Varnish will provide the protection mentioned without changing the gloss of a painting.

Some gloss varnishes are very glossy while a matt varnish wont heighten the colour in painting which a gloss can do. By laying one or two gloss layers below some matt layers you get better control of your sheen level.

When applying varnish make sure the environment is as dust free as possible. Lay work flat and apply in sections with one brush stroke. After the section is done re-wet brush with varnish and go in opposite or diagonal direction to work in but be careful not to over brush. Allow 24 hrs between coats if possible. Remember to stand work up after each coat to avoid dust accumulation. Otherwise tiny particles of dust will embed themselves within the varnish.

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The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

DavenportTegan · Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3 Location: other

Hi friend.
If you are new to painting , then don't get worried.
You can visit different sites offering original fine art and prints. You can also learn from them.
At first it may be difficult for you but gradually it will be easy.

Thanks
Davenport Tegan

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