Varnishing (updated)

By: Fawn McNeill Barr ( View Profile - Contact )

Varnishing (updated)

Varnishing Acrylic Paintings

First, There are different kinds of varnish, so always read the instructions on the label before varnishing anything!  

Next, acrylic paintings do not need to "breath" like oils. They do not oxidize over time like oil paintings. They do not crack or yellow with age as oil paintings do. Oils need 6 months or so to be cured enough for varnishing.   Usually acrylics are dry to the touch in 10 or 15 minutes, but I like to wait until the next day to varnish them.

Acrylics can be dry to the touch and not fully cured (or dry all the way through). If I used large amounts of thick paint (ie: a palette knife painting) I will wait two or three days.   I use an acrylic varnish on my acrylic paintings, never on oil paintings. An acrylic Varnish is really not a true varnish, but rather a clear sealer.A true varnish is removable, most acrylic varnishes are permanent.  

The advantage to an acrylic varnish is its versatility. It does not yellow with age, has no toxic fumes,  cleans up with water, and can be painted over. So if you change your mind and want to correct something in the painting you can simply paint over it and re-seal it!   In fact, it can also be used as a clear primer for a wood surface that you might want to see the grain of instead of covering it with gesso. Then the background becomes the wood-grain and the painting is just on the sealer instead of the white primer. You can also create lustrous layers of transparent color by using a sealer between many layers of paint on any surface.  

With a true varnish, like damar varnish, you have to use mineral spirits to remove the varnish, make corrections and then re- varnish. The advantage is that the varnish does not become part of the painting. It is better for restoration purposes, and is best for oil paintings. True varnishes can yellow with time, and that is something to consider before choosing a varnish.  Make sure the label is clear on what type of painting it is to be used on! 

  I usually use Liquitex Medium and Varnish, gloss and matte, mixed for a semi-gloss finish. It takes more gloss than matte ( approx. two thirds to one third). I have started using a sponge brush, instead of a regular brush, I like the smooth strokes it makes, leaving little or no streaks. I apply two or three coats (completely drying between coats). Usually I wait a few hours or a day between layers.   Feel free to ask me any questions about it!   Thanks for stopping by. 

11/14/08    Update:

Here are some answers to more questions about sealing acrylic paintings:

Hi Fawn.

You use: "Liquitex Medium and Varnish, gloss and matte". Is that two different products (Medium vs. Varnish) ? Or one product used in two different finishes? - I bought Liquitex Satin permanent varnish - is that ok?

Thanks much, Neil in CA

Answer: 

 Good question!

Liquitex Medium and Varnish is one product, the problem is that it only comes in gloss or matte, so I buy both and use mostly gloss, but add some matte to cut some of the glare. I premix them about one third to two thirds.

Satin is good too, but sometimes seems to make the art work a little less clear. Test it on something small and see if you like it.
 

Do you use an isolation or barrier coat first, before varnishing?

No, there is no need in a barrier coat.

 Acrylics are so versatile, you can use gel mediums, texture producing mediums, and sealers and varnishes at any stage of the painting. They are very fun to play around with too. Once I did a painting with very thin layers of transparent paint, each layer thinned with gloss medium. It took a few weeks of adding new layers, but the effect was like a jewel! The problem came about in taking a photo of it! too much shine and glare! Now I take photos of my paintings before I add the varnish.

Sometimes I use the Gloss Medium and Varnish as a first coat, to enhance the colors, then go back with my semi-gloss mixture (after it dries) to cut the glare a little.

Acrylics really don't need a varnish, and many artists do not varnish them. Technically they are a plastic film and can be cleansed of dirt and grime without harming the painting. Of course this is only true if the paint surface has not been jeopardized. What I mean is that if the paint is used very thin with water instead of a medium, it changes the structure and creates a surface that is less likely to withstand the gentle washing away of any surface build up. The acrylic varnish just seals off the paint, giving it a unifying surface that is easier to clean later if needed. This is important to me because I use so many different and varied amounts of thick and thin paint. I often have thin washes of color on the last layer, and want to insure it stays there.

	About The Artist
	Fawn McNeill Barr ( View Profile - Contact ) ( 3 lessons, ) Fawn as her BFA from Florida Atlantic University. Her major is in studio arts and painting. She is also a certified art teacher in Florida.