A Short-Sweet Guide for Varnish Application

 

painting art exhibition

Have you sometimes noticed how the color of your canvas paint gets dull after a few days? Or are you struggling to keep the dirt from sticking to the paint? Art maintenance can be tricky and challenging.

However, the varnish is a magical ingredient for painters and canvas artists. When you click the image of your artwork for a painting art exhibition to deliver the piece at the buyer's address, you'll need to ensure the quality (colors, dimensions, depths) of the painting is in impeccable condition. 

However, if the varnish application isn't done in the correct way, it can ruin the entire hard work and efforts that you've put into creating your artwork. 

Understanding The Definitions and Purpose

Varnish

It is a transparent, hard, protective, liquid coat applied over the painting surface as a protective covering. Varnish can be both permanent and removable. It helps restore your painting for presentation in the best online gallery to sell art.

Benefits Of Varnishing

  • Protection from dirt, dust, and other foreign elements. 
  • Painting restoration by creating a non-porous, removable protective layer. With this layer, any dirt won't get attached to the paint. You can remove the varnish to reveal the lost glory of any painting and restore it with a new layer of varnish. 
  • Deepen (saturate) the paint shades and redefines texture. 
  • Create a uniform gloss/matte/satin sheen over the entire picture surface/canvas surface.

Isolation Coat

An isolation coat is a permanent layer that acts as a protective finish top-coat on the paint and underneath the varnish. Therefore, an isolation coat is always applied before varnish application. Diluted soft gel gloss is the most popular isolation coat material.

Benefits Of Isolation Coat

  • To avoid a cloudy, cakey, or frosted finish after applying a matte varnish. The frostiness generally occurs with the absorption of the varnish agent on the surface, leaving the matting agent exposed. 
  • To create a physical separation between the varnish and painted image. It keeps the painted surface protected during the stripping/varnish removal process. 
With both an isolation coat and varnish, you can put your best artwork to painting art exhibition.

Types Of Varnish

  • Gloss Varnish: Gloss varnishes are high-shine varnishes that pop and enhance the painting colors even more. 
  • Matte Varnish: Imparts a subdued and non-shiny finish on the painting. Matte finish is great for making dark colors appear lighter and leaves a flat, non-shiny finish. 
  • Satin Coating: If you want to strike a perfect balance between sheen and matte effect, the satin varnish is your ideal pick. Satin varnish coating imparts a soft, semi-glossy finish. 
  • Water-based Varnish: Non-toxic, easy-to-remove varnish coating specially formulated with ultraviolet light stabilizers (UVLS), which help protect your painting from UV damage or color fading due to sunlight exposure. 
  • MSA (mineral spirit acrylic)/ Solvent-based Varnishes: Imparts a super-glossy finish. However, the fumes are toxic therefore ensuing using it with masks or in a well-ventilated area. 
  • Spray Varnish: The varnish comes in a spraying bottle and is great for varnish applications over textured surfaces.

How To Apply Varnish On A Painting?

  • Allows the fresh paint to dry for at least 1 week before isolation coat application. 
  • Mix 2 parts of soft gel with 1 part of water (2:1) to create the isolation coat. Mix gently to avoid bubble formation. 
  • For dirt and lint removal, use a dry paintbrush. 
  • Apply a thin coat and let it dry for 24 hours. 
  • Lay newspaper and lay the painting on a flat surface. Avoid applying varnish in a propped-up or hanging position. 
  • Follow manufacturer information for varnish preparation. Test before application. 
  • Using a flat, wide paint brush for application 
  • Allow the varnish to dry for 3-6 hours for best effect before applying teh second coat. 
  • After the second application, wait for 1-2 weeks before final delivery. 
Isolation coat and varnish restore your painting. Exhibit your painting at the best online gallery to sell art.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

4 Compelling Reasons To Upload Your Art At Online Art Platforms?

Finding Your Art Niche: 7 Popular Categories At The Best Art Galleries

Show Your Art In Galleries And Exhibitions Worldwide