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Varnishing acrylics
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Message
Posted
The advise I have from here on the forum was that acrylics don't need to be varnished, but I found it brightens the colour. And seems to somehow gives them that finishing look. If you know what I mean... I used liquitex professional gloss medium and varnish.. it's a little expensive but is well worth it. I've also used liquitex soluvar gloss varnish for both acrylics and oils.. I only put a thin watered down layer on. It seems to work for me... I m sure someone with more knowledge will add variation to this.....
Posted
From the point of view of protecting the painting, I am not convinced that varnishing is of any great benefit. I have been dabbling in acrylics, on and off, for about 40 years and never felt the need to varnish. In fact I think one of the reasons I took them up is reading some-where, way back when, that they didn't need varnishing as nothing short of sandpaper would damage the surface. I haven't tried the sandpaper yet but my unvarnished efforts seem to have stood the test of time. I am intrigued about 'enhancing the colour' and having won a can of acrylic spray varnish from 'The Artist' I may well give it a go. It's the sort of thing that if it works for you do it, it it doesn't, there's no harm done.
Posted
Depends on what surface you've painted them on - acrylic on watercolour paper benefits from being framed under glass, but not necessarily varnishing. Acrylics on canvas or board - well; there are several schools of thought. One is that acrylic paint can get dirty over time, and when it does is hard to clean: the surface is rather softer and more porous than you might think. although that varies between brands; so dirt can sink in. And another is that, frankly, if the paint does get dirty, you can clean it with water and even a bit of soap..... as I've done, and it worked.
Even so, I usually varnish, using an acrylic or removable varnish depending on what I happen to have available. This is on the 'better safe than sorry' principle. Matte varnish doesn't do a lot for the colours, but a gloss varnish will - and you can control the degree of gloss by adding just one coat instead of two.
There's a lot of information on Will Kemp's website which you will find useful. He uses Golden Acrylics, I think - and uses an 'isolation coat' before applying the varnish: so it can get quite complicated, the deeper you look.
Posted
Thanks Sylvia, I will definitely get some varnish when I order some more goodies!
Ellen, I appreciate very much what you have said about my acrylic work, I have now taken over the whole of our dining table with my paraphernalia and as we live in a small cottage.....well you can imagine😀 This painting lark needs lots of room! I think we need a bigger house or a shed in the garden like Sylvia!!!!
