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Varnish Gouache

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Sylvia Evans

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Has anyone ever put varnish onto a Gouache painting.?   It's painted on mount board. ,which may also be a factor.   Or should I just glaze it.   Help appreciated.  Thanks . 

Alan Bickley

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I would say put it behind glass with a mount… If you varnish it, you can never remove the stuff and I just don’t like the idea of varnishing water based paints. Apart from anything else, it would probably crack over time, leaving an unholy mess! Robert, or indeed other members may have a different view… but I’m sticking with NO…

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by Alan Bickley

Sylvia Evans

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Thanks Alan...I did think this might be the case . 

Tessa Gwynne

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I use gouache quite often On mountboard and have never thought of varnishing it. 

Sylvia Evans

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Ha Tessa do you put it under glass ? 

Tessa Gwynne

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Sylv I actually haven’t framed any yet but yes I think I would. Mine so far have been fairly small because I bought a batch of A4 mount boards and have used quite a few but concentrating on oils at the mo.  I think Alan’s suggestion sounds perfect so that you leave a slight gap between the gouache and the glass. How big are your paintings?

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by Tessa Gwynne

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Robert Jones, Napa

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Frame it like watercolour - which is, after all, what it is with a bit of white and chalks added - in a mount.  There are watercolour varnishes, I'm told - not that I've ever seen them, but then I haven't looked; I wouldn't touch them.  I varnish acrylics, and oils - usually.  And dat's dat.... I did ask a Cornish artist who uses casein if they need varnishing - he didn't know, so presumably not!  

Sylvia Evans

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A3 Tessa it's just one that I was cautious about .  Until he closed down the guy who framed my pictures used to let me just help myself to mount board off cuts .  So I have quite a lot also great for small visiting grandchildren to paint on.. Of course you are all right re not  varnishing a water based medium.  If I had used half a brain I would have worked it out.  But thank you.

Jenny Harris

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I’m about to try some Aquabord I bought a while ago - it’s been specifically designed for use with water based paints and they suggest varnishing the finished painting so you can then frame it without the need for glass.  They recommend Golden Archival varnishes which the manufacturer says can be used on, among other things, watercolour and tempera and is removable for conservation purposes.  I’ve used it to seal a painting which included some watercolour on Claybord and it was fine.

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by Jenny Harris

Sylvia Evans

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That is interesting Jenny.