DO you varnish?

Sandra - I'll see if I can find it again; a bit later today.  Tessa, you can paint a perfectly satisfactory picture with water-miscible oils, and I'm sure you have: I don't like them at all, but obviously I'd made that all too clear.... I expect we'll return to the subject one day.  But for now, if you paint thickly, it'll take a bit more time for the paint to cure, and if I were to varnish an impasto painting I'd wait the full 8 to 12 months, and probably 12.   Marjorie, Alan, ACF canvases: other than being far less inclined to sag, I've not been able to tell the difference between the terylene and linen - I'm quite happy with smooth canvas, but would certainly try a more pronounced weave if it could be developed.  I've often used Belle Arti panels, but - and this is completely subjective, I realize - given the choice I prefer ACF canvas on board; it doesn't feel in any way man-made to me, though obviously it is; but then, so is cotton duck and linen: the difference of course is that they don't contain artificial fibre; but it's that fibre that will ensure longevity for your work - now, that's a bit complicated; cotton duck and linen obviously do last, and have, for hundreds of years; but longer term, they need conservation work.  That might not be true, at least so soon (relatively) for a terylene-based canvas; but how much practical difference does that make to working artists?  Not much, really. So, I've been using ACF canvases - up until this week, when the heat has reduced me to an unlovely  pink blob - because a) I like trying different things, and b) I really like them.  There is a price difference of course; but the quality of the product makes that price worth paying, because - and this is also important - I really don't paint very much by comparison with Alan, say, who I think is probably rarely to be found without a brush in his hand.  That is not true of me - a stick of charcoal, maybe; but not a brush or knife on a very frequent basis: if I were really grinding out paintings every day (hastening to say I'm not accusing Alan of "grinding them out") I'd go for a less expensive product, like Belle Arti.  Indeed - I have a stock of those, and other canvases/boards; what I haven't got is ideas for new paintings - or perhaps I have too many and can't decide between them. I don't know how you all manage to paint in the present heat - I just can't....!  

Sandra, here's that link again: it won't be live, but highlight and right click - sure you know about that, but just in case. https://www.naturalpigments.com/artist-materials/varnishing-paintings-techniques-tips?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=varnish