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Varnishing watercolours?

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With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Take a look and listen at this video from Golden - who make acrylics, oil paints (under the Williamsburg label), and - presumably - watercolours, though I've never seen them on offer in this country. Would you varnish your watercolours, rather than mount, glaze, and frame them?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Iw81LcNqMQ

Sylvia Evans

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Can’t get that to open Robert but have seen something like it a while ago . Personally I like proper frames, mounts and glass for watercolour.  For oils and acrylics a different scenario. Box canvas though hate painting down the siide or a proper canvas an appropriate frame.    I also have a faint recollection of water colours being waxed, or is that completely a wrong memory ?.

Alan Bickley

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I haven’t looked at the video, but the whole concept of varnishing a watercolour is ludicrous at best! There’s nothing that will set off a watercolour better than a pristine antique white bevelled mount in a well chosen frame. Yes I’m traditional… and I like it that way! Ps. Wouldn’t mind betting that the varnish will start to flake/crack over time - no thanks.
IMG_6882

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I am 100% with Alan on this , I cannot see any reason why you would want to varnish a watercolour. The tried and tested method of behind glass works so well. Surely there must be some effect on the paint as the varnish soaks into it, apart from changing the tones etc.  It’s not as if you could hang it as it would still need a frame. And surely the point of using watercolour is that apart from the necessity agents to keep it soft , you don’t use solvents not that this is the reason we use the medium . All I can really say is no, no and no way.  Glass, mount , frame job done. Only managed part of the video, but not upset about missing the rest.

Denise Cat

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I agree with Alan and Paul on this. I can't see why you would want to ruin a watercolor with varnish.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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You need to highlight the link, then right click on it. The process they use is quite convoluted, and entails gluing the watercolour to a board, which can then be framed.  They say their varnish doesn't contain water, and therefore the paint will not run .... I began to lose faith at that point.   However, once you've finished with the isolation coat, the panel to stick the paper to, the proper archival glue, then the varnish .... you'll have spent as much as it costs to frame a watercolour properly. What got me though was the variety of varnishes - they apply a gloss varnish first (the argument being that this is akin to the effect of glass) and if you don't like that and prefer a matte appearance, they also sell a matte varnish. Question from me is: why not just use acrylics in the first place?  If you're not using watercolour for the effects that watercolour uniquely gives - what's the point?

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by Robert Jones, NAPA

Alan Morris

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Try highlighting the link and copy and paste it into address/search box and click go.  That works for me.

Alan Bickley

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There isn’t a point! Thought up by some crack-pot just for the sake of it… and with nothing better to do! … I rest my case!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Call me an old cynic, but you don't think pushing products at painters for pelf might have something to do with it.......?

Norrette Moore

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... I also have a faint recollection of water colours being waxed, or is that completely a wrong memory ?.
Sylvia Evans on 08/09/2021 03:20:00
Take a look at the latest Leisure Painter edition. (Seem bizarre to me also)

Sylvia Evans

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I don't rhave the L P  Norrette but I  did google this...this was the first of several and as I was beginning to yawn half way through I didn't bother with any more ,but yes, you apparently can. The bit about the framer spilling his coffee over your painting amused me it then goes on how to not make a pigs ear of this method. Just looked above and reread Alans comment yes, ludicrous. How to Seal, Mount & Varnish Watercolor Paintings - Online ...

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by Sylvia Evans

Norrette Moore

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Sorry about this, it is a palaver.  I think even more work with waxing.
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