How to not DESTROY your gouache painting!?

What do you do to protect your gouache paintings?
- Dorlands Wax Medium (This is not a paid promotion)
hey, If you are interested in gouache painting come and join my 8 week online class starting on JULY 30! that's really soon! Learn to use this medium from the ground up!
Learn more and Sign up at justindonaldso...

[@dastels]

Yes, a cold wax medium (I use Dorlands as well) works great. I like that it puts a little shine onto it. A big plus is that you don't need to protect it behind glass which gives you more mounting/framing/hanging options.

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

Yeah, it’s a real shame to put so much work into a painting only to then put it behind glass where there are reflections everywhere. There are some nice less-reflective glasses - they are real expensive though. Have you tried any of those?

[@AnnieNoodle]

I just bought some of this two days ago!! Looking forward to using it this weekend.

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

Oooh let me know how it goes for you

[@katrinafalks]

Thanks Justin for showing this. I was actually looking for wax(after scouting your videos :D) to seal my painting before solo show,but couldn't find in local art stores.
Went with Daler&Rowney varnish for gouache/watercolours.
Oh man,that was a real adventure to make it work,even destroyed two of my paintings which where meant for exhibition. I tested it before on smaller paintings,was great. It almost had this gooey film like that you apply with a brush,painting looks great after. Even fooled some people thinking it's an oil painting not gouache. Everything went downhills when I needed to varnish larger pieces and it was less varnish left in a bottle. It started to dry real fast,sometimes creating bubbles....nor did it apply smoothly...I might got a few grey hairs after all that :D somehow saved paintings. One is a bit damaged,but well,it is what it is. Definitely will search for wax. Varnished some sketchbook pages and after drying,pages still want to stick together,tearing pieces when I open the sketchbook... 😐
Be careful people with varnishes!!! :D

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

Oh yeah, I’ve done some real damage trying to work with varnishes too!! It’s a great big adventure!! Sorry to hear about those show pieces 😅 for the tree one in this video it darkened a little further than I expected, so while it certainly wasn’t ruined - as in it has no damage) it’s not quite what it was either. Luckily I got a really nice scan before I did anything to it

[@springandlemon]

I used this on my gouache paintings for when I hang them up and I can sit in peace knowing it's protected ☺I'm also looking for a matte version of this, I miss the matte look sometimes

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

Yeah, it’s a hard compromise - but necessary sometimes

[@kayleenwest]

Have you tried pure bees wax? Apply and don’t buff for a more matt finish.

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

What a great idea! I haven’t but I’m going to!!

[@Ceruleanmoonlight]

I just finished a gouache illustration and was wondering how/if i wanted to protect it! def going to get me some of this wax for sure! But question, does this wax make the painting feel slippery or well, waxy?

[@JustinDonaldsonArt]

Once you give it that 24 hours and buff it it really won’t feel waxy