My Gamvar dries uneven and puddled in areas. Is it best to remove it and try again or just put another coat to even in out? Why do you think this happens?
A question. When describing the semi-glossy varnish mixture using cold wax medium, first you have mentioned it should be mixed with a Gamvar, but when showing the process you mentioned that a wax should be first dissolved with Gamsol? On your palette the cold wax was mixed with a cup of Gamvar. How much of the Gamsol have to be added to cold wax prior mixing it with Gamvar? Thank you.
There were two modifications described in the video for reducing gloss: First, for a slight reduction in gloss finish, it was recommended that 10-20% Gamsol can be added to Gamvar. For a greater reduction in gloss, it was recommended that Cold Wax Medium should be slightly reduced with a small amount of Gamvar, then the resulting mixture should be added to Gamvar in a proportion of about 20% to 80% varnish. The initial reduction of the Cold Wax on the palette is simply to ensure that it dissolves completely into the varnish with no lumps.
+jerzeyzgirl03 Yes, you can use Gamvar on an acrylic painting. It is recommended to apply an isolation coat prior to the Gamvar. A good option for an isolation coat is a soft acrylic gel in a gloss finish. Then be sure to wait long enough for the paint film and the isolation coat to dry fully and completely gas off. This could take approximately 1 - 2 weeks. Finally, after that time you can apply one or two coats of the Gamvar Varnish. If you have additional questions, you can reach Blick Product Information at 1-800-933-2542 or info@dickblick.com. Thanks!
Should the dried surface (say, 6 months +) of the painting be 'Oiled out' with linseed oil, alkyds, other mediums / solvents... where the dried surface has uneven sheen on account of 'sunken' areas? This before we apply Varnish. Please clarify. Thanks.
Most of the time, picture varnish alone is sufficient to unify surface gloss in a dry painting, but some artists do apply a small amount of thinned stand oil or linseed oil in order to restore the wet appearance of colors, especially when some passages have a flatter sheen. We think this is a good practice, provided that the absolute bare minimum effective amount of oil is applied, with no loose oil on the surface afterward. After doing so, we recommend waiting for the newly absorbed oil to dry before applying varnish, to prevent the oil from fusing with the top coat, however we don't think it would be necessary to wait another 6 months. When the artist is confident that the paint film has dried to the touch after "oiling out", there should be no problem applying varnish at that point. Hope this helps!
I like your product very much, but I seem to have small bubbles, and not sure what I’m doing wrong.I’m using the brushes recommended. So do I try to sand the painting before putting on another coat, or use the mineral spirits to get the bubbles out? Thank you
Adding a thinner can reduce viscosity ad give the coat more time to shed bubbles, but if you want to use the product undiluted, try a different application technique and brush back across the surface after the first stroke. It may take a little more time, but the results should be better.
The challenge with the technique you're describing is the lack of a strong binder for pastel, which is powdery and friable. Gamvar may firm up the top layer, but we don't think even a heavy coat would impart enough adhesion. The pastel layer would remain delicate, and it would come off easily with the lightest contact or cleaning attempt. We think a fixative applied over the pastel, and framing under glass would be a more effective approach. Hope this helps!
I've been waiting for a painting to dry and varnish with gamvar, but no matter how long I waited, it's still kind of sticky/tacky whenever I touch it. The paint no longer transfers though, that being said, can I already varnish it or should I continue waiting for it to dry further? Thank you.
+viena-lara Please contact Product Information at 800-933-2542, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5:30 pm CST. We would like to discuss this with you further, as the stickiness can be caused by a number of reasons and we need some further information. Thank you.
I completed my first oil painting on a Foundation Series Canva-Paper Pad. I would like to put a protective layer over my oil paintings that gives them a gloss. I have Gamblin Gamvar picture varnish: will this particular vanish ruin my oil paintings that are on Foundation Series Canva-Paper Pad?
+Stella Future CEO Once the painting is dry to the touch, the paint needs more time to fully cure, or to finish drying all the way through rather than just on the surface. Gamblin states that an average cure time before applying their varnishis about three months, but the best way to make sure the painting is ready is the thumbnail test. Find the passage of your painting where the paint is the thickest, and gently press your fingernail into it. If the paint feels soft, or like your thumbnail might leave a mark, then the paint is not fully cured and you’ll need to wait before applying the varnish. If the paint is firm then you can go ahead and apply the varnish. The Canva-Paper will not be damaged by Gamvar, though in the long-term it may be a good idea to frame the painting or mount it to a rigid surface to avoid any possible risk of the paint cracking. For any additional questions, you can reach Blick Product Information at 1-800-933-2542 or info@dickblick.com. Thanks!
My Gamvar dries uneven and puddled in areas. Is it best to remove it and try again or just put another coat to even in out? Why do you think this happens?
Those videos with the paint in the factory are just eye candy for the Artist's Soul! Looks like a unique product I will certainly check it out.
Reeah.
A question.
When describing the semi-glossy varnish mixture using cold wax medium, first you have mentioned it should be mixed with a Gamvar, but when showing the process you mentioned that a wax should be first dissolved with Gamsol? On your palette the cold wax was mixed with a cup of Gamvar. How much of the Gamsol have to be added to cold wax prior mixing it with Gamvar? Thank you.
There were two modifications described in the video for reducing gloss: First, for a slight reduction in gloss finish, it was recommended that 10-20% Gamsol can be added to Gamvar. For a greater reduction in gloss, it was recommended that Cold Wax Medium should be slightly reduced with a small amount of Gamvar, then the resulting mixture should be added to Gamvar in a proportion of about 20% to 80% varnish. The initial reduction of the Cold Wax on the palette is simply to ensure that it dissolves completely into the varnish with no lumps.
One question . what’s the best way to apply gamvar to a smooth surface , like Ampersand gesso board? do you use the same vigorous motion?
can I use gamvar picture varnish on acrylic paintings?
+jerzeyzgirl03 Yes, you can use Gamvar on an acrylic painting. It is recommended to apply an isolation coat prior to the Gamvar. A good option for an isolation coat is a soft acrylic gel in a gloss finish. Then be sure to wait long enough for the paint film and the isolation coat to dry fully and completely gas off. This could take approximately 1 - 2 weeks. Finally, after that time you can apply one or two coats of the Gamvar Varnish. If you have additional questions, you can reach Blick Product Information at 1-800-933-2542 or info@dickblick.com. Thanks!
Should the dried surface (say, 6 months +) of the painting be 'Oiled out' with linseed oil, alkyds, other mediums / solvents... where the dried surface has uneven sheen on account of 'sunken' areas? This before we apply Varnish. Please clarify. Thanks.
Most of the time, picture varnish alone is sufficient to unify surface gloss in a dry painting, but some artists do apply a small amount of thinned stand oil or linseed oil in order to restore the wet appearance of colors, especially when some passages have a flatter sheen. We think this is a good practice, provided that the absolute bare minimum effective amount of oil is applied, with no loose oil on the surface afterward. After doing so, we recommend waiting for the newly absorbed oil to dry before applying varnish, to prevent the oil from fusing with the top coat, however we don't think it would be necessary to wait another 6 months. When the artist is confident that the paint film has dried to the touch after "oiling out", there should be no problem applying varnish at that point. Hope this helps!
@@Blick_Art Thanks for your quick response.
I like your product very much, but I seem to have small bubbles, and not sure what I’m doing wrong.I’m using the brushes recommended. So do I try to sand the painting before putting on another coat, or use the mineral spirits to get the bubbles out? Thank you
Adding a thinner can reduce viscosity ad give the coat more time to shed bubbles, but if you want to use the product undiluted, try a different application technique and brush back across the surface after the first stroke. It may take a little more time, but the results should be better.
If I use soft dry pastels over oil can I vanish with Gamvar
The challenge with the technique you're describing is the lack of a strong binder for pastel, which is powdery and friable. Gamvar may firm up the top layer, but we don't think even a heavy coat would impart enough adhesion. The pastel layer would remain delicate, and it would come off easily with the lightest contact or cleaning attempt. We think a fixative applied over the pastel, and framing under glass would be a more effective approach. Hope this helps!
Can I ude gambling picture vanich on watercolor?
I've been waiting for a painting to dry and varnish with gamvar, but no matter how long I waited, it's still kind of sticky/tacky whenever I touch it. The paint no longer transfers though, that being said, can I already varnish it or should I continue waiting for it to dry further? Thank you.
+viena-lara Please contact Product Information at 800-933-2542, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5:30 pm CST. We would like to discuss this with you further, as the stickiness can be caused by a number of reasons and we need some further information. Thank you.
thank you.
I completed my first oil painting on a Foundation Series Canva-Paper Pad. I would like to put a protective layer over my oil paintings that gives them a gloss. I have Gamblin Gamvar picture varnish: will this particular vanish ruin my oil paintings that are on Foundation Series Canva-Paper Pad?
+Stella Future CEO Once the painting is dry to the touch, the paint needs more time to fully cure, or to finish drying all the way through rather than just on the surface. Gamblin states that an average cure time before applying their varnishis about three months, but the best way to make sure the painting is ready is the thumbnail test. Find the passage of your painting where the paint is the thickest, and gently press your fingernail into it. If the paint feels soft, or
like your thumbnail might leave a mark, then the paint is not fully cured and you’ll need to wait before applying the varnish. If the paint is firm then you can go ahead and apply the varnish. The Canva-Paper will not be damaged by
Gamvar, though in the long-term it may be a good idea to frame the painting or mount it to a rigid surface to avoid any possible risk of the paint cracking. For any additional questions, you can reach Blick Product Information at 1-800-933-2542 or info@dickblick.com. Thanks!
Great! Thank you for sharing knowledge!
thank you!
He reminds me of Ty Burrel