We liked very much the emphasis on the artist's choice in the matter, and explaining the role varnish has in the appearance of colors. Sometimes artists are unprepared for the darkening effect gloss products will have on their colors. Another factor we hear artists discuss is the role of varnish in preparing a painting for installation at a collector's home- if the lighting situation is difficult in terms of glare, matte varnish is a good option. Varnish also makes it easier and safer for the collector to dust and maintain a work of art, instead of contacting the bare paint. Good information about acrylic paint porosity, too. Nice!
I’ve found satin finish best for me. I mix gloss to matte 50/50. Colors are enhanced, but less reflections. But otherwise, quite informative. Thank you 😊
Glossy surfaces reflect the surroundings, which can obscure an underlying image, especially when viewed from an angle. There is also the technique of applying matte medium (or varnish?) over gloss, which can approximate the look of encaustic. What fun! Thanks for the information, Michele!
You are so welcome! Thanks for your idea about applying matte medium over gloss dium over glass to make an encaustic look!Did you like the way it came out? I tend to mix thicker mediums together and apply them on top to get that look. Because I’ve done a lot of encaustic and it’s much thicker than most brushed on coat of fluido acrylic mediums. I think I may even have done a video on that at some point! Not sure.
@@MicheleTheberge I have used that method a few times and I like the soft feel of the surface. I will look for your video on the mixe-medium method, thanks.
Thanks! As usual, your answer leads to more questions in my mind, but don't want to get off track since I don't currently have any paintings to varnish! But love the idea. BTW: I love your beautiful ombre hair! You are a lovely woman. Just saying! Have a great day!
You’re welcome! Thank you for watching. And thanks for the compliments on my hair. It’s been interesting to find out how much I love the natural color since I’ve been growing it out.
i wonder if anyone ever combined different varnishes on a same painting. Like varnish with gloss only parts of a painting that have objects that would give of such look, like glass for example. And have other parts of a painting covered with matt varnish.
Thankyou so much for your video! I love hearing the passion you have for art and the way you teach and explain has taught me so much! I look forward to watching more of your videos.❤ From Australia Leanne and 🐻
Hey Jen! Great question! Matte medium is not a varnish and I have a video that explains the difference between a medium and a varnish. Have you watched my in-depth video on varnishing? ruclips.net/video/k2TIdHzrMfkI/видео.htmlt's like a mini varnishing course with a lot of detailed info. I am actually just working a video talking about how to varnish on raw canvas that should hopefully be out in November. More detailed answer than I can go into here but short answer is you can use those mineral spirit varnishes I mention in the video above fro varnishing on raw canvas. If you completely sealed the painting with acrylic paint and no canvas is showing though at ALL, than you can just follow the varnishing procedures in the video above. Happy painting to you!
Hi Kate! That’s a really interesting question. I have never tried it and never heard any one talk about whether that mixture cracks. So I can’t say with any certainty how it would react.
Help! I am very new to attempting to paint correctly (self-taught) and I may have made a mistake. I did an acrylic painting and ran out of black acrylic, so I decided to do my black details with black gouache paint. I had it on hand. Now I want to varnish my painting with gloss varnish because the majority of my painting has a glossy look but after researching varnish, I found out that gouache paint will be ruined if I try to varnish it. Panicked, I chose to purchase some acrylic black and paint over the gouache with acrylic in hopes that I can now varnish it with Liquitex gloss varnish. Will it work? I'm afraid to try because I really don't want to ruin my painting. I know I've already made a critical error but, I do love my painting and want it to last and be vibrant. ??
Ok, Laura. I am going to have you try something on a SAMPLE first. (I Learned this the HARD way! See my video on varnishing!) Try to paint the gouache on a scrap of mat board or something. Then try an acrylic SPRAY varnish first to set the gouache without disturbing the paint. Then on this sample varnish as usual. See how that goes. I think it should work. Let me know!
Excellent question, Prema! The removable varnishes are not designed to be the isolation coat. But if you want a removable varnish and a spray form, they do make those. Have you had an opportunity to watch my video how and why to varnish and acrylic painting. I think you will find it very helpful. This is information that I was never taught in school and I sound very few artists are clear on.
Interesting I gave many answers to this question and several examples listed in the description. What did you have in mind that would’ve helped you better?
What an excellent question! The varnishes they had available were from plant resins and as far as I know they all had a gloss finish. Some people here have mentioned encaustic which has more of a satin finish but that is a wax medium which was More common before the renaissance and the birth of oil painting.
We liked very much the emphasis on the artist's choice in the matter, and explaining the role varnish has in the appearance of colors. Sometimes artists are unprepared for the darkening effect gloss products will have on their colors. Another factor we hear artists discuss is the role of varnish in preparing a painting for installation at a collector's home- if the lighting situation is difficult in terms of glare, matte varnish is a good option. Varnish also makes it easier and safer for the collector to dust and maintain a work of art, instead of contacting the bare paint. Good information about acrylic paint porosity, too. Nice!
Great points! Thanks for sharing these insights! 🙏🌸
I’ve found satin finish best for me. I mix gloss to matte 50/50. Colors are enhanced, but less reflections. But otherwise, quite informative. Thank you 😊
Great that you've found your best finish!
Glossy surfaces reflect the surroundings, which can obscure an underlying image, especially when viewed from an angle. There is also the technique of applying matte medium (or varnish?) over gloss, which can approximate the look of encaustic. What fun! Thanks for the information, Michele!
You are so welcome! Thanks for your idea about applying matte medium over gloss dium over glass to make an encaustic look!Did you like the way it came out? I tend to mix thicker mediums together and apply them on top to get that look. Because I’ve done a lot of encaustic and it’s much thicker than most brushed on coat of fluido acrylic mediums. I think I may even have done a video on that at some point! Not sure.
@@MicheleTheberge I have used that method a few times and I like the soft feel of the surface. I will look for your video on the mixe-medium method, thanks.
Thanks! As usual, your answer leads to more questions in my mind, but don't want to get off track since I don't currently have any paintings to varnish! But love the idea. BTW: I love your beautiful ombre hair! You are a lovely woman. Just saying! Have a great day!
You’re welcome! Thank you for watching. And thanks for the compliments on my hair. It’s been interesting to find out how much I love the natural color since I’ve been growing it out.
Matt, gloss, or satin from these which would be good for black-and-white portrait acrylic painting?
Thanks, again, for a very informative video. You always give information that is rarely given by anyone online. Thanks!!!
You are so welcome! I so appreciate your being a part of this channel for so long!🙏💚
I’ve done both matte and gloss varnishing. It depends on the painting which I use. Sometimes both on one painting.
Thanks for sharing!
i wonder if anyone ever combined different varnishes on a same painting. Like varnish with gloss only parts of a painting that have objects that would give of such look, like glass for example. And have other parts of a painting covered with matt varnish.
Yes, I have done that.
Damn mam, you aged like fine wine 😍
I'm also in the satin finish camp. I like the colour depth but not so reflective.
Wondeful! Seems like Satin is a favorite!
I also prefer satin.
Thankyou so much for your video!
I love hearing the passion you have for art and the way you teach and explain has taught me so much! I look forward to watching more of your videos.❤ From Australia Leanne and 🐻
You are so welcome! Thank you for writing! I love being able to connect with you here!
Can I varnish with matte medium if I haven’t used gesso on my acrylic painting ?? (Which I did on raw canvas)
Hey Jen! Great question! Matte medium is not a varnish and I have a video that explains the difference between a medium and a varnish. Have you watched my in-depth video on varnishing? ruclips.net/video/k2TIdHzrMfkI/видео.htmlt's like a mini varnishing course with a lot of detailed info. I am actually just working a video talking about how to varnish on raw canvas that should hopefully be out in November. More detailed answer than I can go into here but short answer is you can use those mineral spirit varnishes I mention in the video above fro varnishing on raw canvas. If you completely sealed the painting with acrylic paint and no canvas is showing though at ALL, than you can just follow the varnishing procedures in the video above. Happy painting to you!
👋would Damar resin in cold wax medium risk cracking. Is the 30 - 50% ratio preventative?
Hi Kate! That’s a really interesting question. I have never tried it and never heard any one talk about whether that mixture cracks. So I can’t say with any certainty how it would react.
Help! I am very new to attempting to paint correctly (self-taught) and I may have made a mistake. I did an acrylic painting and ran out of black acrylic, so I decided to do my black details with black gouache paint. I had it on hand. Now I want to varnish my painting with gloss varnish because the majority of my painting has a glossy look but after researching varnish, I found out that gouache paint will be ruined if I try to varnish it. Panicked, I chose to purchase some acrylic black and paint over the gouache with acrylic in hopes that I can now varnish it with Liquitex gloss varnish. Will it work? I'm afraid to try because I really don't want to ruin my painting. I know I've already made a critical error but, I do love my painting and want it to last and be vibrant. ??
Ok, Laura. I am going to have you try something on a SAMPLE first. (I Learned this the HARD way! See my video on varnishing!) Try to paint the gouache on a scrap of mat board or something. Then try an acrylic SPRAY varnish first to set the gouache without disturbing the paint. Then on this sample varnish as usual. See how that goes. I think it should work. Let me know!
This is the video I was telling you about. The spray varnishes are linked in the description box. Good luck! I think you'll be fine. 🙂
@@MicheleTheberge Thank you for the advice. I will try that!
Can I use a removable gloss spray varnish as an isolation coat for a large Acrylic painting?
Excellent question, Prema! The removable varnishes are not designed to be the isolation coat. But if you want a removable varnish and a spray form, they do make those. Have you had an opportunity to watch my video how and why to varnish and acrylic painting. I think you will find it very helpful. This is information that I was never taught in school and I sound very few artists are clear on.
ruclips.net/video/k2TIdHzrMfk/видео.html
Straight talk ,give an answer and example.
Interesting I gave many answers to this question and several examples listed in the description. What did you have in mind that would’ve helped you better?
my question is, did old masters use gloss varnish because they wanted to add depth, or is it because it's all they had?
What an excellent question! The varnishes they had available were from plant resins and as far as I know they all had a gloss finish. Some people here have mentioned encaustic which has more of a satin finish but that is a wax medium which was More common before the renaissance and the birth of oil painting.
Thank you for a very informative video, and I'm off to watch "How and Why to Varnish..."
You are so welcome, Rita. Thank you for watching.