Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 03/25/2008 8:01 AM |
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| I just found out (believe it or not) that painters usually varnish their paintings after they are completed. Thus, I would like to know if this is a 'must' or does it really matter. What is the benefit of this and can you do this over oils - I though oils needed about 6-12 months to dry? Is it better applied by brush or spray. What kind do you use? I would hate to find out the varnish on my painting is not the right one or done the proper way! Can you all help? |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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mikec@pols
Posts:791
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| 03/25/2008 8:51 AM |
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Hi Maggie,
Just my experiece with this...
I do varnish my oils. Basically cause it gets rid of dry spots or uneven sheen in the painting. The oils do take awhile to dry, but I'm not exactly sure how long cause it depends on the thickness of the paint and how many layers. I think it helps preserve the painting, but none of my work has been around long enough to really know. You can buy it in spray or brush, I prefer spray cause it's faster and I seem to be able to apply it more evenly than brushing. It also comes it different sheens. It's available at just about any art supply store and it will say "for oil paintings" on the lable so you really can't get the wrong stuff if you read the lable. I imagine any varnish will work, but it may yellow over time and I wouldn't trust just any varnish. I've also used 'Liquin" as a final coating for my oils...
Mike |
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"You either grow or regress...nothing stays the same...." (unknown)
"A man may fall several times in life, but he is not a failure until he says that he was pushed..."
www.portraitsoflifestudio.com |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 03/25/2008 9:27 AM |
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Thanks Mike - one more question - If you varnish too early (the oil is not completely dry) - will the oil paint crack underneath? |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Peggy
Posts:113
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| 03/25/2008 10:23 AM |
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HI Maggie,
Yes, to varnishing oils. And Yes, oils take longer to dry depending on the thickness of the paint. A good rule of thumb is to wait about 12 to 18 months for oils to dry before varnishing. And Yes, varnishing too soon can (but not always) cause cracking. I use Damar Varnish because it drys quicker and doesn't tend to yellow as quickly. I have used spray varnishes, but it's hard to be sure you have an even coat, you have better control with a brush-on varnish. Damar is also good because it can be removed more easily without destroying the painting underneath. This is good if you need to restore or repair a painting. I usually write on the back of the painting when it was finished and when it needs to be returned to be varnished. When I sell a piece I let the customer know to bring it back around that date to be varnished free of charge.
As to the purpose of varnishing, it is to protect and preserve the painting as it was painted. Varnish protects from dust, spills or other contaminants, making it possible to clean a painting without harming it. It also increases the life of the painting. Many paints fade over time and varnishing helps slow that process.
Hope this helps.
Peggy |
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For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for a hope and a future to bring you to an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 03/25/2008 11:47 AM |
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| Hi Peggy - thanks - so much to learn. I checked out your website and you have some beautiful paintings. I was going to mention one or two but going through them, I found too many to mention. But a couple which caught my eye: Give Kitty a Drink, Caught (I love this one), Sweet Slumber, Consider the Lilies, Teach me to Pray and Tea Time. Enjoyed the visit. |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Peggy
Posts:113
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| 03/25/2008 12:05 PM |
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Thanks for the look-see, Maggie. Give Kitty a Drink was done from a photo of my niece when she was about 3 years old. Sweet Slumber is of my daughter and first grandchild, John. It is just as I caught them asleep on the couch and hangs in my family room. Teach me to Pray was also done from photos. I had seen an old 50's photo of something similar and when I mentioned it to a friend who just happened to be a photographer, she and her daughter modeled for the photos for me. I gave her one pose and kept the other for myself. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to the website.
Thanks,
Peggy |
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For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for a hope and a future to bring you to an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 03/26/2008 8:16 AM |
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| Well, only one way to learn is to try them all. I picked up 4 different varnishes and will choose a painting and see how they all work. I am guessing you use turpintine to clean the brush from varnish? I know... I have too many questions. |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 03/29/2008 9:40 PM |
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| More questions - how do you clean the brush after using varnish? I tried turpentine and then used soap and water... but I have a funny feeling this is not correct? |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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tearoses
Posts:52
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| 04/01/2008 1:26 PM |
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| After waiting the right amount of time, what do you use to clean the accumalated dust and such off the painting before you varnish? |
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River
Posts:360
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| 04/01/2008 10:15 PM |
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| I'm reading this with interest too Maggie...hope you get some more input. Does everyone varnish their oil paintings?? |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 04/04/2008 7:39 AM |
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| I have yet another question - Does anyone buy canvas and stretch it themselves for large prints or do they just purchase the large 'pre-done' canvases? (not sure how I would ever get it home!) Are there any advantage to doing it yourself or are the ones you buy in the art store sufficient? |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Trudy Bentley Rech
Posts:6
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| 04/04/2008 10:40 PM |
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Yes, do varnish. One of my friends blows varnish on with a device that has a straw like mouth piece (not recommend for safety reasons for anyone without a LOT of experience). The kind of varnish you use will depend on the medium you use if any.
I use a varnish which can go on as soon as the surface of the paint is dry. I also use a medium which is called Old Masters Maroger and the compatible mastic varnish. The reason I use this particular media and varnish is that they do not yellow or distort color. It took me years to find a media I liked and felt worth using. For starters, I would not go with these products until you have experimented with others.
About canvas: for my smaller pieces 16x20 or less I use a prepared panel which has a triple oil primed linen surface on archival masonite backed with an impervious surface. This type of support should last far longer than I will. When I was in art school we always stretched our own primed cotton canvasses to save money. Often the ones which are preprepared now have very thin coats of acrylic gesso and oils absorb into the gesso unevenly. The more stable the surface the better. I do occasionally buy a prestretched canvas on the thicker stretchers with a gallery wrap edge. The more you paint, the quicker you will find the support you like. For plein air work I often buy relatively inexpensive panels (still archival) and add my own layers of professional gesso. Dick Blick makes a great professional acrylic gesso.
When working normally, I like the rigidity of a panel and the texture of oil primed linen. It really is a matter of preference.
There is an art/science to stretching canvas tight enough to give a great firm springy surface. Too loose and the canvas will droop, too tight and stretched unevenly will result in corners which are not square and even a warped stretcher.
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Trudy
Trudy Bentley Rech Art Studio
http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/ |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 04/07/2008 7:25 AM |
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Trudy - thanks for all that information - you mentioned you use varnish which can go on as soon as the surface of the paint is dry. What is the actual name of the varnish?
I have heard of such a varnish which can be applied once it is dry to the touch, it apparently drys from the back of the canvas? I have to confess, I use pre-done canvases from the art store. How can this dry then if the canvas is treated? It is all confusing. I think waiting 6 months (as per all the instructions on varnishes) for a painting to 'completely' dry is hard when asking owners to bring them back in 6 months to do this... or if I ship them out of province - to get them back and have them done. I do like the look of the matte better than high gloss. I can see using the high gloss on 'bright and bold' paintings.
I will look up the Old Masters Maroger and the compatible mastic varnish you mentioned just out of curiousity.
Thanks for all your input. It is still a bit confusing but I will work through it all.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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micweed
Posts:1
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| 04/11/2008 4:19 PM |
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| Hi there. Just thought I would add my 2 cents worth. i usually wait until a painting is dry to the touch and then apply a light layer of Re-touch varnish. if I still have the painting a year or so later, and I notice that it has flat spots (probably in a black area), I will then varnish the entire painting. Hope this helps! |
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Realist2
Posts:32
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| 04/12/2008 7:12 AM |
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| If one uses linseed as a medium while painting there is seldom need to varnish. It is a technique that has been forgotten over the years and with our hurried world of today, we haven't the patience to wait on linseed. If you do choose to varnish, I would suggest the brush on types and I would prefer to use Grumbacher. |
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