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Today I did as planned. I dipped a small brush (instead of a rag) into turpentine and tried to melt the "hole edges" of the varnish. What happened was, every place I touched on the varnish with turpentine, the varnish melted in varing degrees. I quickly judged that I had to make my attempt and then back away because the more I worked the more need for work appeared.
I let this dry for a couple of hours. I then made up my varnish mixture, guessing at the combination I had made before. With the same brush I applied the new varnish to the hole and just beyond.
What I have now is something that is better than what I had yesterday. But to my critical eye I will never have, without completely stripping all the varnish off which I won't risk, a fully restored painting. I could, and I may, go over the entire painting with another coat of varnish but from what I see now the ridges will never be gone to my complete satisfaction.
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Romeo - Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
Mercutio - No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.
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Mike McCarty
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