Drips

[Lani Powell]

About three months ago, a client called me to her house to look at two paintings I'd delivered two or three months earlier. She complained that she could see drips in the paintings. I had to agree. Frankly, I really didn't know what caused it. Might have been the retouch varnish I'd sprayed on it. Might have been the linseed oil with which I'd "oiled in" had dripped. In any event, I took one home and went over it with some turp and scrubbed some paint over the top of some of the parts and she seemed satisifed. We agreed that I would do the same thing with the other painting when I picked them both up to varnish. That's what's happening now.

Problem is, the drips on the second painting seem more stubborn. (Because they're older? Because they are more visible anyway?) Anyway, I'm rubbing away with turbs. Scumbling a little paint on top and basically seeing a little but not much improvement.

The client is bothering me to get the paintings back to her varnished and ASAP so they can be reframed in time for Christmas parties, etc.

Big questions. Since what I'm seeing is essentially shiny dripping places -- when I varnish over it will it seem to disappear or will I find that I've locked in a problem!

Help, help. Panic has taken grip...

[Allan Rahbek]

Lani,
if the painting is dried well and the paint is hard you could sand the drips using a very fine grade of sanding paper and water. Place the painting flat on a table and support the canvas from underneath with a book or something so that you can sand it without deforming the canvas. Put on some drips of water and use a small piece of sanding paper and a light touch of the finger in circular movement.
This way you can flatten the surface of the paint before you varnish it.
The water will not harm the oil paint. Be sure to wipe the area with clean water and tissue.

When you varnish the painting, do it on a table so that the varnish will level as much as possible.

Allan

[Kimberly Dow]

I sand the hard panels I use - but the few times I have tried to sand on canvas has left shiny areas that nothing can take care of - except to sand the entire painting....which isnt always possible due to texture.

Just thought I'd mention this.

[Lani Powell]

Well, both of the paintings from this client are now drying in my studio. I did use the sanding technique, combined with a liot of turp, a little scumbling, and quite a bit of praying. Then I waited several days, and this morning I have varnished both paintings.

Thanks for the kind, prompt and helpful advice.