A varnish question

Patt Legg · 05-13-2005, 07:58 PM

I have a question about the final varnish for paintings. I am totally aware that one should wait at least 6 months to varnish. This is the first time that I have had 4 paintings for one person ( a grandmother with her 4 grandkids). Of course, a couple of them have been finished for about 3 months now but the last 2 are just now nearing completion.

How do any of you feel about Retouch Varnish to an entire painting? Some artists do that but I have not. The client is coming to pick them up from out of state eventually (soon, this summer). What can I do to suffice?

Marcus Lim · 05-13-2005, 09:14 PM

Hi Patt,

You may find the following threads very helpful to your question:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ght=varnishing

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ght=varnishing

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ght=varnishing

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ght=varnishing

The truth I learnt about varnishing is that, unless your painting is most impasto, thin applications dry adequately within the month or so depending on humidity of your environment. So retouch varnish is possible.

So the ones you've done three months ago, should be OK if they're thin layered works of art. Explain to your customer the situation with those near completion - and ask if she'd want to wait for those to dry first, so you can complete your varnishing task on them. Or if she'd mind bringing them back and wait for herself, before hiring someone from her area to complete the varnishing process for her.

Either ways, presenting yourself this way assures your dedication to her job. Hope what I've said is useful to you.

Patt Legg · 05-13-2005, 10:26 PM

Thanks Marcus and I will indeed check out the threads you have chosen.

Your other suggestions are good as well. It happens that I paint in very thin layers (usually) in the Old Master layering technique beginning with a shady study and other layers follow. I think the two that have dried would be fine with varnish.

I also want to add that I checked out your site and love your work. Great use of the primary colors. Noticed the Red particularialy that you have in nearly all of your figurative works,

Patt Legg · 05-13-2005, 10:28 PM

That's Shadow Study---------sorry Cynthia, didn't check it out first.

Marcus Lim · 05-15-2005, 10:38 PM

Hi Patt,

I'm glad my knowledge benefits you. One tip I'd like to share is that you might like to do a test first: before you varnish, give a gentle wipe on the painting surface with spirits (I used turps). If there are traces of paint on the wipe, then the painting isn't totally dry yet.

And not forgetting that after varnishing, place it with the painting face on the wall than right side up so that dust will not be trapped onto the varnish. Hope these additional tips help you further.

Finally, my thanks for your compliments. I continue to work hard and do the best I can

Lani Powell · 05-16-2005, 09:25 AM

In applying the varnish, should you paint it on in one direction only?

Or (as I have read elsewhere) should one apply the varnish in one direction, let that dry, and then apply the varnish in the perpendicular direction?

In practice, the application of varnish has proven to be so stressful to me that I have not dared to go back and apply the varnish in the perpendicular direction after the initial application has dried and I wonder if I would have been pleased had I tried it.