| Before we start... | | | | the brush so that we do not run dry half way |
| Never apply final varnish to an oil painting unless it | | | | across the canvas as we are moving the brush |
| has thoroughly dried. Oil paint requires anywhere | | | | from one side of the painting to the other. The |
| from 6 to 12 months (or longer) to dry depending | | | | technique we are trying to develop in this tutorial |
| on how thick the paint was applied to the canvas. | | | | is the application of multiple thin coats of varnish. |
| If you want to add a temporary finish to paintings | | | | With a little practice you will learn how much |
| that have not dried thoroughly you should | | | | excess Damar to remove from your brush to |
| consider using a retouch varnish. | | | | prevent either of these situations. |
| If you have large sunken, i.e. dull and flat, areas on | | | | Step 7:Before we start applying varnish let me |
| your original unvarnished oil painting you might | | | | explain the process briefly. We will be applying |
| want to consider oiling out the painting before | | | | varnish first in columns (along the vertical axis of |
| applying a final varnish. Varnishing will even out the | | | | the painting) and than rows (along the horizontal |
| finish on paintings that are fairly even already, but | | | | axis of the painting). We will brush on the varnish |
| if you have areas that are high gloss along with | | | | one column at a time, first in one direction then |
| areas that are clearly sunken, "due to variations in | | | | back over the same brush stroke in the opposite |
| the types of pigments and/or mediums used" [1], | | | | direction. Once we cover the entire painting this |
| then applying a final varnish may not even out the | | | | way, column by column, reloading the brush with |
| finish as you might be expecting. Oiling out is | | | | each back and forth pass, we will rotate the |
| suggested in such a case. If you decide to oil out | | | | painting 90 degrees and repeat the brush strokes |
| your painting you will need to wait an additional 6 | | | | in the same back and forth pattern along the |
| months before applying your final varnish and it's | | | | horizontal axis, row by row, but this time without |
| best to perform the oiling out process shortly | | | | reloading the brush with fresh varnish after each |
| after your painting has been completed, within the | | | | pass. |
| first few weeks. | | | | I have listed Winsor & Newton's |
| In this tutorial we will accomplish the following: 1) | | | | recommended application method for their Damar |
| learn a method for applying multiple thin coats of | | | | Varnish: [2] |
| varnish, 2) learn a brushing technique that will | | | | Apply the varnish in 1-3 thin coats, rather than 1 |
| minimize uneven brush strokes that could be | | | | thick coat. A thick coat will take longer to dry, |
| visible in the final product, and 3) achieve a high | | | | may dry cloudy, drip or sag during application and |
| gloss finish similar to many paintings that are | | | | has a greater chance of showing brush strokes |
| displayed in museums, sometimes referred to as | | | | when dry. |
| a 'museum finish'. | | | | Thinned varnish is more susceptible to producing |
| Additional points to remember when varnishing: | | | | bubbles. Do not be vigorous in your application. |
| Use Good Ventilation: I use a fan aimed out an | | | | Apply in long even strokes to cover the surface |
| open window to keep the air moving. Varnishing | | | | top to bottom while moving from one side to the |
| per this tutorial can take from one to two days | | | | other. While working, inspect the varnish layer at |
| so be sure that your work area is properly | | | | all angles for bubbles. Even them out immediately. |
| ventilated to prevent fumes from building up. | | | | Once you leave an area, do not go back over |
| Brush Selection: The largest painting that is | | | | areas that you have done. If you do, you risk |
| varnished in this tutorial is 12"x16" and the smallest | | | | dragging partially dry resin into wet, which will dry |
| is 4"x6". I chose a fine bristled brush that is 1" | | | | cloudy over dark colors. If any areas were |
| wide. For paintings larger than 12"x16" you should | | | | missed, allow to dry completely and re-varnish. |
| use a brush with a width in the 1-1/2" to 3" range. | | | | Starting at one of the corners of your canvas, |
| Don't be cheap when purchasing a varnishing | | | | place your brush into position and in one long |
| brush unless you want to be picking bristles out | | | | brush stroke across the painting. Make one long |
| of your varnish. Also, once you use a brush for | | | | even brush stroke from one side to the other |
| varnishing DO NOT use it for painting, and if you | | | | side and then leave it alone. Do not stop part way |
| have a brush that you previously used for painting | | | | through. Do not go back to touch up a spot you |
| DO NOT use it for varnishing. Purchase a | | | | feel could be better unless you see a drastic |
| varnsihing brush that will only be used for this | | | | problem like large areas of no varnish or bubbles. |
| purpose. | | | | Reminder: Even though we have warmed the |
| Winsow & Newton Damar Varnish: "You will | | | | Damar, we need to work quickly because once |
| need some Damar varnish thinned 50% with | | | | applied to the canvas the Damar will begin setting |
| turpentine. Turpenoid or mineral spirits will not | | | | immediately. After about 10 minutes the varnish |
| dissolve the Damar; it must be real turpentine." [1] | | | | will be tack dry. |
| For this tutorial I used Winsor & Newton | | | | Step 8:After reloading the brush make another |
| Damar Varnish that comes pre-thinned (50% | | | | long stroke in the opposite direction, directly over |
| Damar / 50% real turpentine). It is ready to be | | | | your first brush stroke. As we did with the first |
| applied from the jar without further thinning. DO | | | | brush stroke, move the brush in one long even |
| NOT shake your jar of Damar because this could | | | | stroke from one side to the other side. (Note: |
| cause air bubbles to form in the varnish which is | | | | When varnishing landscape I always apply my first |
| something you want to avoid. | | | | strokes along the verticle plain. When I rotate the |
| We are now ready to start... | | | | canvas to make a pass over the first coating of |
| | | | varnish I like to be moving the brush along the |
| Step 1: | | | | horizontal plain.) |
| Assemble all materials and tools before starting. | | | | Step 9:It is a good idea to make a brief scan of |
| You will need a plastic sheet, paper towels, | | | | your progress after each back and forth pass of |
| aluminum foil sheet, varnishing brush, pure | | | | the brush to ensure your getting even coverage. |
| turpentine, damar varnish, 2 ceramic bowls, glass | | | | If you are seeing large uncovered areas as you |
| pot for damar varnish , glass container for brush | | | | move across the painting than you are probably |
| cleaner, tweezers, unvarnished paintings, and a | | | | removing to much varnish from the brush during |
| small funnel. | | | | steps 5 and 6. However, if everything is going |
| Step 2:Heat some water until almost boiling, pour | | | | well, you should start seeing the difference that |
| some of the hot water into the first ceramic | | | | the varnish is having on the oil paintings |
| bowl. Being careful so you don't scald yourself | | | | appearance. The colors should be popping, as if |
| with the hot water fill the ceramic bowl with | | | | they were just freshly painted. Repeat steps 5 |
| enough water so that the jar of Damar Varnish | | | | through 8 until you have completely coated the |
| sits mostly submerged in the water. Let the | | | | painting with varnish. When starting a new row |
| Damar warm for about 5-10 minutes. Warming | | | | you should slight overlap your new strokes with |
| the Damar will lower its viscosity without the | | | | the previous strokes. The next step (10) is very |
| need to add more turpentine, making it easier to | | | | important for evening out the coating of varnish |
| apply. I recommend using a ceramic bowl because | | | | that you just applied. |
| of the heat retaining properties of ceramic - you | | | | Step 10:Rotate your painting so that you will be |
| want to keep the Damar warm until you have | | | | working in the horizontal plain. Without reloading |
| finished applying a thin coat of varnish to your | | | | your brush start at one corner and brush straight |
| painting(s). I have seen another tutorial using | | | | across the painting without stopping and then |
| Winsor & Newton Damar Varnish where the | | | | brush back over your stroke in the opposite |
| warming process I describe in this tutorial was not | | | | direction. Repeat this until you have gone over the |
| used. In that tutorial the Damar was poured | | | | entire painting. This step will help to distribute the |
| directly into a pot (without warming) and then | | | | Damar more evenly across your painting. |
| applied directly onto the canvas with a brush. The | | | | Step 11:At any point during the application of the |
| warming procedure that I describe in this tutorial | | | | Damar Varnish you might find a piece of debris |
| seems fairly common in other varnishing tutorials. | | | | has fallen onto the canvas. Using a tweezer, |
| With that said... there are some words of caution: | | | | gently remove the contaminant while trying not |
| "Varnish is highly flammable, so electric heating | | | | to disturb the varnish. |
| warming devices are not recommended while | | | | Step 12:Once you have completed coating your |
| using varnish!"[1] The hot water method seems to | | | | painting with varnish place your brush into a |
| be a widely accepted and safe alternative. | | | | container with turpentine. This will keep the |
| Step 3:Before removing the jar of Damar that | | | | varnish from hardening onto your brush while you |
| has been warming in the first ceramic bowl, pour | | | | wait for the varnished paintings to dry enough for |
| fresh hot water (not boiling) into the second | | | | you to continue with the second, and third |
| cermaic bowl. Again being careful not to scald | | | | coatings of varnish. |
| yourself with the hot water insert the glass pot | | | | Step 13:Varnish is reusable so you should pour |
| into the ceramic bowl with the hot water, | | | | whatever you have not used back into its original |
| ensuring that the glass pot is sufficiently | | | | jar. I recommend doing this between varnish |
| submerged under the water. Make sure the pot | | | | coats. It is recommended to let the applied |
| fits into the warming bowl without displacing to | | | | varnish dry for a minimum of two hours between |
| much hot water, and it has a mouth large enough | | | | coats, although the time might vary depending on |
| to accept your varnishing brush. | | | | the temperature and humidity in your area. If the |
| Step 4:Pour some of the warmed Damar Varnish | | | | varnish is tacky to the touch it's not ready for a |
| from the jar into the glass pot that is sitting in the | | | | second or third coating. I test my varnish by |
| warming bowl. Important: Hold the jar of damar | | | | pressing a finger along the edge of the canvas, if |
| varnish with a cloth rag. Remember this jar has | | | | I see a finger print its not ready. One source I |
| been sitting in hot water. In this tutorial I used a | | | | spoke with said you could wait a full day between |
| 75ml jar of Winsor & Newton Damar Varnish | | | | varnish coatings. If you are going to apply two or |
| and I poured approximately 37ml into the glass | | | | more coats of varnish please start this tutorial |
| pot. As a general rule have at least 1/2" of | | | | from the beginning, working each new coat of |
| varnish in your pot. "Every time I add more | | | | varnish as if it was the first. This would mean |
| varnish to the pot, I also change the hot water | | | | starting again at step 2. |
| that the jar warms in (step 2), and the hot water | | | | Step 14: |
| that the pot sits in (step 3), to maintain the | | | | Note: |
| varnish temperature." [1] | | | | I like to have several paintings ready to go before |
| Step 5:Dip your brush into the heated Damar and | | | | I start a varnishing session. Varnishing a painting |
| lightly wipe each side of the loaded brush against | | | | and applying two to three coats of varnish can |
| the side of the glass pot to remove excess | | | | take one to two days, and so I like to have |
| Damar. If the brush is overloaded with Damar and | | | | several paintings being varnished at the same |
| you begin brushing it onto the canvas then you | | | | time. As I finish varnishing one painting I move it |
| might develop a puddle of varnish on your canvas | | | | aside and start my second, and third, and so on. I |
| and your coating will likely be to thick. On the | | | | than let them all dry together. After about 10 |
| other hand, if you remove to much varnish from | | | | minutes the varnish should be tacky enough to |
| the brush you will not get enough coverage, your | | | | not run or drip. You can see problem spots by |
| brush will run dry before you can make one pass | | | | holding the painting up to a light source and looking |
| across the canvas.tep 6:Using the paper towel, | | | | across the surface at almost eye level with |
| touch the tips of the bristles to remove excess | | | | sufrace of the canvas. Missed spots or uneven |
| Damar from the tip of the brush. You might think | | | | brush strokes will be very visible. Its during this |
| that removing all this excess Damar from the | | | | examination that you will decide if another coat of |
| brush will leave us with to little varnish to cover | | | | varnish is needed. "If needed, apply a second [or |
| the canvas. Our goal in steps 5 and 6 is to | | | | third coat] to fix rough areas after they dry. Do |
| remove excess varnish and prevent puddling of | | | | not try to fix areas by themselves, but rather |
| varnish on the canvas and prevent applying to | | | | apply a complete second [or third coat] of the |
| thick of a coating of varnish at one time. At the | | | | varnish." [3] I have found that three coats of |
| same time we want to have enough varnish in | | | | varnish gives me the results I am aiming for. |