There are different finishes that you can choose between for your art, between satin, matte, or gloss to suit each painting and keep the overall “look” you are going for. A good varnish not only protects, but enhances, the finished work. Can I Use Mod Podge to Seal Acrylic Paints? A water-based varnish however is a non-toxic option and brushes can be cleaned with just soap and water; no harmful fumes and safer for the environment. Both Golden, Winsor & Newton, Daler Rowney and Liquitex make acrylic polymer water-based varnish in either a liquid or gel consistency. Some of these varnishes can appear white or semi-translucent on application. They do dry clear and transparent but the matte varnishes can lighten dark areas of the painting due to the matting agent. Use the varnish over finished work to enhance and increase color depth, which brings new dimensions to your art. You will absolutely need an isolation coat for this and if you skipped it before, varnish removal can significantly damage the paint.

While varnishing creates a protective layer on a finished painting, glazing is a technique used to unify light and dark tones, and create luminosity . It’s a practice that was pioneered by Old Masters like Van Eyke, Vermeer and Rembrandt . The acrylic sealer spray from Aleene’s provides a protective, clear finish with a glossy luster that really helps your art come to life. glue based (closer to what Mod Podge is): mix thouroughly 1/3 water with 2/3 white glue (PVA/Elmers)Dip the brush into the varnish about 1/3 to 1/4-way down the length of the brush and gently tap off the excess. Holding the brush at an angle, apply the varnish in even strokes across the painting, moving the brush in the same direction each time. Start at one corner and work your way across the whole painting in a parallel fashion.

Instead of laying your painting down on the table, hang it vertically or lean it upright against a wall in front of a card which is bigger than your painting to protect your wall. If you’ve chosen permanent varnish you won’t be able to remove it and save your painting for longer years. If you will still try to remove permanent varnish, you can damage your painting. Only varnish in a well ventilated environment, if using spray aerosol varnish, always wear the correct protective face mask (not a home-made one), protective clothing and gloves. Allow the varnish to dry completely. This can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight, depending on the type of varnish you used and the temperature and humidity in your workspace. Step 6: Sand The Varnished SurfaceIt is important to note that if you are wanting to use an acrylic resin varnish, you will need to first apply an isolation coat over the painting on the canvas. Although these methods can make acrylic paint glossy, they do not provide the same level of protection as a varnish. A gloss varnish gives a shiny, glossy finish to your painting, just as you would guess. It will bring out all the different colors in a painting, helping them to pop. There will be some shiny reflections when light hits the painting, which is not always desirable. Be careful not to overwork the varnish, as this can cause streaks and bubbles. Step 5: Let The Varnish Dry

F ixative spray is a colourless fixative that protects charcoal, pastel, pencil and chalk drawings from smudging. Be aware that it’s not designed for use on paintings.Once dry, the painting will appear waterproof and impenetrable. However, it is actually only water-resistant, not fully waterproof and will remain slightly porous without a varnish layer being applied. If you had a microscope, you would see that the surface of the painting has tiny pin holes and crevices, where, in some cases the bond between the pigment and acrylic polymer emulsion has not created a solid bond or a solid film. This actually means the surface of the painting could be potentially receptive and hold onto dust, dirt, airborne chemicals, and moisture which are harmful. Why do we need to varnish acrylic paintings and what are the advantages of varnishing? Artisan Gloss, Matt and Satin varnishes are formulated avoiding conventional solvents, making them ideal for communal studios or for those needing to avoid hazardous solvents. These varnishes can be used on conventional oil paintings as well as those created using Artisan O il Colour. All Winsor & Newton varnishes can be used on oil, alkyd, water mixable oil or acrylic paintings. Professional Acrylic Gloss, Matt or Satin Varnishes: These varnishes are uniquely formulated to be removable and contain UV resistance. The Satin Varnish gives a mid-sheen finish, in between the Matt and Gloss Varnish finishes. The Galeria Acrylic range also has its own collection of gloss, matt and satin varnishes. Remember that a glossy finish is light reflective so it can cause a glare, while a matte finish is non-reflective.