Today I’d like to talk to you about a hotly debated topic: should you varnish your acrylic painting?
Many of you have asked me about the advantages and benefits of varnishing your paintings, and about the different types of products available for this purpose.
Opinions differ, and we don’t all agree on the subject.
I’d like to make it clear that I’m sharing my opinion on the subject with you, and that it’s a personal choice.
What is a varnish?
Varnishing is the final step in the painting process. Varnish is a totally transparent liquid (solvent) with different functions.
Varnishing is the final stage in the creation of your abstract painting. In fact, you need to apply it once your painting is finished and make sure the paint is completely dry.
For acrylic paints, there are generally two main varnish families:
- Spray varnishes,
- Liquid solvents.
The different roles of varnish
Varnish has two main roles : to obtain a beautiful finish and to protect your work.
The finish
Acrylic paints can dry to different shades. For example, you may notice that one area is matte, then another brighter. Honestly, I don’t really like it, and I think it detracts from the overall effect of your canvas. These differences are due to the use of different paint brands/finishes, or to the water dilution rate used in your paint.
– The varnish binds the rendering and gives an even appearance to your entire painting.
– Varnish adds intensity to the colors of your painting
– A high-gloss finish will give a nice, shiny finish
– A matt finish will produce a shine-free result
– A satin finish gives you a balanced, natural result, halfway between gloss and matte.
Protection
Varnish also protects your painting. The varnish protects against UV, water, friction, smoke, liquids, ageing, etc.
Quality acrylic paint is supposed to age well against these various aggressions, but you can never be too careful!
Then it’s much easier and safer to clean a painting with a varnish-type protection that’s been stained, rather than rubbing your paint directly, isn’t it?
Should paintings be varnished?
Acrylic paint, unlike other types of paint, is quite robust.
As I already explained in my article on acrylic paint, it’s made up of pigments and a binder (synthetic resin). This famous synthetic resin is highly resistant, which is why many people will tell you that there’s no point in varnishing an acrylic painting.
By the way, if you’d like to make your own acrylic paint, I recommend you read my article on the subject.
For all the advantages listed above, it goes without saying that I recommend varnishing all your paintings.
Spray varnishes
They’re the ones I use the most. With spray varnish, you can varnish a canvas quickly and easily and achieve beautiful results.
Prefer a criss-cross application with a minimum of 3 or 4 coats.
Buy Liquitex acrylic varnish spray
Liquid varnishes
This type of varnish is more complicated to apply and takes longer to dry, but the result is sublime. You’ll get a virtually glass-like finish, provided you apply at least 4 coats of varnish.
Liquid varnish is applied using a dedicated spalter with very fine synthetic bristles.
Buy “Liquitex” liquid acrylic varnish
My case, and the varnishes I use
I systematically use a varnish on all my paintings. I find this indispensable and very reassuring for the future. It also gives me the finish I want and a unified matte finish throughout my abstract painting.
In 90% of cases, I use gloss varnishes: either spray varnishes or liquid varnishes.
Want to go further?
If you’d like to learn how to use a varnish, I recommend my book and its video Getting started with abstract painting, in which I show you how I use a spray varnish (below).
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