WetCanvas! Home
Home Member Services Content Areas Tools Info Center WC Partners Shop Help
Channels:
Search for:
in:

[ Home: Oil Painting: Make Your Own Damar Varnish ]
"Make Your Own Damar Varnish"
Page 2 of 2

Author: Robert_Roberts, Contributing Editor

A couple of times a day, stir the contents of the container. As the damar dissolves, the thicker syrup settles at the bottom, and the bag of crystals can stick to the bottom.

After a day or two, when you see that there are no more crystals in the bag, remove the bag and put the lid on the container. If any debris has settled to the bottom, you can carefully decant the Damar Concentrate into another container.

You now have a fairly thick honey-like concentrated varnish.

To speed things along, especially in cooler climates, placing the container in a pan of hot water is helpful. A crock-pot is an option.

Note: If you don't want to use the tea-bag method, simply put the damar crystals and turpentine together into the container. Stir periodically, as above. When the crystals have dissolved entirely, and while the sediments are settled at the bottom of the container, carefully decant the damar concentrate into a fresh clean container. You can strain the last of the concentrate through cheese cloth to trap the sediments.
==> Making Damar Picture Varnish

For a final picture varnish, thin Damar Concentrate with an equal amount of turpentine : 50-50. (equivalent to 1/2 of concentrate strength)

==> Making Damar Retouch Varnish

For a retouch varnish, thin 1 part Damar Concentrate with 3 parts turpentine. - or 1 part Damar Picture Varnish with 1 part turpentine
(both are equivalent to 1/4 of concentrate strength).

NOTE: In humid climates, you may need to add a bit more turpentine for picture or retouch varnish.

==> Using Damar Varnish In Painting Mediums

Recipes for oil-painting mediums can vary considerably. The medium recipe here, however, is fairly universal and maintains principles of fat over lean.

Damar Picture Varnish : 1 part
Linseed Oil : 1 part
Turpentine : 1 part

Combine the ingredients. May be mixed with tube oils on the palette, or rubbed directly onto the canvas as a couch for glazes. Stand oil or sun-thickened oil may be substituted for the linseed oil.
==> Safety Tips

  • Turpentine is highly flammable, so use appropriate precautions.

  • Make sure you have plenty of ventilation when making these varnishes.

  • After removing the spent damar bag, put it in an empty milk carton, coffee can or similar throw-away container with no lid; place it outside in a shady area until the remaining turpentine has evaporated completely; THEN you can safely dispose of it.



###
Don't wait - discuss this topic with fellow artists now in our forum!
[ Previous Page ] 

Quick Jump:

[ 1 - 2 ]

B i o g r a p h y
While still a toddler, Mr. Roberts disappeared during a Colorado blizzard, and was adopted by a hermit miner and his pet 3-legged cougar. Later on, Robert became a concert pianist, but was really an international jewel thief. Following his arrest by the FBI, he managed to weasel out of a prison sentence in exchange for helping to uncover a syndicated computer crime ring. He is currently in a federal witness protection program in San Francisco, disguised as a mild-mannered artist.
E-Mail: robertx2@speakeasy.net Web Site: http://www.rer.name

Google Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Featured Links
Copyright © 1998-2009, F+W Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. FA