Question re varnish

[siberart]

I have several paintings using Interactive and am ready to varnish. How much difference is there between Satin and Gloss? Thanks.

[ranunkel]

I have also been wondering about that!

[jennifervs]

There is a noticeable difference between Satin & Gloss. Satin is close to the original sheen of Interactive, just a bit richer. Gloss - especially when you apply multiple coats - really gets glossy! For most indoor settings, a Satin Varnish is nice; people can still appreciate the painting without a huge light glare. In some cases, glossy paintings can bounce the light back, making it hard to see. But it is a preference; I like glossy paintings so I tend to favor Gloss, but if I don't have a feeling one way or the other, I'd go with Satin. It's the most popular. You can always start with Satin, and go over it with Gloss if it isn't rich enough for you!

Once my painting has cured (minimum of 2 weeks, could be more depending on the humidity, temperature, what mediums I used and how thickly I painted) I apply an isolation coat (Binder or Fast Medium/Fixer) let dry; and then working horizontally, I apply a coat vertically, let dry, and then horizontally. 2 coats minimum to get all the places the varnish didn't "catch" the first time. DO NOT OVERWORK! Put down 1 stroke, gently overlap, and so on. Once the varnish starts to set, if you go back into it to even out strokes or such, it can be ruined. (Ask me how I know!!!) Chroma varnishes are designed to self level, so just let it until it dries - a few hours or so, depending on the environment.

I personally like to use Chroma's Solvent Varnishes. They are removable, which I like; whereas the water-based ones are permanent. But again, it comes to preference.

I've made some videos on YouTube about varnishing here and here

[siberart]

Thank you Jennifer. I like the way Interactive does not have a high gloss look, at least how I have been using them. I will probably go for the satin. Your response has been very helpful. Now off to YouTube for your videos.

[siberart]

Great videos Jennifer. I don't know how I missed those on the web site.

One more question. I have used the isolation coats on my paintings. I am possibly going to frame one under glass since it is on paper. Does this need varnish? Thanks.

[jennifervs]

Thanks, and I'm glad the videos were helpful. We always recommending varnishing as the final step in protecting your painting, but it seems to me that if you worked on paper, used an isolation coat to seal it, and then it's going under glass, you are ok. Atelier Interactive is lightfast. But if you or the client ever wants to display the painting outside of a frame, a light varnish would be nice.

For my collage and mixed media works on paper, I do varnish, but I don't put them under glass. I mount them on an archival, hard surface. I like people to get up close and personal and see the layers and texture.

It really comes down to you, and the glass you choose. Museum non-glare glass is the best, but pricey. If the glass has a slight frost or glare, as an artist I personally would not varnish.

[lilrowo]

Another question about the varnish if you don't mind. I have a bottle of all three, matte, satin and gloss. The matte and the satin are much thicker than the gloss, which is quite watery. Is this normal? Thanks for your helpful information!

[jennifervs]

The matte and satin are thicker due to the matting agents and emulsions used in the varnish. Gloss has no matting agents, and if you are using the water-based varnishes, you'll want to thin the Gloss 1:1 with water and apply multiple thin coats.

[lilrowo]

Thanks for the explanation!