Gamblin Gamvar VS. Old Holland Picture Varnish

[Eric77]

Requesting anybody`s advice on which varnish to use (or should I say try). I currently paint with Old Holland paints and to me it would make the most sense to varnish with the same company`s product BUT I have read some amazing things about Gamvar and if you read Gamblin`s site, it`s very convincing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Eric

PS....I`m looking for high quality stuff that will last, any suggestions outside of the above mentioned products is welcome as well.

[donn_granros]

I've been using Soluvar Varnish with good results.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/li...luvar-varnish/

As to whether it is a better product than others is pretty tough to say in my view. I have no doubt that Gamvar is also a good product but non yellowing etc is a feature of both so I suspect only time will tell ultimately which is best. (likely applies to any decent manufacturers product)

[Dana Design]

I use GamVar exclusively and have never had a problem with it.

[skopas]

I've only used Gamvar so far, and it's been great. It could be possibly one of the best varnishes around. It's real thin, doesn't yellow with time, dries rather quickly and adds a luminous quality to your painting. Oh, forgot to mention and the smell is hardly noticeable, but still keep a window or two open.

[WFMartin]

Three attributes of a good, final varnish:

It protects the surface.

It evens out the high and low (gloss/dull) areas.

It is removable.

Most varnishes protect the surface, and enhance the appearance, but the last one is often ignored. It must be removable, and with the weakest of all solvents.

GamVar does all these things. It removes easiy with Gamsol (its own solvent), and without dissolving the painted surface beneath it. I've had occasion to actually remove it from two paintings, and it came off clean, and without damaging the painting. It is a synthetic resin, which is quite useful when one uses natural resins in their oil paint. The synthetic resin is just a bit IN-compatible with the surface of the painting, and that is good, because it doesn't tend to cross-link, and bond with the surface of the painting, as a natural resin varnish could do.

I would recommend that the dilution for a "retouch varnish" is much better using 1 part Varnish to 3 parts Gamsol, rather than the 1 to 5 ratio that is recommended in the directions.

I've used GamVar for several years, now, and I actually won a top award with a painting that had GamVar applied to it, and it was the appearance of the finish of the painting that swung the vote between my painting, and the runner up, according to the person who accompanied the judge. I figure that's about all the validity that is required to be able to recommend it.

It does tend to bead up, when applied to a hard, dry surface. But, that can be eliminated by continued brushing across the area. I usually apply up to 3 coats of the retouch varnish in order to achieve a nice, even finish, but that is easy to do. It is much slower drying than such natural resin varnishes as Damar, and for me that is an advantage. It gives me more brushing and leveling time.

I apply a retouch varnish after the painting has dried about 2 weeks after becoming touch-dry. I then frame it, and show, or sell it. After 6 months or more, I apply a final version right over it.

[Einion]

Originally Posted by Eric77

I currently paint with Old Holland paints and to me it would make the most sense to varnish with the same company`s product...

When it comes to dissimilar products like this (made from completely different ingredients) that may not be at all necessary.

If the OH varnish you're looking at is the one made from a ketone resin it's likely to be similar to or even the same as various competing products from other makers. If it's either the dammar or mastic varnish then the competing products based on synthetic resins are better in a number of respects, principally in how well they age.

Einion

[gunzorro]

Like Donn, I prefer the Soluvar varnishes (comes in gloss and matte, and can be mixed to desired finish). Second, I like the Old Holland gloss picture varnish (it is synthetic). After those two, I'd consider the Gamvar.

The things I don't care for with Gamvar are 1) beading, 2) some sunken areas remain, 3) plastic feeling gloss finish.

Soluvar seems to have the best UV resistance in my testing, and OH had the best surface gloss/finish for me (also applied easily, like water).

But any of those three are good quality picture varnishes.

[Eric77]

@ gunzorro: So to apply the OH Varnish, any tips?