How to varnish an acrylic painting

Varnish an Acrylic Painting:

Varnish provides UV protection and can be removed if it is damaged.

• Do not use any varnish medium that cannot be removed. 

Paints, Mediums & Tools:

• Acrlyc Painting that has dried for 24-48 hours

• 10 inch soft paint brush for varnish

• 5 inch paint brush for separation layer

• Liquitex Gloss Medium for separation layer

• Gamblin Gamvar for varnish

Separation Layer:

• Apply two light coats of liquitex gloss medium; one layer is brushed on vertically, after it dries the  next layer is brushed on horizontally

• The separation layer acts as a sealer for the painting

Varnish:

My Paintings before 2025 didn't do it this way. Older paintings have a matte or gloss layer.

• • Wait for separation layer to dry

  • Use a varnish that can be removed in the future, such as, Windsor-Newton UV Gloss Spray, or Liquitex gloss soluvar or Gamblin Gamvar with a brush.

    • My preference is Gmablin Gamvar

  • Apply two coats but only if needed: one horizontal, one vertical. Wait 48-72+ hours for it to dry