Varnishing Paintings

Varnishing Paintings

Oil paintings are generally varnished after they have dried. This protects the paint film and can also even out the colors since some areas of the painting may appear more matte while other areas are more glossy. After time (many years) the varnish may degrade, yellow or crack and will need to be removed and reapplied. This is generally done by professional restorers using solvents and special techniques.

It is usually best to use gloss varnish because it will result in the brightest, richest colors. Some prefer a satin or more matte varnish however.

When to Varnish?

This is hotly debated. The general traditional consensus is to wait at least six months or even a year. This is because while oil paintings may appear dry to the touch, they are still curing, and the inner paint layers may take many months to cure even when the painting seems dry to the touch. If you varnish too soon using traditional (Dammar) varnish, the solvents in the varnish can bond with the not fully cured paint film. This can cause problems if the varnish needs to be removed. Thus we have the practice of waiting six months or longer to varnish.

Is it really safe to varnish sooner than six months using Gamblin Gamvar varnish?

According to Gamblin, their varnish product Gamvar can be used sooner. Here is a quote from their web site: "All Gamvar can be applied when the thickest areas of your painting are thoroughly dry and firm."

From their FAQ page: "Gamvar may be brush applied when the painting is dry to the touch and firm in its thickest areas. For some oil paintings, that might take two weeks, for others, 2 months. To check if it’s dry, gently press your nail into the thickest part of your painting."

Gamblin's claims are refuted by some. Often it is stated that Gamblin is no different than other varnishes and thus the same caution (wait time) should apply.

I emailed Gamblin's product specialists and asked about this. This is the reply:

"Dear Phil,

Thanks for contacting Gamblin.

A painting is ready to varnish with Gamvar when it is touch-dry and firm in its thickest areas. A thinly brushed oil painting with few layers may be ready to varnish with Gamvar in as little as 2-3 weeks. A painting with thicker impasto may require a month or longer.

Waiting several months for an oil painting to dry is critical when using a natural resin varnish dissolved in turpentine (dammar). Painters can safely varnish sooner with Gamvar because the mild solvent used in our varnish, Gamsol, is not strong enough to dissolve a dry paint film. Gamvar’s unique resin will not chemically crosslink with a freshly dried oil painting- a possible and undesirable outcome when prematurely applying a natural resin varnish.

You will find information on Gamvar on the following page of our website: https://gamblincolors.com/oil-painting/gamvar-picture-varnish/

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Kind Regards,

Mary"

It should be noted that Gamblin does have this disclaimer also on their site, not surprisingly: Disclaimer: The above information is based on research and testing done by Gamblin Artists Colors, and is provided as a basis for understanding the potential uses in established oil painting and printmaking techniques using the products mentioned. Gamblin Artists Colors cannot be sure the product will be right for you. Therefore, we urge product users to carefully read the label, instructions and product information for each product and to test each application to ensure all individual project requirements are met – particularly when developing one’s own technique. While we believe the above information is accurate, WE MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND WE SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES (INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHERWISE) THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF A PRODUCT APPLICATION.

So should I wait to varnish or use Gamvar sooner? You will have to make this call yourself but I hope this information provides a bit of clarity.

I feel that it's too soon to varnish but someone wants to buy the painting. What to do? This is a tough call. Some options are 1) Tell the client that they will have to wait until the painting is varnished. 2) Varnish with Gamvar if it meets Gamblin's criteria to do so 3) deliver the painting with instruction that it be varnished at a certain point. Perhaps you can offer to varnish it at no cost if that's practical.