Winsor Newton Professional Gloss & Matt Varnish Spray 150ml

Winsor & Newton Artists' Varnish is perfect for giving your paintings a clear, non-yellowing protective coating, which will defend them from dirt and grease.

• It's ideal for oil, alkyd, or acrylic paintings, and is extremely easy to use.
• Once your work is thoroughly dry (allow a minimum of six months for oils), simply spray the aerosol evenly over it from a distance of around 30cm.
• Since Winsor & Newton Artists' Varnish is removable, it's suitable for fine art.
• These varnishes can be used on conventional as well as Artisan oil paintings.
  

Which varnish?

Generally, artists choose varnishes for the sheen they provide, or because they have been used by their favorite painters. Here’s a brief overview of the different kinds of varnishes:

Gloss varnishes are chosen because they give the brightest, deepest colors. But works with gloss varnish have a lot of reflection.

Matt varnishes avoid reflections but the colors appear duller.

All Winsor & Newton varnishes can be used on oil, alkyd, water mixable oil, or acrylic paintings. But all are designed with specific types of color in mind.

Professional Gloss Varnish: The most popular varnish, also providing a very high gloss finish. Stronger solvents will be needed to remove it as time goes by.

Professional Matt Varnish: One of the most modern varnishes, this is easy to remove and gives a medium matt sheen. Professional Matt and Gloss varnishes can be intermixed to achieve varying sheens. We suggest a mix of about 50:50 to achieve a satin finish.

For Artisan Water Mixable Oils:

Artisan Gloss, Matt, or Satin Varnishes: These varnishes are formulated avoiding conventional solvents, making them ideal for communal studios or those needing to avoid hazardous solvents. These varnishes can be used on conventional as well as Artisan oil paintings.

For acrylic color:

Professional Acrylic Gloss, Matt, or Satin Varnishes: These varnishes are uniquely formulated to be removable and contain UV resistance. The Satin Varnish gives a mid-sheen finish, in between the Matt and Gloss Varnish finishes. The Galeria Acrylic range also has a collection of gloss, matt, and satin varnishes.

Top ten tips when applying varnish:

1. Wait until your painting is completely dry.
2. Choose a dust-free area to work in, keeping windows and doors closed.
3. Use a flat, wide, soft, and tightly packed varnishing brush, such as the Winsor & Newton Monarch Glazing Brush. Keep it clean and use it only for varnishing.
4. Keep the work to be varnished flat on a table or work surface – avoid working vertically.
5. Stir the varnish well and pour it into a clean, flat saucer or tin. Load your brush, then wipe it on the side of the saucer so it is not dripping.
6. Apply the varnish in one to three thin coats, rather than one thick coat.
7. Use long, even strokes from top to bottom, moving gradually from one side to the other. Remove any bubbles.
8. Avoid going back over areas that you’ve done. For any areas you’ve missed, simply allow the piece to dry completely and revarnish.
9. After you’ve finished, shield the work from dust with a protective plastic film – known as a “tent”.
10. Leave to dry for 24 hours. If a second coat is required, apply it at a right angle to the first.

Handling and hanging:

It’s best to avoid leaning varnished paintings together, as they may stick. If you use bubble wrap around your varnished painting or pick it up with your fingers touching the varnish, impressions may show in the varnish. Avoid hanging pictures in bathrooms or kitchens, or above radiators or open fires, as they will get dirty very quickly.