How to VARNISH an Oil Painting - My TOP 5 TIPS!

In this comprehensive video I show you a few techniques for varnishing oil paintings. Before you get stuck in, It's vital that you first observe my TOP 5 TIPS!
1. Make sure your painting is dry! (6-12 months)
2. Varnish in a clean and dust free zone!
3. Use the right varnish for the job!
4. Apply your varnish with painting laying FLAT!
5. Ensure you achieve a thin, even and uniform coat!

To get your painting "exhibition ready" Use RE TOUCH varnish. Several different brands make this. It's essentially a ketone resin suspended in solvent. It has an open surface to allow your painting to continue to breathe, you can also keep working over this!

Damar can be brittle, and can yellow over time. Make sure you use this varnish only on rigid panels to avoid cracking!

Windsor and Newton (not a sponsor) Final picture Varnish is my varnish of choice. You can find that here (in this demo I combined Matte and Gloss:

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[tcfencing]

This is very helpful. I did learn something from my teacher, years ago, who was trained in Florence. We painted in an Academic fashion. Anyway, he said ALWAYS stroke your varnish in vertical strokes because occasionally you get a bit of varnish that didn't flow out or left a mark - horizontal areas will catch light - and it's always in a place you DON'T want excess glare. Vertical strokes, well, they don't catch the light. Ideally of course, you don't see strokes of varnish, but it can happen. Also, once I varnish I do not like to leave them surface up - too much stuff floating around. I lean them up face down, angled, against the wall.

[monte]

Bless you Andrew! I'm a paintings conservator and I see a lot of misinformation online among painters about varnishing. Everything you said was spot on and practical. Once again you are using your awesome powers of communication to help lots of painters!

[christinamurphy]

Thanks Andrew, this was another really useful video. I have to wonder why some people give a thumbs down to videos like this but ultimately I think they must be people that have no concept of gratitude or generosity of spirit. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge Andrew, I know I'm not alone in benefiting from the skills you share.

[JessieAtRez]

Hi Andrew. My background is in illustration, graphic design, and mostly, computer animation. I'm in the process of transitioning from that to a fine art career and I just want to thank you for all of your wonderful instructional material. I'm in my 60s, so I don't have 30 years to gain the experience I need to make a living at this, but with your help, I feel confident I'll be able to hit the ground running. So, once again, thank you for all you do...

[CanadianMang]

The lighting in your studio is quite pleasant, makes for great filming.

[Carolineparada]

Andrews the teacher we’ve always wanted

[ramelep]

Andrew, Andrew Andrew.. you are Amazing. YOU are my friend in my head. 😊.
The Best Teacher around 🙏🏾 Thank you genius

[KBTG]

Andrew. Great video. The last part of you talk really caught my attention, how correct you are. I once painted a painting in 1998. Guess what I used to varnish it with? On the spur of the moment, I used rejected Home Depot exterior acrylic house paint, old moldy canvas, and used chip brushes to create a painting of an Eagle. If I would ever paint an Eagle, at my discretion, a Pastor offered to purchase a print for $200. Latter on, having just quit my job as a crane operator, I remembered his offer, but first I needed an original, thinking only about making the print. Before framing it with a $10 garage sale frame, I coated it with 'of all things', interior polyurethane varnish. That went over the oil paint that was over the house paint. Guess where the painting ended up? In The White House of The United States of America. It is now in the Museum section of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Dallas, Texas.

[robertboyle]

You've got sand flies in your painting? I read that they found a grasshopper buried in the paint of a Van Gogh painting. So you're in good company. Bugs as medium.

[anitav]

“Wow I felt dizzy after watching that part when he show’s the mountain top, the BEST PAINTER EVER, no ones gonna forget your name in the Art world.

[anitav]

SORRY BUT DID ANYBODY ELSE DO A REWIND ON THAT MOUNTAIN “man that’s something “ Blessed you are.

[SuperDanimal]

No mention of Gamvar varnish? That stuff is can be applied touch-dry and is a real lifesaver when you got deadlines to meet.

[DD-oxex]

I've seen a lot of art related videos, some good, some okay, some I couldn't hit the pause button fast enough. These by Andrew are outstanding. Clear and easy to watch and learn from. Great info and attention to detail. Just telling it like it is folks.

[mikeswift]

Andrew, tis a HUGE understatement to say you are an inspiration, because you not only transcend the norms of conventional teaching, you also posess a special nuance of communication fused with a detailed and personal technique that can only be shared from years of experience and a special
Gifted style, all combined to form a unique symbiosis that comes from a precious few. You are a gift to us all, and the inspiration that brought me back to life and to once again, hold a brush in my hand. Thanks Mate!

[valeriehelm]

I had finished my paintings ready for an exhibition. Your video was such a help when I came to varnish my paintings. Always tentative at that stage in case I ruin the whole thing. Many many thanks for your information.

[BabsHaake]

I loved that you kept your sandflies. I watched you do that experience with your buddies when you were bombarded with the flies. Funny how even bad experiences turn out to be a good memory to save.

[shaileevishal]

Thanks Andrew, it cleared all my doubts regarding using varnish on oil paintings.

[tamc]

Thanks a lot, mister, I was so confused about varnishing that I've never dared to try it. You are a lifesaver!

[albertduplessis]

This is the best Varnish video on the interweb. Thank you Andrew.

[cherylkitchen]

I saw an Impressionist exhibition which included on of Claude Monet's Lily Pad paintings. I was so amazed to see hair and even one insect down in the paint. I loved that. I guess that is a reality of painting outside also. Thank you for posting. Love it.