How to Varnish Your Acrylic Painting (Tutorial)
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- čas přidán 19. 03. 2019
- Here's a fast and effective method to varnish your piece of art. I've used this method to varnish many paintings and it's proven to be very useful.
I use a lightly, lightly moist sponge to spread out the fluid varnish across the piece. It's about as easy as it gets.
Subscribe and comment below! Would love to hear from you and your experiences. Always looking out for new techniques! - Zábava
Hi Roy. I did a painting, which was a commission 1.5 x 1m. i was scared of varnishing it cause of the size. Then I watched one if your videos where you used a car sponge. So I plucked up the courage to try it. This was a great success. it was so quick and easy. I can't thank you enough. I used Liquitex high gloss. I have given it 3 coats, it looks great. I have now varnished all my paintings using this method. I did about 30 painting in a few minutes. Thank you again so much.
That is great! So glad to hear it worked out well for you. It is a super quick and effective method to varnish that's for sure. I really like this method!
You, Sir, have just given me years of my life back. Varnish days are my very least favourite studio time. All the time I'll get back just in the hours of procrastinating! 😂 Thank you!
it's so much faster! I hope it helps.
Hi Roy. I had a very important commissioned piece that I had used a brush to varnish and it left streaks. My husband researched and found your CZcams video. I went back over my painting 3 days later with a sponge and it not only got rid of the streaks but toned down the over glossy look. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your wisdom with all of us. You could have kept this to yourself but you didn’t. I have subscribed to your channel. Your work is amazing. My husband said to tell you “Bless You!”
All right! So glad it worked out well for you. Yeah, I went through a LOT of trial and error and messed up paintings until I figured out something that worked for me.
Thank you so much for this information and demonstration. You’ve taken the fear out of varnishing! Great painting too! 🙏👏👍
Thanks! hope it helps out!
Great Idea, I've been working much larger these days and have had so much difficulty varnishing large canvases. Wish I'd seen this sooner. I'm now trying to make a fix on one of my pieces from a varnish mess. Ahh.
The struggle is real! Thanks for this info. It was a big relief when you said you previously got streaks. It's so easy to think your hand isn't steady enough. Your art is beautiful, too.
Holy Christmas, I know you must get this all the time from this video but it’s outrageous how effective this method is! Just tried it myself and couldn’t believe how well the varnish took to the painting.
I was super intimidated to try it, but I’m amazed at how well it’s worked, you’re a lifesaver; thank you for this video Roy!
glad it helped! I always test on smaller canvases to experiment with first if I'm unsure how something is going to work. Too much drama otherwise!
I have been so afraid to varnish and you just totally removed all that fear for me. Thank you for this video!
Great! hope it works out well for you!
Thanks for the tip about pre-wetting the sponge, that's brilliant!!
thanks for watching! it keeps the sponge from auto-soaking all your varnish as well.
Absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you! I’m struggling with brush marks and uneven spray, this is brilliant.
It's nice to see someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Pre-wetting that sponge is critical.
Pop Art Murals I learn everything the hard way!
Didn't we all. I use a small frame, Medium nap, terry roller to varnish. And I pre-wet that sucker too.
Thank you for sharing this video! That is a beautiful painting!!
Thank you! Best advice ever. And I love your painting btw!
I love the text painting to use for reference. Thanks Roy.
I hope it helps, I keep it handy!
Thanks so much! I love your painting it has my favorite color in it.
Love the guitar painting
SUPER SWEET 👍🎨🖌
Thanks for posting this video Roy. I was worried about ruining a painting or getting brush strokes when varnishing. After watching your video, I was really impressed and this is the only technique I use to varnish my paintings.
Fantastic. Thx. And that guitar painting is super nice! 🙂
Omg that painting is GORGEOUS! Nice video…very helpful!
Thank you for this. I used a different technique from a another CZcams video. He said to use short brush strokes then go over with loner strokes for a second coat. You can still totally see the short strokes after the second layer. next time I'm doing this. It looks great! Thank you.
Thank you Roy for the tip on varnishing. I was terrified of attempting to varnish some work that I have because I didn't want to destroy it. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!!!💯👊👏🙌😄
Thanks Roy! A very huge help!
Love it can’t beat experience. 😎😎
Thanks for the demonstration Roy
Thank you!...like your style and method
I will certainly try this. It makes a lot of sense. I have some spray as well for some pieces.
Amazing video and it works perfectly
Thank you
SMART! Just started with Acrylics and used a brush for my semi-gloss varnish and felt there has to be a better way. I was thinking of foam brushes, but this is genius!
Love the painting
Just about finish a commission, been delaying this process so I'm so glad I found your channel..Thanks for the smart tip!...:)
Great idea. The coating is very nice. The painting is quite beautiful. Thank you for sharing. :)
Great technique! Thanks, so much for sharing this with the world 🌎. Bless you...this will help countless artists like myself. 😃
Hey Nia, so glad you found this technique. I go through a lot of trial and error with a lot of things so I like helping people with shortcuts so they don't have to make the same mistakes I did!
I absolutely LOVE your painting as well as your tutorial and tips! I was wondering how to properly varnish my second painting. This was the second video I watched. I’m thankful I found your method. I just subscribed to your Chanel based off the content of this video. Thanks again!!!
thank you so much! glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Roy. I am about to gloss varnish my first commission of a large canvas and I was worried sick!
THANK YOU! I've been struggling to find a way to not leave brush marks in varnish. This (finally) worked beautifully! THANK YOU AGAIN!
I feel your pain! Same for me!
I love that, will surely try this out for my paintings!!! Love your art skills! 👏👌
go for it!
Thank you so much! Never thought to use a sponge!
You're welcome, I hope it works for you!
Woo w colour collection is beautiful and music lovers painting dil chu liya yaar tumane bahut hi mast painting hai dil se.
Love ot. You painted a guitar! Lovely
I have always found varnishing to be intimidating. My favourite old method was to spray it on which does give a great finish, but the fumes are pretty wicked so I have to do it in my garage, which means I can't varnish over the winter because it is too cold. I have tried brushing on the liquid varnish (because it doesn't have the smell and I can do it indoors year round) but it is really hard not to get brush marks. I tried Roy's video method and it is stress (and fume)_ free. This is the method I will be using from now on. I use the Golden varnishes and they work fine with this method.
awesome, so glad it worked out for you!
Awesome! Howdo you clean your sponge please?
hey is the liquid varnish safe to use indoor is the smell strong?
Okay......I feel much better after watching this video about varnishing my paint pour!! Thanks!
hope it helps!
@@roylawsart7456 of course i just tried, and it got tacky in one spot. I think it's because not enough varnish when I over the spot or maybe sponge wasn't saturated enough, maybe second coat will be better and fix problem areas. How many coats do you do? Still drying so hopefully this works out?!?!? Cross fingers (nervous face palm........LOL)
Thanks for the sponge tip! 🧽 I was using foam brushes to apply but this looks way easier 👍🏻
Beautiful painting! And thank you so much for this tutorial! I haven't seen anyone swirl the varnish before. I've seen some artists use a torch to pop air bubbles. Do you have any issues with air bubbles? Do you shake or stir the varnish before using? Thank you so much for sharing your art and your expertise!
I was skeptical about your method but I did a few trials, and am pleasently surprised with the results. The sponge works very well!
glad it worked!
This seems a great system. I find I get mixed results brushing, so will try your method out!
This war really helpful, thanks a lot man!
No problem, thanks for watching!
Thanks hands down best technique I’ve tried. Thank you so much
Me too! Thanks for watching.
Extremely happy to find your video, im crazyyy looking at the strokes of mine, i wish i could fix it with your method thank youuuu ✨🙏🏼
I know how you feel! I have several around here that have those old streaks on them.
A Gibson Les Paul is a work of art in itself.
This is awesome! Thank you so much. I'm very OCD so streaks drive me nuts. This technique will help so much. I have my first acrylic painting that I did with cheap dollar store paint that turned out really well. It is very matt looking, almost chalky and I can't wait to varnish it to get it glossy. Going to do it right now with your technique. I have since purchased professional paint and will use this technique on them as well. Beautiful painting.
Great! Hope it all works out for you, I do it like this all the time. And yeah, I think it's worth it to spring for the better supplies.
@@roylaws406 I just finished the first coat and it looks amazing. Thanks again from Nova Scotia.
Hi, could I ask, did you go straight in with the varnish? You see, I also have a painting that I recently completed and I used fairly cheap paint for this piece, and it's really the only thing stopping me from using this technique. I'm just a little worried that because of the quality of the paint, clouding might occur when using this technique and I really don't want to risk anything because it is quite a large piece. Did you do anything before applying the varnish using this technique?
I was inclined to varnish a painting (for the first time) using a sponge, but every tutorial had brushes. Thanks for showing this paint-beginner that sponges can be used.
Great Information, thank you
I use a very soft cloth, also making it wet before and no streaks whatsoever. Will try this method too
Do you think that a Microfiber cloth will work?
Your painting is gorgeous!
Thank you for showing us how you varnish. I've used the small black sponge that has a wooden handle attached but I've found that I pour alot of varnish down on the canvas in order not to get streaks. I'm gonna try this way to see if I use less varnish.
thank you very much! I hope it works well for you!
I was so pleased with a recent painting only to leave behind brush marks after varnishing. I saw your video and tried the sponge with a 3rd coat and it smoothed it out. I'll definitely be using this method from now on! Thanks for the video!
So glad it worked out!
HI Roy, loved the knowledge that you shared! One question, I was wondering if this technique applies to other fluid acrylic varnishes such as polycrylic gloss?
Thank you very much for the video!
you're welcome, thanks for watching!
Thank you.,
Just about to have a go at varnishing my first painting - a bit scary- your video is very helpful and encouraging
yeah, my first varnish was a bit of a pooch screw, wish I knew this first!
Thank you!
Thank you Roy! I hate using a brush because I get the streaks as well.
Love the painting!
Thanks for watching, I hope it helps!
I'll let you know ;-)
Thank you so much for this. I varnished my first painting and I used a sponge brush as another video recommended and it has left horrible stroke marks. Thank you for making me feel like I can save my painting. I was beating myself up thinking I ruined it and therefore couldn’t sell it!
I hope it works out!
Thanks a million... every time I went to varnish the moment of anguish arrived because I couldn't make the brush strokes not visible and with your method they look spectacular... fast, without streaks and without bubbles, I'm very excited. The first painting didn't turn out so well but immediately after practice it's great, thanks for sharing your knowledge. How long can I keep the sponge in a plastic bag, should I wash it after several uses?
Hi! Just wanted to say thanks for the tutorial :)
Thanks for watching!
Omg tha k you for your ip on the wet sponge!!! I'm always leaving streaks!
great! glad it helped!
What kind of sponge do you use? What material? This is extremely helpful!
Great video. I stuffed up an important painting with a brush. BTW I love your artwork.
if you re-varnish it, it might clean it up. I've had someone on here say they did that.
I was using the Liquitex Gloss Varnish on my acrylic pours, pouring it up in a glass and using a 70mm paint brush to coat, always getting to eye level with the painting to look for paint brush strokes, but after seeing this method being used, I’m going to begin doing that instead! 👌🏻
Great, I hope it works out!
Hi Roy, great video thanks, you mention spraying a clear coat on beforehand. Can you give a little more information about that please. What type of clear coat do you use and what is the drying time before varnishing etc. Thank you.
good video. Thanks
Thank you, I will give it a good try as I have a monster frame!
good luck!
I definitely want to try this! I wonder though - will texture in a painting cause trouble?
Nice 👌
Beautiful work!
How many layers of varnish to you do? Can u please show the dried results after the varnish on the guitar painting?
Hey I know this video was filmed 5 years ago and more as a tutorial but i wanted to appreciate the painting :)). The colours are really nicely chosen, great job
Thank you very much! Even though it's been up for awhile, I still get comments on this one all the time. Glad you enjoyed!
thanks.for.the info. very helpfull.
can i reuse the.sponge?
Just found this video! Great technique! I think this might be a life (and art) saver. But before I give it a go, I was just wondering if that Liquitex Professional Varnish is used full strength right from the manufacturer or if you have it diluted, say 50/50 with something else?
Hello! Great video..very helpful :) I had a question..How long should I wait to varnish my acrylic painting? TIA! 😀
Nice - I use a brush but I can see the brush marks - so this is great
Alexander P Williams glad it worked out!
Love your art! Does this technique leave any whorl marks when dry?
Nope, it dries quite smoothly. When I did it with bushes it left streaks everywhere. Of course, if it's applied too thick it probably will. Thanks!
Personally which acrylic paintings with a varnish finish have you experienced resemble an oil painting the best? Satin, Gloss or High Gloss?
Thanks for Sharing ❤️
By the way, Beautiful painting 👍🏾
Brilliant
thanks
Love this video! I have thick and thin areas on my paintings- will this work for the hills and valleys I'd have to cover? Thanks!
yep, just watch for the varnish to pool up in the low spots. just dab it out with the sponge and even it out and it'll be just fine.
Thank you
You're welcome!
Nice Les Paul piece.
thanks!
I wish I found this an hour ago! Lol. First, amazing painting! Second, thank you for sharing this technique! Very fast! Third, does the you're of sponge matter? Would this work just as well with a kitchen sponge?
ha! yeah, I wish I'd known this when I was starting out, would have saved a lot of grief. I think a kitchen sponge might be too porous and craggy (is that a word?) to apply smoothly. I like the real tight automotive sponges personally, seems to work best. I have a variety in a cabinet here and I only like like one of them.
Thank you Roy.. does it leave circular strokes?
Thank you for shairing but I need to know how do I varnish a Heart which just painted and would like to varnish it so it looks as though it stands of my Canvas do I just keep adding varnish to it or do you know of another way Thank you.
Hi Roy, so glad to see your tutorial today! I’ll definitely give it a try on my acrylic paintings. One question - after use, can the sponge be washed and cleaned for future use? Thanks for your tips ❤
of course! I've had the same one for quite a long time now.
Love this technique! Can you save the sponge in a plastic bag for subsequent coats or is it better to clean it completely between coats? Thanks.
Yeah, I have a big freezer bag that i'll put the sponge into between coats, does the trick just fine!
I am a bit late to this video but I was wondering what spray you use to seal the painting before varnishing. Hopefully it isn't the Liquitex spray because they won't ship to Canada. BTW, great painting.
I was wondering does this also work on wood as well? How long do you let your painting dry before the Varnish?
Beautiful painting. Thank you. I was wondering why you don't use the high gloss?
I have three finishes that I use, just depends on the piece.
OK as a beginner here that was easy and super fast! Just subscribed. However I have one question, I saw in some videos that they mix the varnish with a bit of water first but in yours you didn't. Does this apply to all varnishes?
Hi Roy Thank you for your video. I have never had the courage to varnish a painting yet but will give it a go after your video. One thing you mentioned is that you use pencil (Am I right in assuming these are the white lines I can see on the guitar?) What 'clear coat' do you use please over the pencil markings to fix? Many Thanks
It's Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic coating, it's to keep the pencil lines from smearing. You should practice on a test canvas first!
Thanks so much for this method. Do you still need to use the spray sealant before the varnish if you used an ink/gel pen on the painting?
nope, that's just for my pencil strokes, wouldn't need it otherwise!
Great idea, gonna try it. One question tho: what does “clear coat” mean, what product and app method do u use for that coat?
The spray I use is Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating 1303
Do i always have to spray clear coating first before i varnish my painting? Thanks.
Hi, was wondering how many coats of satin varnish do you give your work and was the sealer a spray? Thank you for your great videos and for sharing you tips!
Hello! I will normally give it two coats. not for any technical reason other than I might have missed a spot the first time and that'll catch it. And yes, it is a spray that I do outside because the fumes are potent. It's Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating and it's available just about anywhere. I use it to seal down the visible pencil marks I have on my paintings, usually two coats. I do it before the varnish because the sponge will clean the pencil marks right off. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic tutorial! Do you always do a clear coat before varnishing or did you use it only because of your pencil marks? Thanks!
that's just to keep the pencil marks. I discovered the hard way that they rub off if you don't!
@@roylaws406 This is my very first acrylic as I have always done pencil and watercolors. I have used a lot of pencil in this new acrylic painting. I have spent months on it. LOTS of detail. It is 8 feet by 24" high. I am afraid of the varnish taking off the pencil and very diluted acrylic paint that I have used. You talk of putting a clear coat on the painting first. I don't recall you giving any details about this initial clear coast that you use first to set the pencil in place
Just read about using a clear coating first. Sorry about that. I was asking if this has to be sprayed rather than using your big sponge? Do you still need to varnish after the clear coat?
thank you so much for this video!
my only question was: do you have to shake the bottle prior to applying?
thanks and keep up the amazing work! ☺️
I do, just because I've noticed in old bottles it kinda settles at the bottom.