I’ve been painting with gouache for a year now. Ever since my embarrassing attempt at sealing my artwork with mod podge (a disaster) I’ve been looking for a good way to seal my paintings. I just watched another video before this where somebody used “Dorland’s Wax Medium” for a similar effect. But I definitely think I’ll be trying this!! I’m working on a pet portrait (in gouache on 24x36” watercolor canvas) and it would feel wrong to send it to my friend without an added layer of protection. THANK YOU!!
Love the look of gouache and this is a good protective coating. I have used acrylic gloss medium to adhere water colour paper to wood panels before with success.
Thanks for posting another very informative/enjoyable video Malcolm. They are all so helpful. That was another lovely painting you completed. This method is such a great alternative for framing Goauche works. I paint with Gouache (my main medium at this time), but I am looking to have a go at Oils down the track. I tried Acrylics in the past. It is just I don't quite like their more plastic look. I didn't think that you could spray a varnish like that on a watercolour type media (without damaging it), the result is amazing.
Really good demo thank you. I will be using this for my acrylics and watercolours as they are all on 300gsm paper. However. I’d like to get away from mats as they are so hard to cut for the recycle frames I use. I notice at the end you showed your painting with and without mat. So it is quite feasible to frame it without the at?
Yes you can varnish watercolor with spray varnish then frame them like an ail or acrylic painting. You will need to mount the paper to a board first prior to painting.
Novice me would have had a heart attack go see the smokiness. But thanks for talking us through the process!!!! Can I use this varnish with watercolour pieces too? Thanks and kind regards Nabeelah
I have used the gloss spray on watercolour with no problems. This spray is also acid free so should not harm the paper either. Could be a good way to seal the rear of watercolour paper too. Please test on scrap first :)
Nice tutorial, very useful and I may try to do it on one of my watercolor painting. Have you also tried using cold wax medium e.g. gamblin? It also seals watercolor and gouache for framing without glass. I mounted the sealed watercolor paper on a canvas
Great info and video. Just one question, what does the 2 layers of gloss varnish add to mix that 4 layers of satin varnish wouldn't do? Also love painting, new workshop?
Good question and I cannot give any definitive answer - except that I trust that gloss has better sealing ability than the satin and matte variety. Maybe it is a bias I have from years of woodworking and using gloss varnish outdoors etc - 😄 As always test and compare.
The gloss varnish dries clear like water. The satin varnish dries a little milky. You don't notice this milkiness after just one or two coats. But you would start to notice it after building up 4 coats. This milkiness would lower the saturation of the chroma slightly after four coats...you might not want this. So if you want 4 coats protection but not glossy finish you put the first coats of gloss and then top them with a coat or two of the satin.
Once the satin or matte varnish has dried I do not feel it has changed. But you must test on scrap and decide for yourself. For the gloss varnish you will clearly lose the matte look of gouache, but then glass will do that too. Personally the end result is a win.
Is this something you would try out with your gouache paintings or does it look too risky?
I’ve been painting with gouache for a year now. Ever since my embarrassing attempt at sealing my artwork with mod podge (a disaster) I’ve been looking for a good way to seal my paintings. I just watched another video before this where somebody used “Dorland’s Wax Medium” for a similar effect. But I definitely think I’ll be trying this!! I’m working on a pet portrait (in gouache on 24x36” watercolor canvas) and it would feel wrong to send it to my friend without an added layer of protection. THANK YOU!!
@@UncleAugust Thank you, glad this helped you.
Great idea! I’ve never really liked glass with reflections etc to contend with👍🏻
True, Me neither
Yep, liked the video, loved your picture, Fabulous, your a knock out for your skills , 👍🤩 from Frances uk ♥️
Thank you so much 🤗
Love the look of gouache and this is a good protective coating. I have used acrylic gloss medium to adhere water colour paper to wood panels before with success.
What a beautiful man. Never thought of layering two varnishes, thanks for the video!
I've also adhered watercolor paintings to wood panels using acrylic medium as "glue" and I've finished the watercolor with a spray like you did.
Great tip!
Thanks for posting another very informative/enjoyable video Malcolm. They are all so helpful. That was another lovely painting you completed. This method is such a great alternative for framing Goauche works.
I paint with Gouache (my main medium at this time), but I am looking to have a go at Oils down the track. I tried Acrylics in the past. It is just I don't quite like their more plastic look.
I didn't think that you could spray a varnish like that on a watercolour type media (without damaging it), the result is amazing.
Thanks, so many options with new materials these days.
Really good demo thank you. I will be using this for my acrylics and watercolours as they are all on 300gsm paper. However. I’d like to get away from mats as they are so hard to cut for the recycle frames I use. I notice at the end you showed your painting with and without mat. So it is quite feasible to frame it without the at?
Yes you can varnish watercolor with spray varnish then frame them like an ail or acrylic painting. You will need to mount the paper to a board first prior to painting.
Thank you for this good information!
Novice me would have had a heart attack go see the smokiness. But thanks for talking us through the process!!!! Can I use this varnish with watercolour pieces too?
Thanks and kind regards
Nabeelah
I have used the gloss spray on watercolour with no problems. This spray is also acid free so should not harm the paper either. Could be a good way to seal the rear of watercolour paper too. Please test on scrap first :)
Just to add that make sure the watercolour painting is on a panel too.
Nice tutorial, very useful and I may try to do it on one of my watercolor painting. Have you also tried using cold wax medium e.g. gamblin? It also seals watercolor and gouache for framing without glass. I mounted the sealed watercolor paper on a canvas
Hi Malcolm 😊
Can i do the same process with an already acrylic painted 300g watercolor paper sheet ? Thank you
Yes, acrylic paint is perfectly stable once dried so less risk.
Thank you 👍
Great info and video. Just one question, what does the 2 layers of gloss varnish add to mix that 4 layers of satin varnish wouldn't do?
Also love painting, new workshop?
Good question and I cannot give any definitive answer - except that I trust that gloss has better sealing ability than the satin and matte variety. Maybe it is a bias I have from years of woodworking and using gloss varnish outdoors etc - 😄 As always test and compare.
The gloss varnish dries clear like water. The satin varnish dries a little milky. You don't notice this milkiness after just one or two coats. But you would start to notice it after building up 4 coats. This milkiness would lower the saturation of the chroma slightly after four coats...you might not want this. So if you want 4 coats protection but not glossy finish you put the first coats of gloss and then top them with a coat or two of the satin.
I would paint the painting first, and if the painting came out to my liking,then I would gesso the back and glue it on to the foam core board...
Thanks
Would you use gloss varnish for the first 2 layers if you want a mat look at the end?
Try satin spray varnish to test - if not matte enough a layer of matte should do it. I find satin is just the right balance.
Does this change the color at all? Like how some light colors look darker when wet and some darker colors look lighter?
Once the satin or matte varnish has dried I do not feel it has changed. But you must test on scrap and decide for yourself. For the gloss varnish you will clearly lose the matte look of gouache, but then glass will do that too. Personally the end result is a win.
I’m going to call it giant 😆 to make it pronounceable, cool will check out art savings clubs website! Thanks for the video
Agree - I could not find any example of how to pronounce that 😄
Have you tried the cold wax to seal your gouache painting?
No, does that work?