I know this was posted 5 years ago but it's been the most helpful video I could find to help me choose what varnish to purchase. Thank you very much. 10/10
yes me too! I used gloss on my first attempt on varnishing one of my many waiting to be varnished paintings. To me it ruined the painting because you cant see detail unless you move it. So I've been thinking of doing satin varnish but not easy to find.. Thank you for this video!
Thank you for this video. I painted a sailboat in the sunset scene and thought a gloss vanish would go well with the sunset glistening off the water. Once dried, I noticed that weather I had the blinds open or just a light on in the room at night, the painting has so much glare, that you can't see the art work without shifting the painting to a specific angle. Ive left all my other paintings unvarnished because I wasn't sure which varnish to use. Your example painting helped me decide on matte and satin from here on out.
I am having the same problem with glare in my home studio!! Thanks for doing this video , validated my instict to go with a matte varnish, I'm curious in what situation a gloss would work
Awesome video, something I've never thought about.. so you've definitely got me thinking. Thanks for this. I haven't varnished anything this year luckily because it's something that I haven't figured out yet or even wanted to deal with at the moment.
This was very helpful, thanks! I did a collage with acrylic painted paper, so it's not a *perfectly* flat surface since the papers are layered and overlap here and there. I have gloss varnish on hand, but was concerned that gloss varnish would especially highlight those edges of the collage pieces and detract from the overall design, so I'm definitely going to purchase either matte or satin finish varnish to use instead. Probably matte, since that was the medium I used as my adhesive and I like the look. I'm glad you mentioned the isolation coat as well, I just read about it elsewhere for the first time and will look for that video. Thanks again.
I have also been doing a lot of research on types of finishes and could not for the life of me understand why so many people prefer the gloss finish. Why would one want light reflecting off their work so much so that you can't see the painting? I think I am going to go with matte. Thanks so much for this video!
Thanks for doing this video,,,I'm a newer, painter & just recently learned about 20 or so paintings in,,that I need to varnish them. I bought both Liquitex's Gloss Medium & Varnish & Liquitex Matte Varnish & wasn't really sure which to use. I used the Gloss varnish on most paintings 1st & now I can totally see how Glossy & shiny it looks in certain lighting. I used the Matte on a couple others & I actually DO like the Matte a lot better. I don't sell paintings commercially, I give away to friends/family/clients & I don't know what type of lighting they have wherever they choose to hang my painting & I'm thinking now - that's it's better to play it safER w/ the Matte & not the gloss. In this next year I'm going to be painting on 30x40 canvases for my entry hallway (seasonal) & I think I'll go with a matte. but -----------------do you think it would be ok to get a "satin-ish' finish if I were to mix the Matte with the Gloss Medium & Varnish by Liquitex?
Hi Emilyln, yes you should be able to mix gloss and matte to get a satin finish no problem. I do this, but not with Liquitex. The way I understand it, matte varnish has something suspended init, perhaps wax, that absorbs some of the light instead of reflecting it. You can play with how much matte and how much glossy to get a mix you are comfortable with.
so what do you mostly use now! I think I will buy Satin, i just ran out of gloss. I have already had reservation about using Gloss because it is so shiny and can't see the painting at times.. AND wow, in 2 years of painting using youtube and internet, first time I ever heard of isolation coat. Doubt mine will ever need refurbished, but still good info. Thanks!
I alternate between satin and gloss. In all these years I still can't make up my mind. I work in a gallery and some of the best artists I know use gloss and it works for them. It still makes me a bit uncomfortable though. Now I paint exclusively in oils, but that does not make a difference when choosing a varnish.
can you go over a coat of varnish again after it has dried and change the mate or gloss finish? is it forgiving or what ? I had paintings I am placing in show and am not happy with the results of the gloss- too shinny too much glare
Yes you can do multiple coats of varnish on a piece. As far as how it affects the results you may want to experiment on an old throwaway painting. I am pretty sure if you put matte over gloss you will get a matte finish, but if you do gloss over matte I am not sure how it will look.
If you are showing several pieces at the same time, I imagine it would be better to stay with a gloss (if that’s the choice) rather than use different varnishes on individual paintings. I’m still wavering between a satin and gloss. Recently had a friend say that gloss is better because the colors are richer. Is there a way to light the paintings so that the glare isn’t so prominent, in that case?
If you mixed matte with gloss, I'm wondering if you've since tried mixing the commercially produced satin with gloss or satin with matte, to find a gradient of possible/ideal gloss level, and perhaps a satin option looking better. The "satin" effect you arrived at by blending the matte with gloss, has little gloss. I'm wondering if the store-bought matte and gloss are incompatible and if it would be better to try custom blend ratios of satin with gloss, such as 70% satin and 30% gloss, to get rid of the high sheen but keep the deepening of colors. I personally find the pure gloss to be much too reflective, it hides the image.
Those are good thoughts and questions. Always worth experimenting (perhaps with an old painting) to find what's suitable to your needs. Thanks for the comments.
Hi Camilla, the answer to both your questions is Yes. You can buy a satin varnish or you can mix gloss and matt in varying levels to get a satin finish. Just make sure if you mix them you mix them well, and use as soon as you have mixed them. The sediments (clay?) in the matte varnish can settle and you can end up with streaks in the varnish. That happened to me once and I had to strip of the varnish and redo it. Luckily I had applied an isolation coat so taking off the streaked varnish was not a big deal. Cheers!
thanks for this video,,,, very very very informative,,,and understandable, I have been using gloss varnish for a while,, I may have to try the satin varnish
Why not just re-shot the video when you realize it is all of of focus and poorly lit? Might have been easier than apologizing for it in the captions. Good idea for a video though.
I know this was posted 5 years ago but it's been the most helpful video I could find to help me choose what varnish to purchase. Thank you very much. 10/10
I'm thrilled you found it useful. Thank you for the comment.
This is the only really useful video I was able to find on the subject. Thanks for sharing.
+Lares Munkholm indeeed!
+Lares Munkholm You are very welcome. That is why I made it, I couldn't find anything on it either!
yes me too! I used gloss on my first attempt on varnishing one of my many waiting to be varnished paintings. To me it ruined the painting because you cant see detail unless you move it. So I've been thinking of doing satin varnish but not easy to find.. Thank you for this video!
Thank you for this video. I painted a sailboat in the sunset scene and thought a gloss vanish would go well with the sunset glistening off the water. Once dried, I noticed that weather I had the blinds open or just a light on in the room at night, the painting has so much glare, that you can't see the art work without shifting the painting to a specific angle. Ive left all my other paintings unvarnished because I wasn't sure which varnish to use. Your example painting helped me decide on matte and satin from here on out.
I am having the same problem with glare in my home studio!! Thanks for doing this video , validated my instict to go with a matte varnish, I'm curious in what situation a gloss would work
One of the best videos that really showed the difference between the varnishes... very helpful!
Awesome video, something I've never thought about.. so you've definitely got me thinking. Thanks for this. I haven't varnished anything this year luckily because it's something that I haven't figured out yet or even wanted to deal with at the moment.
Thanks for the info! Wondering if you would get the best of both if the isolation coat was gloss and the varnish was matte?
This was very helpful, thanks! I did a collage with acrylic painted paper, so it's not a *perfectly* flat surface since the papers are layered and overlap here and there. I have gloss varnish on hand, but was concerned that gloss varnish would especially highlight those edges of the collage pieces and detract from the overall design, so I'm definitely going to purchase either matte or satin finish varnish to use instead. Probably matte, since that was the medium I used as my adhesive and I like the look.
I'm glad you mentioned the isolation coat as well, I just read about it elsewhere for the first time and will look for that video. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for demonstrating the difference 😁
Your welcome, thanks for commenting.
I have also been doing a lot of research on types of finishes and could not for the life of me understand why so many people prefer the gloss finish. Why would one want light reflecting off their work so much so that you can't see the painting? I think I am going to go with matte. Thanks so much for this video!
Thank you for this video, it was incredibly useful in helping me decide what varnish to purchase. 10/10
Thanks for doing this video,,,I'm a newer, painter & just recently learned about 20 or so paintings in,,that I need to varnish them. I bought both Liquitex's Gloss Medium & Varnish & Liquitex Matte Varnish & wasn't really sure which to use. I used the Gloss varnish on most paintings 1st & now I can totally see how Glossy & shiny it looks in certain lighting. I used the Matte on a couple others & I actually DO like the Matte a lot better. I don't sell paintings commercially, I give away to friends/family/clients & I don't know what type of lighting they have wherever they choose to hang my painting & I'm thinking now - that's it's better to play it safER w/ the Matte & not the gloss. In this next year I'm going to be painting on 30x40 canvases for my entry hallway (seasonal) & I think I'll go with a matte. but -----------------do you think it would be ok to get a "satin-ish' finish if I were to mix the Matte with the Gloss Medium & Varnish by Liquitex?
Hi Emilyln, yes you should be able to mix gloss and matte to get a satin finish no problem. I do this, but not with Liquitex. The way I understand it, matte varnish has something suspended init, perhaps wax, that absorbs some of the light instead of reflecting it. You can play with how much matte and how much glossy to get a mix you are comfortable with.
so what do you mostly use now! I think I will buy Satin, i just ran out of gloss. I have already had reservation about using Gloss because it is so shiny and can't see the painting at times.. AND wow, in 2 years of painting using youtube and internet, first time I ever heard of isolation coat. Doubt mine will ever need refurbished, but still good info. Thanks!
I alternate between satin and gloss. In all these years I still can't make up my mind. I work in a gallery and some of the best artists I know use gloss and it works for them. It still makes me a bit uncomfortable though. Now I paint exclusively in oils, but that does not make a difference when choosing a varnish.
can you go over a coat of varnish again after it has dried and change the mate or gloss finish? is it forgiving or what ? I had paintings I am placing in show and am not happy with the results of the gloss- too shinny too much glare
Yes you can do multiple coats of varnish on a piece. As far as how it affects the results you may want to experiment on an old throwaway painting. I am pretty sure if you put matte over gloss you will get a matte finish, but if you do gloss over matte I am not sure how it will look.
If you are showing several pieces at the same time, I imagine it would be better to stay with a gloss (if that’s the choice) rather than use different varnishes on individual paintings. I’m still wavering between a satin and gloss. Recently had a friend say that gloss is better because the colors are richer. Is there a way to light the paintings so that the glare isn’t so prominent, in that case?
Thanks for taking the time to do that. Very helpful indeed.
Glad it was helpful....
Good video
thank u
your welcome.
Not a good painting?! I wish painted as good as your not good painting.😀 Thanks for this video!
You're welcome, thanks for commenting.
If you mixed matte with gloss, I'm wondering if you've since tried mixing the commercially produced satin with gloss or satin with matte, to find a gradient of possible/ideal gloss level, and perhaps a satin option looking better. The "satin" effect you arrived at by blending the matte with gloss, has little gloss. I'm wondering if the store-bought matte and gloss are incompatible and if it would be better to try custom blend ratios of satin with gloss, such as 70% satin and 30% gloss, to get rid of the high sheen but keep the deepening of colors. I personally find the pure gloss to be much too reflective, it hides the image.
Those are good thoughts and questions. Always worth experimenting (perhaps with an old painting) to find what's suitable to your needs. Thanks for the comments.
Thank you. I wanted my painting to look shiny, but I see now that it wouldn’t be a good decision.
Can you mix matte varnish and glossy varnish? Or could i buy a satin varnish?
Hi Camilla, the answer to both your questions is Yes. You can buy a satin varnish or you can mix gloss and matt in varying levels to get a satin finish. Just make sure if you mix them you mix them well, and use as soon as you have mixed them. The sediments (clay?) in the matte varnish can settle and you can end up with streaks in the varnish. That happened to me once and I had to strip of the varnish and redo it. Luckily I had applied an isolation coat so taking off the streaked varnish was not a big deal. Cheers!
@@CreativeWatersArt Thank you for the reply!
its super useful! Thank you.
I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for the comment.
thanks for this video,,,, very very very informative,,,and understandable, I have been using gloss varnish for a while,, I may have to try the satin varnish
Thanks for the comment. Glad you got something out of it.
Thank you
I find this video really useful, thanks for it!
Thanks for leaving a comment. Glad you found it useful.
Ty so much!
My pleasure, glad you liked it.
thank you very usefull!!!!
Glad you found it helpful.
Very helpful, thank you!
Glad you found it useful.
I varnished my all paintings with gloss coat, and now im soo disappointed 😞, i think ill buy matte one and try to varnish them again..
good presentation but FOCUS!
I ruined a very nice painting I sold last summer...I wish I had watched your video BEFORE I applied Liquitex high gloss varnish...!
Why not just re-shot the video when you realize it is all of of focus and poorly lit? Might have been easier than apologizing for it in the captions. Good idea for a video though.
There's always a "Debbie Downer" in every post ugh!