Varnish Removal

 

Varnish Removal

 

Hi David,

 I have a question for you. I have a completed
picture that is finished properly with soluvar etc. and I would like to make some changes to it. Do I need to remove the top coats of varnish, or can I just
paint over top of them. If it is possible to remove the top finishes, what would I use? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Yours Truly, Pat

Hi Pat,

yes you can remove the soluvar, and yes you should do so before making changes to your painting. 

you haven't said whether it is an oil or acylic painting.  if it is an acrylic painting i will assume that you have a layer of islolation varnish under the soluvar as the solvent used to remove the picture varnish (soluvar) may damage your acrylic painting. 

you should use turpentine or mineral spirits. lay the painting flat and put a rag soaked in the solvent over the painting, or the area that you want to retouch.  let in soak for about 5 min to soften the varnish.  then take a clean rag and rub the surface to remove the varnish.  if it is still sticky after that then repeat the process.  you can get further info on varnishes and varnish removal from the Golden website.  hope that helps. 

Hi David: Thanks for the info on removing the finish on
my painting. It worked great.  The painting was Acrylic which I forgot to mention.  I also looked up the Golden site on the Internet.. I have another question for you:  Have you used any of the new Liquid Golden Paints, that can be used similarly to watercolours. I have noticed them at Opus,
but don't know anybody that is presently using them. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Pat

 

Hi Pat,

i use the fluid acrylics them and they are awesome.  they are made with a new and special formulation of acrylic binder that is liquid and actually capable of holding more pigment, and that means a higher saturation of color, than heavy body paints.  they are quite intense and really great for using in glazes.  not all of the pigments are available in the fluids, mostly the light weight, transparent ones.  they are a good compliment to your palette if you like to do glazing. 

Thanks for the questions, David