Q: I just finished an oil portrait for a client, and I need
to varnish it. I usually use gloss dammar spray for last-minute
varnishes. I know I shouldn’t wait until the last minute, but what
would you recommend under the circumstances?
A: There are many good archival-quality oil-paint
varnishes on the market. Sennelier, for instance, makes a variety. One
product, Turner Touch Up Varnish, is used to locally mask sinkage,
brighten colors, and anchor fresh paint when restarting work on paint
that has already dried. It is can also be used as a provisional varnish
while you wait for the final varnish to be applied. The other Sennelier
varnishes produce glossy, satin, or matte finishes, depending on which
product you choose. They all are non-yellowing, easily reversible, and
rapid-drying.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons