Q: I finished an acrylic painting about two weeks ago. Last
week I added some highlights to the piece, and this week I began
varnishing the artwork. When I applied the varnish, the paint lifted up
in a small area of the painting. What happened? How long should I let a
painting dry before I varnish it?
A: Acrylic paints dry very quickly while oil paints
take six months to a year to cure completely. Oil-based varnish could
cause the paint to lift because it takes a longer time to dry properly
and the paint will come off if the varnish is not completely dry. If
your canvas is primed with an oil-based gesso or primer, the acrylic
paint may also have lifted because you cannot apply water over oil. If
you paint with acrylic on an oil-based canvas, the acrylic will peel
away.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons