This week I created magic – with the help of an important finishing touch, varnish.
Varnish is a protective medium applied to the completed oil painting. What’s so exciting for me as an artist is just when I think I’m done with creating a painting, by adding varnish at the end, I can witness a final burst of magic on a piece of art. This magic is shown through brighter, more intense colors and crisper forms.
This brief post will show you the difference between pre-varnish and post-varnish. This post contains just three of the completed art pieces. Pardon the newspaper and the uneven lighting; these were varnished in a three-season room with the sunlight changing. I did my best to capture the pre- and post-varnish paintings.
Now for the magic.
Owl Stare, Pre-Varnish
Owl Stare, Post-Varnish
Breakwater Point, Pre-Varnish
Breakwater Point, Post-Varnish
Boats, Portugal, Pre-Varnish (pardon the uneven sunlight)
Boats, Portugal, Post-Varnish
Beth this truly is magical! It’s as if when you’re at the optometrist, as you’re getting fitted for new lenses, and they say, “clearer here or here”. I love what varnish does to your beautiful paintings, it offers clarity and depth and a vividness that is so delightful! Like putting on a pair of new glasses! What a joy it is to see and celebrate your work!
Wow -- it does create magic. The colors get brighter and the brush strokes seem more vivid. I especially like the Owl and and the Boats in Portugal. Do all of your paintings get a varnish when you feel they are complete? Are there some that don't? Is this a function of using oil based paints, or acrylics? And, is the varnish applied with a back and forth stroke from top to bottom, or is there a special method (special brushes)? It's very fun reading about your artistic process, both the esoteric and the practical. Thanks for showing the side by sides. I found this very interesting. Big hugs.