The Art of Magic

Color these paintings finished.

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