Oil paint varnishes

Before applying a final varnish, a very thin layer of oil paint should have dried for at least six months, a normal layer one year, thick to very thick layers up to several years. If a dry oil paint layer contains a lot of oil, it is advisable to wipe the painting with white spirit before varnishing to ensure good adherence.

Damar varnish is a natural tree resin dissolved in turpentine and, of the traditional varnishes, is virtually the only one still used. Damar varnish gives a high gloss. May show signs of ageing over time, such as yellowing and cracking. Dries within a few hours.

Our Amsterdam acrylic varnishes are also suitable as a final varnish for oil paint but have slightly different properties.

• They have a different gloss
• They are more thermoplastic
• They are more flexible

This cannot be avoided and is caused by a combination of the colour used, the type and amount of thinner added and the absorption of the substrate. During painting, "sunken-in" spots may appear: the paint dulls, the intensity of the colour diminishes. Gloss differences can be adjusted with retouching varnish.

No, unless the paint layer is very thin, it cannot be done earlier. An oil painting can be varnished after about a year for normal layer thickness, a few months earlier for very thin layers, and several years for thicker layers. CAUTION: If a varnish is applied too early, there is a risk that the solvent of the varnish will dissolve the oil in the paint that has not yet fully dried and bring it to the surface. If this happens, the painting may remain sticky for many months or even years, and dust adhesion is difficult to prevent.

The matting agent in Talens Picture Varnish matt is a type of wax that is dissolved in the solvent and can 'flocculate' at low temperatures. Heating the varnish ('au bain-marie' or under a jet of hot water) dissolves the matting agent evenly and the varnish can be used again.