With the exception of some horizontal surfaces my studio workspace is ready to go! So exciting! Soon it will be filled with canvases undergoing the final stage of any project: varnishing. In the mayhem surrounding my show in March, storage and moving, the work did not receive this important finishing touch. These beautiful pieces will be again on display at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in the Mezzanine Gallery beginning 15th December, that is one week from today… Better get a move on, yes? Yes! So why is varnishing important? There are some artists who do not bother with this step. There are good reasons why they choose to leave the surface unprotected. One of the best is the movement the various contrasts the different mixtures of paint can create. Some are brilliant gloss and some are dull. The pattern thus created may be an important part of the whole. I prefer a more even finish. I also like the enrichment of colour the varnish tends to produce. The most crucial reason for varnishing is, of course, archival. Varnish can be removed and replaced. Its removal means a surface which has collected many years of dust and grime can be renewed without damaging the underlying image. Artists have a choice between glossy and matt finishes or the blend of the two called ‘satin’. My preference is satin. I also understand the usual application is two coats, one applied horizontally and the other vertically so no spot is missed. Two satin coats would obscure the work so I apply one or two coats of gloss and finish with the satin usually. It is really a personal preference depending on how I want the work to look in the end. Life is so good!
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