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About Zest-it® Damar Retouching Varnish

Used to protect a painting that is 'in progress' and revive dull areas.

damar retuching varnish
Zest-it® Damar Retouching Varnish

 

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Varnish brushes

 

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Gum Damar crystals

 

250 ml retouching varnish
250 ml Damar Retouching Varnish
 

 

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Product Safety Information for Zest-it Damar Retouching Varnish PDF

 

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The Zest-it Damar Retouching Varnish is made from Zest-it and Gum Damar, see how Damar Varnish is made. It can be used to protect a paint that is 'in progress', for reviving dull or sunken area of a painting, mixed with oil paint to make a glaze or mixed with painting medium.

To use on dull or sunken parts of an oil painting to give back the 'wet' look.
For many people this is important when matching colours, as optically wet and dry paint colours look different. Working on a painting that is optically balanced is much easier and more rewarding.

To use the Damar Retouching Varnish:- first use a soft brush to remove any dust from the painting surface. Pour a small amount of the varnish into a pot large enough to accommodate the brush you are using. Lay the painting down, face up, on a flat surface.
Load the soft varnish brush with varnish, if varnish drips from the brush then it is over loaded, squeeze some out using the side of the pot.

Starting just outside the dull or sunken area, apply the varnish in small even strokes. Check that the dull areas are covered with varnish by allowing light to fall onto the surface, this will show any areas that do not have varnish.

Leave the painting flat for about 10 minutes whilst you wash out your varnish brush with Zest-it, reshape and put aside to dry. The varnish remaining in the pot you used your brush in, is often best discarded. As it may now contain dust and paint particles, these would contaminate the next painting or the whole bottle if you poured it back in.

Now take the painting and stand it, face down, angled against a wall. This allows the varnish to dry without dust settling on the surface. Place a pencil or the like between the top edge of the painting and the wall, this prevents the painting sticking to the wall.
Check the dryness of the varnish after a few hours, use your knuckle not your finger tips, otherwise your finger print will remain. This varnish dries to a gloss finish.

When you start work on the painting again, colours will be easier to judge as the painting will be more optically balanced, the colours will be more true to the original oil paint used, the surface film with be integrated and stable.

Because the Retouching Varnish is a light varnish, it can be applied to a painting that is touch dry and in progress. The varnish allows the oil paint to breath and continue its drying process, the surface can be painted onto when work on the painting commences.

If you require a very light painting medium, the Retouching varnish can be add to a painting medium to enhance its glossiness and speed drying.

This is a light varnish that can also be used on wood, stone, metal, paper, acrylic paintings and plastic surfaces to give a protective finish. Can also be used with a mouth diffuser for oil pastels, pastels and gouache paintings.

Sizes available - 50 ml; 125 ml; 250ml; 500 ml and 1 Litre.

Copyright© Jacqui Blackman 2004

Damar Picture Varnish; 5lb Cut Damar Varnish

 

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