What is varnish used for?
There are many different kinds of varnish, which are used for various purposes in painting. The subject of varnish is a very complex one, and also can depend on the personal preferences of each painter. I recommend reading The Artist’s Handbook to Materials and Techniques, by Ralph Mayer, a big book which gives detailed information on virtually every art material used, and which is updated periodically to include new materials, which are always coming out. The main reason for using varnish is to protect the painting surface from exposure to various elements; other purposes include altering the fluidity of the oil paint, shortening or lengthening drying time of the paint, glazing, equalizing the “sheen” of the paint in all areas of the painting, and to retouch areas of the painting. Varnish comes in liquid and spray form; it also comes in glossy and matte form. Often several different mediums are combined to create one’s own preferred varnish medium – oils, turpentine and shellacs. Also
