Photo Finish Spray Lacquer

[Juan Martinez]

Lara

I agree 100% with Bill and Tom. The solvents in a lacquer would be very bad for oil paint. However, I wonder if the product called a "spray lacquer" really is a true lacquer or if the word is just used as a name. I'd be surprised if lacquer wouldn't hurt photographic paper, too.

Anyway, another good varnish besides Gamblin's superb "Gamvar", is Winsor & Newton's Artists Picture Varnish which they now sell in a spray -- both the high gloss and the satin finish. I'd stay away from any matte finish varnishes for oil paintings.

Hope it helps.

Juan

[Juan Martinez]

Oh, yes; Krylon also sells a couple of good spray varnishes -- both are on the "conservator-approved" list (my term) of synthetic acryloid resins: "Crystal Clear", a hard varnish, and "Kammar Varnish" which is a softer, dammar substitute, as they claim.

Finally, Rembrandt Picture Varnish is another one I know of that uses a good, non-yellowing synthetic resin (this time, a polycylcohexanone; Larapol K80) but I haven't used it. Beva, a manufacturer of museum conservation materials, also has a reversible picture varnish. It might be one the best, along with Gamblin's, but it's hard to find, and probably only available in large quantities.

Any of these that we've mentioned should serve you well and you needn't turn to a photographer's product. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that (assuming it isn't a true lacquer) it's just that there are already a number of available varnishes specifically designed for oil paintings.

Best.

Juan

[Lara Cannon]

Wow! What fabulous information. I am so glad I came here with my question. Thanks to all of you for your input.

Lara Cannon

[Tom Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Juan Martinez

The solvents in a lacquer would be very bad for oil paint. However, I wonder if the product called a "spray lacquer" really is a true lacquer or if the word is just used as a name. I'd be surprised if lacquer wouldn't hurt photographic paper, too.

Actually, a lot of them are real laquer. They're formulated to be compatible with photo emulsions, and won't really damage the paper underneath. But they're pretty toxic and fume-y, yellow with age, and cause immense heartache if applied over anything with a trace of moisture--water or oil. Three strikes, to my mind.

Best to use the materials truly designed for oil.

Best--TE