Framing Watercolors Without Glass: Varnishing and Framing

[@starletjacobs]

Hi Brienne! Thank you for your clear instructions. So helpful! The only thing I want to add is that I looked up how to apply Gamblin Cold Wax, and they recommend warming it before applying. I found that it went on smoother this way. Something to consider! Otherwise, keep making more videos. Your paintings are gorgeous and you’re very professional. Thank you again for sharing your expertise.

[@deborahwinbun510]

Hi Brienne, I used to do a lot of decorative art (acrylic Painting on wood). I did a lot of varnishing and learned a lot. I found out that ghosting can happen if the relative humidity is greater than 50% on a day that you choose to spray varnish so you want to spray varnish on a day that is really dry! It can also happen if the item being varnished has any moisture in it. It might be beneficial to really let your watercolors “cure” longer after adhering them to your gator board. That Golden, heavy gel acrylic medium may take longer to cure than you think. I learned from my mistakes but I thought you might want to know.

[@wubbaism]

Thanks Brienne, you’ve taken one of the most aggravating and expensive parts of watercolor painting and made it doable and simplified.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. I am glad this has been helpful. I totally agree, framing with glass has been frustrating and expensive. I hope this is a good helpful alternative. Happy Painting!

[@joannasnee3871]

Thank you for this. I am both a watercolourist and a picture framer. I have done something very similar to this with large acrylic paintings on paper but never thought of doing it with my watercolours. As you say, this probably wouldn't be cheaper to do commercially because of the time involved but the advantages are many. Truly non reflective / UV protective glass is beyond the means of all but the museums and the very rich and ordinary glass will always obscure the image to some extent. Paintings framed like this will be much lighter easier to deal with if you are travelling to art fairs and if you sell online they can be posted. Thank you so much for this.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome Jo. You bring up all good points. I started doing this for my plein air work because during events framing with glass was such a pain and I have broken a couple glass panes. But, I have found it does make many things easier...including shipping framed paintings. I don't know if it is cheaper and it does take time....but I like the result :)

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Brienne, excellent video on how to protect your watercolor paintings! Great basic instructions and a wonderful way to keep costs down too!

[@saraht4973]

I am So very happy I found these KZbin videos scan. You do such a great job t of explaining All the details. Thank you so much. I hope that I can always find these. You are great and a great watercolorist. And oil painter. Thanks so much again.

[@kellyrutherford5885]

So informative. You are an awesome instructor.

[@bjarnold2457]

Thank you so much for these video. I am delighted to find a way to frame without glass. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="903">15:03</a>

[@lostudiok2]

i am about to do my first plein air event and this is an excellent video! thanks so much!

[@marieandrea8694]

Finally! I've been looking everywhere on how to display watercolors without glass. I always worry about displaying watercolor paintings without glass as paper is more prone to damage and dirt. Thank you so much. I'll definitely try some of these methods.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. I am happy to share what I have been doing. I have worried about possible damage as well... One experience I had this year. One of my collectors had a painting of mine that was varnished with the spray varnishes. They were in Hurricane Michael. My painting was splattered with mud and water from the storm. It ruined the frame, but they were able to clean the painting with a damp cloth. Pretty cool....I won't pretend I wasn't relieved. :)

[@Jeannine754]

Thank you Brianne! Great information, well said!

[@ThomiBMcIntyre]

Excellent! Moving to watercolor from oils, and finding that I most miss working on panels, so this series has given me great options, thank you

[@Artgal1951]

You can paint with watercolors on any material using liquitex clear gesso mixed with white acrylic paint, do 2 coats

[@maxidmetan]

Gracias!!! Saludos desde Argentina

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :)

[@Onlylove994]

Best tutorial on KZbin in this topic

[@donnastoner3320]

thanks, Brienne. your descriptions are so easy to follow.

[@dcamposart3707]

Thanks, I never thought of gluing watercolor paper onto a board, much less vanishing them. I'll be trying your method and experimenting. Your videos have been very helpful, and I love your artworks. Again, much thanks.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome....have fun experimenting. :)

[@caseycheuvront]

Thanks for this; experimenting with WC and HATE having to glass things.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome

[@SonjaBeets]

Thank you for this well done video! Helpfull!

[@doriancohenart9059]

I’ve watched this video so many times. This video is so helpful! Thank you for taking the time to make and share your varnishing process! I love your paintings as well! Very lively!

[@briennembrown5938]

So glad I could help. Thanks for watching...

[@anitadavis5430]

What a great great instructional video. You are a natural teacher. Thanks.

[@Anna-jl1rx]

Thank you very much for this series! It's great to know that it works to glue the paper before painting . Perfect!

[@humanresources271]

I paint large (4' x 3') watercolors and now I have a way to frame them that I can afford. Thank you Brienne

[@briennembrown5938]

Wonderful! You are welcome. :) Hope it works well for you... Best, BB

[@martinevaquier9369]

Hi Brienne. I am french and I was very interested by your explanations (clear, for a non american native) of your 3 videos. Thank you very much. Normaly I paint in oil, but sometime I do watercolor. Thank you.

[@normanbaker3686]

Thank you for clear and concise instructions.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome

[@jackiimolsick2724]

Thank you Brienne, for sharing your knowledge with all of us!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome

[@cindyenglert.az51]

So helpful!!! I had no idea.😄

[@MrJPRodgers]

Thank you so much for this series!!! I've been wanting to skip the glass, but was hard to understand some directions. You make it look very doable!

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad I could help.

[@christineojanpa4640]

Thank you so much Brienne!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome

[@richardjamesdigance3838]

I have used similar methods for several years BUT this is an excellent demo/tuition and one of the best video presentations I have seen

[@lindalyles3954]

I really enjoyed watching your video. I also paint in watercolors, always trying to find an easier way to frame them. Thanks so much for your info.

[@catherinejenniferdesigns]

Super helpful video, thank you

[@garymanalo8562]

Thanks for this technique in framing watercolor

[@briennembrown5938]

My pleasure 😊

[@saraht4973]

Thanks so. Great information. Appreciate your spending your time for this.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome

[@melaneyprevett6431]

Thank you for sharing your framing process! 👏🙌

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome!

[@TR4zest]

What an excellent tutorial.

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful!

[@barbaraobrai381]

Excellent demonstration.

[@siddharthpanchal718]

This is great information. I used to wonder how to preserve a water color. Now I know. Than you so much.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :) I wish you the best.

[@catherine9774]

Thank you. I found your video the most informative and easiest to understand of all the videos . Beautiful paintings!

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful! You are welcome

[@jtpaar1732]

This is a fantastic, informative video on the various methods of sealing watercolors...thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome

[@susanritchie9456]

Your work is gorgeous!

[@MicheleTheberge]

Great video, Brienne! I hope your viewers understand how much time and effort goes into producing these! I often get questions about varnishing works on paper but since I have less experience with this it is great to get your take. I know traditionally watercolors are framed behind glass, but I always feel that creates this distance in connecting with and experiencing with the work. I never thought of the wax medium but I bet that makes a lovely effect. One thing to keep in mind about the Liquitex Satin Varnish or any water-based acrylic varnish is that it is intended as an ISOLATION coat and is non-removable for cleaning. Particulates can get embedded in acrylic surfaces so the painting could not be cleaned without potential damage. I explain isolation coats and what you can use for final coat in my video here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWO3epd-r9eAnM0 All best to you! You're paintings are beautiful, by the way!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much Michele for sharing your video and also for appreciating how much time goes into making these videos... :) Your video was great and very informative. I didn't realize the acrylic varnishes were meant to be isolation layers. Totally makes sense. That is good to know. I have been experimenting and continue to...this gives me more ideas. Thank you! I have felt the same way about works on paper behind glass. It create a distance between the viewer and the work. I realized this during a plein air event while competing with mostly oils. With mine behind glass, there seemed a big difference. Thanks again!! BB

[@WalterMarquesdeDeus]

Thank you very much! From Brazil.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome!

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

While I’ve always used the glass framing method I’d met another artist online and she varnished her work. I was always thinking how great to not have to use glass, but I was very unsure of the process and was it safe and permanent. Thank you so much for doing this. I’m going to try it . Love how it looks.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Barbara. I have enjoyed experimenting with methods of framing watercolors without glass and I continue to research. I wish you the best. Give it a try. :) Best, BB

[@TheBambie86]

Thanks Brienne , really enjoyed your presentation on varnishing. Been varnishing my watercolor paintings for over 10 years and when I look back in time a few watercolor purist would give me the look of Oh no to my watercolor paintings . Love the advantage over the old ancient ways re Watercolor art painting. So nice to see you doing a process I love Bob

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome Robert. Thank you for sharing...it is good to know you have been doing it for 10 years. :) I am loving it as well. It does have a lot of advantages.

[@MadhaviSardeshpande]

Thank you, Brienne. I’d ordered the Dorlands cold wax and it finally arrived (it takes two weeks to ship to India). I did two coats on my paintings and it’s made a lot of difference to their appearance. Now I’ll be more confident about selling them. But yes, my hand’s hurting after working on five paintings!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome Madhavi.... so glad it worked. I love the wax and how it looks. .... but yes, it is hard on the hands. Happy Painting

[@seagull848]

thanks a lot for these series!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome. :)

[@radiantatriatmadja9888]

Great and useful guides and tips. Thank you Brienne.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :) BB

[@ednelsonalmeida5768]

You are incredible! very good work.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks so much... 😀

[@baldemarkjmejia4077]

Your videos are great i love your style and art! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, peaseants... Haha cheers

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome... I am glad it was helpful. Happy Painting!

[@melindawilde8674]

THANK YOU Brienne...what a great amount of info!

[@lyndabishop3913]

You are terrific!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you

[@lyndabishop3913]

@@briennembrown5938 hey... Have ever used thick (#79) Illustration Board? If yes... here's a trick I was taught......using a white candle, run it around the edges a few times and the paint won't buckle. Cool! And Love your use of Cold Wax And I was a tad confused by the order in which you apply the coats of gloss and matte varnish.. at one point your video says matte first and then gloss and another one says gloss and then matte... Hmmmm

[@lyndabishop3913]

Just saw your response to the spray varnish below...thanks

[@lynnrush7166]

I use a similar method with a clear outdoor wood varnish for the last coat to waterproof bookmarks. Your idea of mounting larger pieces is brilliant.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Lynn. :) I like it as well.

[@judyland8691]

excellent explanation

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you!

[@MargaretBarberCL]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@elisedesilvaart7795]

I’ve always wanted to know how to do this. Thanks so much!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome Elise. :) Happy Painting!

[@nancyrolfe3033]

Thank you again! Excellent teaching! Im sure ill need more practice before I decide to frame a painting but I did frame a very, very simple sunset. Only because it reminds me of the feeling I had first time I tried watercolors!! Indescribable and I wouldn't have found this had I not been forced to quit oils when mother was affected while living with me... I currently live in a very small desert area in West Texas from Dalhart (40 miles from Ok, 3hrs from mountains of N. Mex.) Its an oil field area and very "unique".. I have not had access to any art group or instruction. I was unsuccessful in getting backing from mayor, chamber in restoring arts. My biggest concern is the jh and hs dropping art last year. My prayer is the new superintendent understands how critical Art is in development of brain..oh, it affects every area of life.. I'm not good but I can say that my love for painting (reading/learning as well as actual painting) has been one thing besides my faith that "got me thru" somr really tough times.. Keep on going!! You are doing something that will definitely be a legacy to so many! Probably so many people you may never know about... Your personality is so refreshing and so sweet.. Thanks again for sharing and "letting a 60 yr. old lady ramble..lol"

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much Nancy... I loved reading your "ramble". Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you are painting and finding the time. Painting has got me through tough times as well. I learned that I need it for my soul. :) Keep Painting and enjoy the journey! :) I am so happy to share and help. Best....Brienne

[@barbtanner5698]

thank you for your informative, perfectly demonstrated, and calmly delivered instructional video. Your research and experience have set my plein air watercolor adventure in a much better direction. It seemed ridiculous to tote glass (and frame up) to events. Do you include varnish in the description of your works in the sticker on the back? As in "watercolor, and varnish" or does that not matter.

[@寅-m2t]

Your special stamper is good

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you :)

[@lolitawildin6936]

Thankyou Brienne so much🌸

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome 😊

[@AdventuresofMrChin]

Wonderful. I really like the look that you are getting with these. I went to acrylics on panel because I was tired of the traditional glass and frames. Maybe I will pull out the watercolours again. Thanks

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you...you should totally try watercolor again. ;)

[@kaylewis7138]

Thank you for making this process so straight forward and understandable.

[@karenmccoy5951]

Great video. Clear explanations. I always wanted to know how to do this. Thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are very welcome!! BB

[@YooperGranny]

Wonderful information and video. Thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gailmarcum550]

Great instruction!

[@snidget3515]

Thank you for this. I'm new to watercolors, and I know that one of my favorite oil painters did a lot of varnishing in his work, he was originally a carpenter so he used what he knew from woodworking, and I wasn't sure if any of that was a thing for watercolors, this was an informative video. :)

[@chrispfund869]

Love your videos. Very informative and easy to follow. Great printed information about products. Thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome!

[@4seaable]

Thank you Brienne for this very helpful video!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome... I am glad this was helpful. :)

[@mariamaragonesjust2150]

Muchas gracias Brienne!!ya voy cojiendo ideas para mis proximas obras de arte,muy amable!!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome Mariam!

[@romainberenguier1611]

thank for your very much for your advices !!!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are very welcome. :)

[@rohanrajput9108]

Creative Watercolor Bird Painting for you ---------------------> kzbin.info/www/bejne/iICqd6uja9dqkNk

[@jakesadia6037]

Thank you for sharing your remarkable talent. You are blessed.❤

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome.

[@artwithmycoffee]

Thanks for sharing this process, it's very well done and very helpful! I like the sticker idea on the back as well. I think you said that it explains a little bit of your process. Do you have a signature on that as well or do you still sign the back of the painting?

[@boubella11]

Taking notes. Can’t wait to try some of these techniques. Thanks so much, Brienne

[@briennembrown5938]

Go for it. I started with old studies with my earliest experiments

[@marthafulghum4077]

I watched you paint during the Forgotten Coast quick draw this past weekend and you mentioned these videos to me. I’m so glad you did! I’ve watched them all and I’m so glad to have an alternate way to prepare and frame my watercolors. Can’t wait to try it!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Awesome Martha... Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed an learned from the videos. I wish you the best on trying new ways to frame your watercolor paintings. :) Let me know how it goes. Happy Painting and Framing....

[@LILMAMI32]

Sooooo helpful! Thank you so much!

[@carollundstrom6519]

Thank you for doing these videos. They are very informative and will give this a try.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are very welcome. Have fun with experimenting. :) Happy Painting!

[@deborabogda5998]

You are an awesome artist! Thanks for the video.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you very much Debora and you are welcome! :)

[@crossofcolor]

Hi Brienne, Like others, I've watched your videos multiple times and really appreciate you sharing these methods. It looks like it has been 2 years since you finished posting your 3 videos regarding Framing Watercolors Without Glass. I was wondering if you have any suggested updates regarding procedures and materials. I'm getting back to watercolor art making in a big way, and am interested in finding the best, affordable resources, including frames for your panels. Thanks so much!!!

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Thank you so much Brienne for all three episodes on framing.

[@peggymcdevitt8742]

Thank you so much, I learned a lot.

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sherrylee6719]

Excellent!! Thank you for sharing your talent.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. :)

[@janedelorenzo8287]

Thanks so much for this! Enjoyed the series.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome Jane. :) That makes me happy. :)

[@rmc9076]

Did I miss something ? How did you attach the paper to a board ? Before the varnishing or wax ? Love you teaching on watercolor!

[@briennembrown5938]

Yes, there are two more videos where I show how to adhere a painting to board and make panels which can then be painted on and varnished. Both videos are on my channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3jEdZttocuZj80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKe0gJRujJWeeqM Happy Painting! BB

[@leemitchell1587]

Great video! Love your work ❤ I tend to get bubbles in my liquitex brush on varnish.How do you deal with that? Thank you.

[@susanritchie9456]

Thank you so much! This is fantastic!

[@PJB.ArtStudio]

Thank you so for your time and giving heart! Great look for finished watercolors. Looking forward to giving it a go!

[@briennembrown5938]

Awesome Pam and you are welcome. Let me know how it goes😊

[@rociocruz2786]

Very useful,thank you!🤩

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are so welcome. :)

[@paulamingolelli3902]

Great video..very clear explanation!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks

[@paintingsbyinsiyapardiwala562]

Thank you very much💕 This was very helpful❤️

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome

[@danutasiniarska9118]

I love the video for sure will try the techniques

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks Danuta.... Best of luck. Let me know how it goes. :)

[@cynthiaherndon4480]

Brienne, I love your informative videos. Can you use the board in other types of frames? I definitely want to go the standard frame size route to avoid added expense of framing.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much. You can make the boards any size you want and use standard frames to cut down cost for sure. They just don't work real well with matting the painting. The board and frame need to be the same size....at least how I do it. I am sure there are more solutions. :) Happy Painting and Framing! BB

[@irena1315]

Hi, thank you so much for sharing. I've recently started painting, so I'm new to this. I'm wondering if using a foam board instead of a gator board would work with this method too. I'm asking because I have some doubts regarding the gel and varnish, and I'm afraid they might cause the painting to warp with the foam board. Again, many thanks

[@Whitepaper_Art]

너무 예뻐요~♡ Your picture is very good ~♡

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much :)

[@susansemenick4966]

Hi, Brienne, this will sure change the way I frame..I’ve been floating my work, but I like being able to use a point driver. I varnish by spraying two coats of workable fixatif until water beads up on the painting. Then I brush on Golden polymer varnish....they have it in gloss and matte....probably these products are the same as what you used....just different names... thanks for these very informative videos.

[@briennembrown5938]

Hi Susan... signs like you ate doing something similar. I have not tried Golden's polymer varnish, but it might be similar to the Liquitex brand. I will have to try it. I have floated some of my work as well... looks great, but the point driver method is quicker. 😊

[@jthomas332]

Thank you so much for sharing these valuable and cost-effective techniques to your fellow artists. Your work looks absolutely gorgeous all varnished and ready for the wall. I'm not good with aerosol sprays so prefer cold wax or brush-on varnish but your video has me wondering whether it might be possible to apply cold wax on the watercolour first then Liquitex Satin Varnish. Would they be compatible in that order? Thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome! I am glad you enjoyed this tutorial about framing. I love the end product as well. I have not tried using the cold wax and then the Liquitex Satin Varnish, but I would think it would work. I will have to try that. The wax definitely would protect the watercolor from the brushed-on varnish...but I am just not positive. You would need to test it first. Test it on some old paintings. :) Thanks, BB

[@TheLiznz]

Really helpful, thank you. I’ll give this a try. Have you ever used resin? I tried it a coup,e of times but found it a bit fiddly although I loved the high gloss for some abstract pieces.

[@sherryleggett1612]

The liquid varnish appears to have tiny bubbles in it when it is wet. Do those pop on their own as it dries? I tried to use it on an acrylic painting once and I brushed and brushed trying to get rid of the bubbles and ended up with brush strokes showing and it made a mess. I quess it was drying as I was doing it and that’s why the brush strokes were visible. I hadn’t sprayed it first tho. Thanks for your video that shows spraying first. That could be a game changer.

[@babynurse52]

Some folks recommend an isolation coat between the first round of varnish and the final varnish. Thoughts?

[@jcsallen3]

You're a GREAT teacher! What do you do with the edges if you are not going to use a frame?

[@moraghdann2313]

Very helpful !!!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :)

[@SteviePaints]

Hi Brienne, thank you for sharing this information. I love your work. Question: I got confused about whether to spray matte or gloss varnish first. I thought toward the beginning of the video you said to always spray the matte varnish first, followed by the gloss; but later on when you were demonstrating the four layers of varnish, I thought you said the opposite -- that you spray two coats of gloss, then two coats of matte. By the way, I saw the comments from viewers about the durability and longevity of this type of mounting; and my feeling about my own work is that it will never hang in a museum (my work is more decorative and priced accordingly); and I have found that it is easier to sell paintings that are not under glass.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you for your comments Stephanie... and you are welcome. As for the spray varnishes: I start with 2 coats of Gloss followed by 2 coats of Matte. I have found this to work most consistently. I used to do the reverse and so what I was saying in the video was explain what happened when I was doing it in reverse. The painting would ghost sometimes. But, when I start with Gloss... I don't get the ghosting. Sorry if that was a little confusing. :) I like framing without glass as well. :) It works for me and my plein air work. And as artists I feel we need to do what works for us now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. :) Happy Painting! BB