How to Remove Varnish from a smooth painting

[@joolsmckenzie5962]

I’ve been so looking forward to your tutorials, your art work blows me away! I hope you’re enjoying motherhood and look forward to learning more!

[@carlagraceart]

Jools McKenzie thank you so much! I hope you enjoy my videos! Still figuring it all out, I thought I worked hard before but having a baby has set the bar a lot higher 😂😂

[@kevquaid5530]

Fantastic tutorial! I’ve never even considered removing a varnish, but it’s good to know it’s possible if I ever need to. Your art is fantastic. I painted a large painting of two elephants, they’re so majestic and noble. I really love your attention to detail, the little bumps and sand prints, so curated and perfect. Looking forward to more content. Cheers!

[@carlagraceart]

Kev Quaid glad you enjoyed the video! And thank you for your kind words 😊

[@AndreaClinton]

Where can I buy this remover?

[@carlagraceart]

Check the instructions for your varnish - if it is removable. The solvent I’ve used here is artists white spirits. You could also use house hold mineral turpentine which you can get from any home depo or super market. Please test this out on a seperate surface before using it on your painting

[@ludwinadautovic]

Thank you so much for your tutorial. I varnished a painting and my brush strokes came through. I have been trying to salvage the painting and now I know how to. I will use a softer brush next time and apply the varnish more carefully now I know how to. Thank you so much.

[@PuCkJe44]

Same here, I cried myself to sleep last night thinking I ruined my painting. Hope this helps salvage the painting

[@jblack8679]

Thank you, Best instructional I've seen yet. I feel better now about the planned restoration.

[@Ayman.outdoorcamping]

So good to seeing you in KZbin Carla having long videos and learn more about your beautiful art work ,, thanks for sharing

[@carlagraceart]

Aiman Wally aw thank you so much!! I hope you enjoy the content 😊 I hope each video gets better and better as i improve 😊

[@sierraroberts3008]

Amazing Carla! Thanks for saving my painting. Uneven varnish layer :(. Very happy with how easy this is and so happy that I feel confident to restore my own work going forward.

[@carlagraceart]

Yay!!!! 😆😆😆😆💪🏻

[@odetteturcotte4729]

This won’t damage the acrylic paint ?

[@simonhager4612]

Thank you so much for your video that is interesting, very clear and easy to understand. I am now restoring a painting from 1860 and about to remowe the varnish that has been put on it. Is this a method I can use to take away the varnish?

[@ShadiKhadaj]

Good morning.please what is the name of vernish removal

[@Musicianpianoman]

I applied gold dust with varnish for some lines, and I thought it was already dried and hanged the painting. Later I found out a fine line of varnish through my painting. I tried some mineral spirit but nothing changed, I hope letting it soak a little bit could help me.

[@carlagraceart]

Oh no! I hope it helps!. If the varnish is removable then the solvent will be able to remove it.

[@djo-dji6018]

Can you do the same to remove temporary retouch varnish? (my second layer has made the painting look cloudy)

[@carlagraceart]

Yes you can but please test a little bit on a corner first, retouch varnish doesn't need as much soaking time.

[@rewindcrochet7]

I just ruined my acrylic paint with varnish, don’t know what to do. Is this method applicable for acrylic paintings

[@carlagraceart]

Oh no!! Yes this is applicable for acrylic painting. But please test it out on a seperate piece before doing it to your true painting.

[@RobynBArtist]

thank you for sharing!!! Can't wait to see more "how to" video from you!!

[@leehill7598]

Can i lightly sand varnish on acrylic painting and redo?

[@carlagraceart]

Noooo….. sanding will sand your painting too! 😳

[@archanashah8860]

Hi thank you for sharing the information. The video is awesomely made. I have a situation. I'm new to processes after finishing oil painting. I made a mistake, the varnish coat is not even and the painting looks dirty from the side view. I'm puzzled what to do to correct it. Please send suggestions. 🙏

[@carlagraceart]

What varnish did you use? How dry is the paint underneath?

[@archanashah8860]

@@carlagraceart hi Carla thanks for the reply. I used the camel brand varnish. But the underneath paints were absolute dry. I think I should use a different and renowned brand varnish. What do you suggest.

[@carlagraceart]

@@archanashah8860 I haven’t heard of that brand sorry… the better known ones will have more help and support around its uses I guess

[@V4V6]

I used a wood shiny varnish my acrylic paint it looked soo bad very shiny ☹️ is it possible to remove it using this method?

[@carlagraceart]

I don’t think so with wood varnish sorry. That you need a specific varnish stripper, it’s much more aggressive than this method

[@carlagraceart]

But using a varnish stripper will remove the painting too… using wood varnish is a terrible idea for a painting as it yellows over time too and is inflexible so can crack very easily 😭

[@V4V6]

@@carlagraceart i read the can it says synthetic varnish clear, RANGE OF PRODUCTS: Decorative Paints Powder Coating Texture Finishes Water Proofing Industrial Paints Marine Paints Protective Coatings Epoxy Flooring Automotive Paints Road Marking Tennis Court Paints Swimming Pool Coating Multi Color Paints Anti-Corrosive Coatings Fluorescent Paint Furniture Finishes Thinners Polyurethane

[@carlagraceart]

@@V4V6 decorative paints is not the same thing as a fine art painting… it’s not an archival varnish 😞 I’m sorry

[@nikearansiola4830]

Does this apply to clear leveling gel too

[@odetteturcotte4729]

I feel some of my acrylic paintings , some on wood panel , some on canvas , are ruined because I see all the brush strokes from the varnish. I really home this works . It scares me to try this but either way I feel my paintings are ruined

[@crisjonasvillarino7594]

What is the name or brand of varnis remover. Thanks in advance!

[@carlagraceart]

I used artist white spirits by langridge 😊

[@AndreaClinton]

Is this available in USA?​@@carlagraceart

[@navaraj1228]

i have applied acrylic gel,medium as varnish ....but its coming out now..how fo i fix it?

[@carlagraceart]

Why did you use gel medium as a varnish? Did you use it on an oil painting?

[@ferdapraia1]

What's the name of the product?

[@christol1981]

Do U know if this would work with taking Triple Thick off of an acrylic painting? Thx

[@davijoski]

Not sure if helps, but I've been using Krylon Triple Thick as an isolation coat over my acrylic on wood landscapes. I use 3 coats of Liquitex Soluvar Matte Varnish (spray) over that. On my latest painting, the 2nd coat of varnish formed bulbs and poc marks. I needed to start over. I went to the hardware store looking for either non odorless mineral spirits or turpentine - per Liquitex. All they had was turpentine. The painting is 11x14. I covered it with a saturated link free cloth and checked back every couple minutes. It took about 15 minutes for the varnish to liquify. I peeled off the cloth and gently wiped across the bottom. The Triple Thick failed and I wiped off some of my foreground. Horrifying! Anyhow, it sounds like Krylon Triple Thick isn't as permanent as is touted and, is not resistant to turpentine. I couldn't find anything or anyone online who'd reported something similar, and am baffled........Anyhow, I'd be so very careful if I were you. If it's Krylon Triple Thick you're using, you can paint over it. I just apply a coat of Golden Matte Medium, as a primer and to add some tooth. Good luck. I hope this helped.

[@carlagraceart]

Not sure sorry.! Ive never used that before, I recommend always doing a test piece

[@geneuy6186]

good day! do we need to use neutralizer for the varnish remover? thank you.

[@carlagraceart]

Usually allowing the solvent to evaporate is enough 😊

[@geneuy6186]

@@carlagraceart thank you!

[@dr.sonaljain8504]

Can I use this technique for my acrylic painting?

[@carlagraceart]

Yep you can 😊

[@jitenduttgautam3364]

Why oil painting get cracks after applying Matt finish varnish.

[@carlagraceart]

No idea sorry…

[@nikolettmolnar4888]

Hi, I have a question about removing the varnish gel. I used Winsor and Newton Galeria Acrylic Mediums Gloss Varnish gel on acrylic painting. Which product can i use for remove this varnish gel? 🙏 ❤ 😊 Thank you soooo much for the answer! Ps. Its a very useful video!!! ❤

[@carlagraceart]

I’m not sure sorry. If it is a removable varnish gel there should be instructions online that will explain it hopefully 🤞🏻

[@nikolettmolnar4888]

@@carlagraceart thank you for your kind answer! 😊 🙏❤️

[@goblinwisdom]

Im sue yu have found it, but for others: Windsor and Newton seem to have their own acrylic varnish remover.

[@blackwolfe638]

Q: After you remove the varnish, what's the next step to working on the painting? Oil out?

[@victoriatataryn1542]

And other thing may be you can help me with, how you clean the brush after varnish? Big problem for me. Thank you

[@carlagraceart]

Victoria Tataryn use a solvent to get the varnish off and then a good quality brush cleaner to get the solvent off the brush 😊

[@victoriatataryn1542]

Thank u, will try that. But here is another one, if I cleaned my brush from varnish in a solvent, can the solvent be reused after again? I mean to clean brush from oil painting, or varnish?

[@carlagraceart]

Victoria Tataryn yes you can reuse that solvent, I usually keep the solvent I use to clean my varnish brushes in a jar and label it clearly. I would keep it for the same use rather then mixing it up.

[@victoriatataryn1542]

Carla Grace thank you for your time to answer. Appreciate.

[@guilhermefalk916]

Do you think this process will work also for acrylic varnished egg tempera? It is a very delicate medium...

[@carlagraceart]

Not sure sorry. Always create a test piece and try it first before doing it on your main artwork

[@philipadams3445]

Hi I am currently doing a oil painting that was varnished with gloss varnish then the person that bought it put a hole in by accident i have repaired the hole but on re applying varnish set it vertically to quick and has drip affect some gonna try to remove it I have everything is a normal sheet ok and normal mineral spirit from asda thank you

[@carlagraceart]

Normal sheet is fine. I recommend looking up online what the specific varnish requires for its removal.

[@philipadams3445]

@@carlagraceart Do u mean a bed sheet just it is jacksons removable gloss varnish so il try this method with normal mineral spirits and wear a mask

[@carlagraceart]

@@philipadams3445 if the bed sheet is even and smooth, no fluff or lint it should be fine. I have no experience with that varnish, so I don’t know how this method will react with that varnish. I recommend testing it on a small portion of the corner of the painting before doing it over the whole thing

[@philipadams3445]

@@carlagraceart ok thanks i dont understand the lint bit il ask my girlfriend cheers il try a small corner first

[@philipadams3445]

I will use a brand new sheet does it matter if it cotton 🤔 this the last question I need to know thanks for your help

[@paramka]

I love coming to a video app to read!

[@carlagraceart]

So sorry! 😣

[@msrkelwa]

Can the same process be used for an oil painting with a lot of texture on it?

[@carlagraceart]

Possibly buy it depends on the varnish you used, if it is removable and what the company recommends you do to remove it. I always suggest doing a test first

[@saltlifegull4091]

Awesome demonstration. I didn't oil out a painting, used spray Kamar varnish and the now the painting looks terrible. Should I use the same technique for retouch varnish - or - is it just for final varnish? Please advise:))

[@carlagraceart]

It depends on the instruction for the retouch varnish. If it suggests that you are able to paint with your oils directly over the varnish then there is no need to remove it

[@kylegabb6977]

Can you use this technique with envirotex lite on a acrylic painting?

[@carlagraceart]

Not sure sorry, you will need to google the brand and what they recommend for removal

[@dominiquegougeon586]

Pretty excited that you are making "how to" videos!! I think it would be a nerve wracking process. Like someone already asked, why did you remove the varnish on this painting? Your work is amazing by the way.

[@carlagraceart]

Thank you so much!! I am so excited, but yes also very nervous. I had to remove the varnish because the layer that was there got damaged. An easy fix :)

[@starkfury3149]

I have painted a matt oil painting but i thought varnish will preserve it. So i put varnish on it but then it lost it's element due to glossy finish it because it was beautiful before but w

[@amandaprewitt949]

What kind of cloth would you suggest? Like an old T-shirt?

[@carlagraceart]

Just any lint free cloth 😊

[@asmahan775]

Excuse me , i have a question , do you have any idea about how to remove the brightness ? I used an extra oil on my painting and i made a mistake .. there are some of spots matte and some of spots are bright ... I want to make it all matte Do you have any idea ?

[@carlagraceart]

When the painting is totally dry and you are finished with it just use a varnish over the top, if you want it all matte then use a matte varnish

[@asmahan775]

@@carlagraceart ohh thank you so much .. i will try it Thank you again

[@starkfury3149]

What if the painting is not smooth like its bit textured like spiky pointy painting

[@carlagraceart]

I’m not sure sorry, I only have experience with smooth paintings. I recommend testing it out on a surface similar to your painting before trying it on your artwork

[@alakowalska8375]

Hello :) ! How long do you wait when you then want to apply acrylic paint to the painting?

[@carlagraceart]

I wait until all residue from the spirits has evaporated

[@lisvandergeer]

Does this work the same for oil painting? I have some paintings that were varnished with retouch varnish, but the stroken are much too thick and therefore ugly. I understand I sound use different solvent but what?

[@carlagraceart]

Lis van der Geer check with the information on the retouch varnish. It may or may not be removable... if your painting is not totally dry I would be worried to use solvent on top to remove the varnish. However, as the varnish is solvent based, you should be able to paint over it and then varnish again when it is all dry. Anyone else have some tips here?

[@victoria71818]

Thank you for your tutorial. Very helpful. Do you follow through the same process if you used acrylic spray varnish on oil paintings?

[@carlagraceart]

I would avoid using acrylic over oils 😩 usually because acrylic is water based

[@victoria71818]

@@carlagraceart Yes I know…but what should I best do now to get rid of it? I’ve heard acrylic varnish isn’t removable. Is that true?

[@carlagraceart]

@@victoria71818 I’m not sure sorry, never used it. You will have to look up what the brand suggests

[@oOIYvYIOo]

Does this work for têmpera Paint?

[@carlagraceart]

I have only ever used it for smooth paintings sorry.

[@heartlandmooninspired]

Hi Carla, thank you for being willing to help with this very delicate issue, that most of us never thought we would have to contend with. I have a painting that I was commissioned to do that upon applying the third coat of Golden Satin varnish that didn't apply well at all. Do you know of a product available in the United States that is comparable to the one you used in this video?

[@carlagraceart]

I’m so sorry I don’t know USA products

[@tylerrice8003]

This, of course, is a “smooth” painting, but what if a rougher painting, like an acrylic painting slightly textured? Will it be okay?

[@carlagraceart]

I’m not sure sorry... I dont have any experience with that 😔

[@tylerrice8003]

Carla Grace That’s okay. Thank you anyway.

[@erntzjeudy731]

Hi Carla. I really like the way you remove varnish. I'd like to know if you are artist or conservator.

[@adithipai8183]

How to remove varnish from a oil painting .......... The varnish on my new oil painting reflect the light .... Pls answer for this or else my whole painting will be waste

[@carlagraceart]

Sandeep Pai if the varnish you used is removable, please google instructions on how to remove that specific varnish. Follow those instructions carefully.

[@szackkcazs]

Lucky I found your clip!it’s solved my my problem,thank you.

[@carlagraceart]

So glad to hear ❤️

[@nonamona7429]

didn't work, i have krylon varnish that i failed, i tried to remove it like you showed

[@carlagraceart]

I’m so sorry it didnt work for you. This method is only used for removable varnish that is solvent based… specifically MSA varnish by golden which is all listed in the video. I recommend looking up the brand of varnish that you used to see if it is removable and how they recommend removing it. If it is not removable, I’m afraid there may not be anything you can do 😩

[@nonamona7429]

@@carlagraceart i did it with the other product, it's worked/

[@racheleyles2616]

The first time I varnished a painting, it left really awful looking streaks and I was definitely not happy with the way it turned out. I might try removing the entire thing and re do it ://

[@brendawillems4804]

Why did you remove the varnish at this beautiful painting?

[@carlagraceart]

The varnish was damaged when the frame was removed. So removing the varnish and applying a new coat restored it back to good as new :)

[@albania10]

Funny I wanted to remove varnish on acrylic canvas on my Lion, your lion is soooo beautiful 😍

[@coelacanth9311]

Thank you for showing this, I've been wondering how this is done. I'm not sure I would have the nerve to try it though :-)

[@adrienn3613]

Hi! Thank you for the video, I just subscribed to your channel 🙂 what if the surface of the painting is not entirely smooth? Can I still do this? Do I have to remove a temporary varnish when the painting is dry, or can I just apply proper varnish on top?

[@carlagraceart]

You don’t have to remove the temp varnish before applying the permanent varnish. I think this only really works for smooth surfaces

[@adrienn3613]

@@carlagraceart thank you so much for your reply!!! 💗🙏🏻

[@michelebeach1]

This is awesome!

[@yuriykabanets2057]

Thank you.

[@susanfink5986]

Hi Carla, is this an acrylic painting you removed the varnish from? and was the varnish acrylic?

[@carlagraceart]

This was an acrylic painting, I used a solvent based varnish 😊

[@susanfink5986]

Thank you for your response. Your video has given me the confidence to try this. Really appreaciate the demo!!

[@jennywowk-jcdmah2144]

Thank you!

[@kitty1299]

What a great video. Not sure about the overly emotive music.

[@Limitlesspotential52]

Very informative. God bless.

[@victoriatataryn1542]

I tried today your method to remove varnish from one of my paintings, by some reason it did not work. Can it be because I used gamsol instead of white spirit? Or perhaps the varnish I used can’t be removed. Painting was varnished by artists’ clear picture varnish by Daler Rowney. Which is extremely glossy, and that is the reason I want to remove it. And to fix few things I am not happy on the painting itself 🥴. Will appreciate your reply. Thank you.

[@carlagraceart]

Victoria Tataryn I haven’t tried removing that varnish myself... have you googled if it is removable, and if so, how the brand recommends removing it?

[@victoriatataryn1542]

Carla Grace I did not explore about it, will try to google now, thank u

[@jisunkimart3783]

Very good♡♡♡♡♡

[@jacquelineleubin5004]

Dear Carla, your e-mail address doesn't work. I am an artist from Switzerland, I LOVE your art and would like to know about how to price art and what kind of brushes you use for the fur. Thank you so much ! I wish you continued success, health and happiness. xoxo

[@carlagraceart]

Hi Jaqueline, there could possibly have been a typo somewhere along the line, please try [e-mail] or pop on to my website and fill out a contact form with your questions 😊 I’ll try my best to help

[@erntzjeudy731]

Hi Carla. I really like the way you remove varnish. I'd like to know if you are artist or conservator.

[@carlagraceart]

I’m an artist but I have a keen interest in conservation too 😊

[@erntzjeudy731]

Hi Carla. I really like the way you remove varnish. I'd like to know if you are artist or conservator.