Technical queries (isolation varnish + final varnish) in the Mixed Technique (ET + oil)ApproveRejectUn-ApproveSubscribeUn-Unsubscribe
Question asked 2020-02-21 14:07:42 ...
Most recent comment 2020-02-21 17:53:00
Varnishes
Egg Tempera
Hello,
thanks a lot for all your comments and suggestions.
I know that it is not recommended to varnish or
coat an egg tempera painting. In my case I use ET for the
underpainting because it allows me a very precise drawing and it
dries really fast. The problems come when I add oil. The
base is so terribly absorbent that I can't manipulate the first oil layer. Soon
after I start with oil paint doesn't flow normally, which doesn't
allow me to keep going.
I have done many tests and when I isolate ET
with Paraloid B72 or an oil medium (1 part stand oil + 2 parts
turpentine, for example) the brushability improves considerably. The
base is still absorbent, but it allows me to work on it.
Is there a better alternative to an isolating varnish? I am
concerned about the preservation of my paintings, but this issue just
doesn't let me keep painting.It may be a silly question, but...
would it be more reasonable to apply an isolating coat with an
emulsion medium? I mean, mixing an oil medium with an ET medium. For
example, the medium I am using to grind my ET colours with 1 part
stand oil + 1 or 2 parts turpentine. Any other suggestion
maybe?
Thanks again.
Max
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Varnish on an egg tempera painting is an aesthetic decision.
In truth, more proto- and Renaissance ET paintings were originally varnished.
That is up to you.
I worry more about the solubility of interlayered varnishes.
I actually think that if you keep your intermediate layer very minimal and cover
the entire surface with later layers of oil paint, there is nothing technically
wrong with a very thin application of a thinned oil or even a diluted alkyd
medium. Please read over our comments about “retouch varnish” and “oiling out”
as those cover similar issues. You also want to make sure that the intermediate
layer is only fat enough to only reduce absorbency to the extent necessary and
not create a slick film which may cause interlayer cleavage. I see no advantage of using the fatty emulsion
over the very thinned stand oil (other than perhaps drying time) and I have
seen unpigmented egg-oil emulsions separate into their constituent parts unlike
pigmented egg-oil emulsion paints.
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