Journey Art Supplies Blog
Tips, Tricks, Thoughts, and inspiration from across the art spectrum.
The Best Tools For Painters
To continue to evolve as a painter, you sometimes have to experiment with different painting tools to elevate your artistic style. Sometimes that means switching up your technique, and what better way to do so than by trying out some new painting tools? There are a ton of options out there, and it can get kind of overwhelming when you’re trying to decide which ones to buy. So, we’re going to talk about some of our favorite rubber painting tools! If you’re interested in incorporating rubber tip tools into your painting process, keep reading. Going Beyond the Basics When you first think of painting tools, paintbrushes and palette knives might be what comes to mind. While these tools are important, we’ll be going beyond the basics and talking about painting tools that beginners might not be familiar with. Rubber painting tools are some of the most popular choices for artists who want to step up their painting game. They’re great for manipulating the medium, which can result in some really unique and detailed textures! Blades At Cheap Joe’s, we have plenty of rubber tip tools to choose from. Some of our favorite products are the Princeton Catalyst Blades and Mini Blades. These are painting tools that fall somewhere between a brush and a palette knife. They’re made of silicone, so they’re really flexible and can be used with a variety of mediums. The set of mini blades comes with the following blade types: flat, scraper, detailer, round, angle, and long. The full-size Catalyst blades also feature a variety of edges so you can get a customized look. These blades are great for adding designs or texture to a painting, so they’re fun to play around with! Colour ShapersIf you’re looking for a tool that has many uses, you should check out the Colour Shaper Painting Tools! These silicone-tip tools are extremely versatile, and can be used for painting, drawing, blending, and lifting. When you use these shapers, you’ll get even more control and precision than you would when using conventional brushes and painting knives. Colour Shapers are available in both Soft and Firm tips. The ivory-colored tip is soft, so it’s meant for use with fluid colors. The gray tip is firm and works well with heavy-bodied paints. You can find the following Colour Shaper designs on our website: Angle Chisel, Cup Chisel, Cup Round, Flat Chisel, Taper Point, and Wide. WedgesWedges are another silicone tool meant for creating detailed textures and designs in a painting. Products such as the Princeton Catalyst Wedges (link 4) are ergonomically designed to be thicker on one end, allowing the artist to hold them comfortably in their hands. They work well with a variety of media, including acrylic paint, oil paint, and encaustics. These wedges come in six shapes to choose from, so you can experiment with different textures until you find one you like! ContoursSimilar to wedges, contours are heat-resistant tools made of nylon and silicone. They’re used to create texture in mediums like heavy acrylic, plaster, and ceramics. They’re easy to hold and use, permitting artists to have direct and precise interactions with their work. At Cheap Joe’s, we offer a variety of Princeton Catalyst Contours, which feature multiple edge shapes to choose from. You can purchase these contours individually, or you can get all of the contours in a series. The green contours (C-21 through C-24) make up series 20, the teal contours (C-61 through C-64) are series 60, and the black contours (C-81 through C-84) make up series 80. Wipe-Out ToolsA wipe-out tool, or a paint eraser, is a double-sided tool that allows artists to remove or manipulate wet paint to correct mistakes or tweak designs. The tool has firm yet flexible rubber tips on each end – one side usually features an angled chisel, while the other has a fine-point tip to remove paint from smaller areas. We recommend the Richeson Double-Ended Clay Wipe Out Tool, which allows you to expertly smooth out edges, scrape back layers, and even create expressive strokes in your painting. It’s a super useful tool for artists at all skill levels! Choosing The Right Tool For You As you can see, there are many tool options to choose from, even just in our selection of products. Any of these would be great additions to your art supply collection, but if you have more in-depth questions about choosing the right tool for your needs, we’re always available to help. Feel free to reach out to us by phone at 888-792-6089 with any questions or concerns!
The Best Tools For Painters
To continue to evolve as a painter, you sometimes have to experiment with different painting tools to elevate your artistic style. Sometimes that means switching up your technique, and what...
Everything You Need To Know About Paint Palette...
Many things come to mind when thinking about the art of painting – brush styles, paint hues, and the talented artist behind the work, to name a few. But what many seem to forget is one of the artist’s most important tools: paint palettes or mixing trays. Palettes are truly the backbone of any great painting! Having the space and ability to mix colors to get a customized hue is a necessity, and it’s a key aspect of any artist’s painting journey. Because of this, we wanted to spend some time talking about the different types of paint mixing trays. We’ll be comparing some of the most popular palettes that we offer, so you’ll be able to decide which one would work best for you! Choosing The Right Paint Palette While you may think that all painting palettes are pretty much the same, there are some key distinctions among trays that could make a big difference to the artist. There isn’t one palette that works best for all painters – you have to consider variations in skill level, artistic style, and even the preferred painting location. So how do you know which type of palette to pick? There are a few questions you can ask yourself when you begin the palette-buying process. First, how often do you create your own colors, if at all? If you enjoy having the ability to customize a color exactly to your liking, then you’ll probably want a palette that has plenty of room to mix paints. If you’re mixing watercolor or thinning acrylic paint, you’ll want to look for a mixing tray that has deep wells. But if you’re mixing paint with something like a palette knife, you’ll want to find one with a large, flat surface that gives you plenty of room to move your utensil around. You’ll want to consider the material of the palette as well. Most of them are made out of plastic, which is the most affordable option and pretty easy to clean. If you’re only looking at plastic palettes, you’ll notice that many of them share the same main features. But these aren’t your only option; ceramic or porcelain palettes are a popular choice, too. Like plastic ones, ceramic and porcelain palettes are easy to clean and use, but they’re also extremely durable and therefore a more sustainable choice if you want a palette that’ll last a lifetime. You can even go old-school and choose a wooden one! Popular Palettes At Cheap Joe’s, we offer a wide variety of paint palettes and mixing trays for all of your needs. Whether you’re a professional painter or trying out a new hobby, we have something for you here! We’ll go over some of the most popular painting palettes in our inventory, but you can browse our complete collection of palettes and mixing trays. American Journey Porcelain Butcher TrayThis is one of our top-reviewed paint mixing trays, and it’s for good reason. The heavyweight palette is perfect for mixing large amounts of color and is super easy to clean. While it’s on the higher end price-wise, it’s made to last a lifetime, so you’ll get your money’s worth! Cheap Joe’s Porcelain PalettesRemember those porcelain palettes we were talking about earlier? We happen to make our own line of them! These palettes can last for many years, and they’re really easy to clean and store. We have a variety of styles to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that you love! Anderson Folding Aluminum PaletteAnother highly rated product, this aluminum palette is perfect for beginners and professionals alike. It features a baked white enamel interior and a black enamel exterior, as well as 20 color wells, 4 mixing areas, and a thumbhole. At such an affordable price, this one’s hard to beat! New Wave Grey Pad Disposable PalettesThese disposable palettes are perfect for anyone who wants an easy clean-up after painting. While not the sturdiest option, they’re super affordable and they work well with all paint media, so they’re a great option for beginners or those who have a lower budget! These are just a few of the many palettes and mixing trays available at Cheap Joe’s. As you can see, we have plenty of options for artists of all skill levels. If you have questions about finding the right palette for you, please contact us for assistance. We’re always happy to help!
Everything You Need To Know About Paint Palette...
Many things come to mind when thinking about the art of painting – brush styles, paint hues, and the talented artist behind the work, to name a few. But what...
Everything You Need To Know About Resin Art
Resin art is a unique medium that has grown immensely in popularity in recent years. Art resin is known for its versatility – it seems like there is no limit to what you can create when you’re working with resin! In this blog post, we’re going to be discussing all things resin. You’ll learn all about the material and what it’s made of, as well as the difference between products such as casting resin and epoxy resin. By the time we’re through, you’ll be a resin art pro! What Is Resin Art? The characteristic that makes resin art so different from other mediums is that it doesn’t require your typical art tools. Instead, this kind of art is created when a chemical called epoxy resin is mixed with various color pigments. This results in a distinctive blend of patterns and textures, creating a one-of-a-kind art piece for all to admire. The artist proceeds to blend the solution with a hardener in some kind of mold, allowing the resin mixture to solidify into a sort of plastic due to the chemical reaction taking place. The possibilities truly are endless when it comes to making things out of resin. Resin allows you to easily craft a variety of shapes, so you can create items like toys, figurines, jewelry, coasters, and more. Some artists go beyond just adding color to their pieces – instead, they include things like glitter and even small objects. Because of the incredible durability of the resin, your artistic creations will last a lifetime. If you decide to try your hand at resin, you can create personalized products for your friends and family that they’ll be able to cherish for years to come. What Is Art Resin Made Of? Simple speaking, art resin was initially created to replicate natural resin. Natural resin is an extremely viscous liquid that forms when trees get injured and bleed oils as a result. When those oils are exposed to air, they’re oxidized and therefore become the sticky fluid known as resin. When it comes to resin art, epoxy resin is used. This is a synthetically produced material that consists of two parts: synthetic polymer resin and a hardener. The combination of these two materials results in a chemical reaction, hardening your mixture into a solid form. More recently, synthetic resins have also been created by using epichlorohydrin and diphenols, or bisphenol-A with epichlorohydrins. There are a few different types of resins that result from these combinations. Common examples of resins made with specialized formulas are as follows: casting resin, epoxy coating resin, polyester resin, and urethane resin. Types of Art Resin For a more in-depth analysis, we will be comparing and contrasting casting resin with epoxy coating resin, as these are two of the most common types of resin. The characteristic that these products have in common is that they can be colored with the same art supplies, including color pigments, color pastes, and alcohol inks. Otherwise, they’re pretty different! Casting Resin This type of resin has a very specific purpose. It’s intended to be used for casting things like jewelry, molds, filling wood, figurines, and deep pour. It features a very thin consistency, so it’s able to fill small gaps and it allows layers of paint to be mixed quickly. However, having a thin consistency means it requires a longer drying time. It has a longer processing time and can take up to a week to cure fully. These resins tend to be less viscous in comparison to epoxy coating resins. You can also create thicker layers of product when using this kind of resin. Epoxy Coating Resin This kind of resin is typically applied as a coating to an art piece. It dries and cures quicker than the previous resin, and it also tends to require less time to process. Epoxy coating resin is better suited for use on rougher surfaces. It’s water-resistant, and it’s also more resistant to mechanical influence than the casting one. Ink layers can be controlled much better with epoxy because they don’t mix. Epoxy features a more viscous consistency in comparison to casting resins. Our Extensive Art Resin Selection Now that you’re more familiar with resin art and its various components, we encourage you to check out our collection of resin art products. We have tons of options available, and many of them come in expertly curated kits for your convenience. We have plenty of encaustic paints, fluid pigments, and resins for you to choose from! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. You can reach us by phone at (888) 792-6089. Our customer service representatives are always happy to help in any way that they can!
Everything You Need To Know About Resin Art
Resin art is a unique medium that has grown immensely in popularity in recent years. Art resin is known for its versatility – it seems like there is no limit...
Calligraphy Lettering Pens For Any Project
If you’ve been on social media at all during the past few years, then you’ve probably come across a calligraphy lettering video or two. Many viewers love the satisfaction of watching artists expertly wield their calligraphy pens to craft a visually appealing assortment of elegant letters. If you were inspired by one of these videos, and you want to start learning calligraphy yourself, then you’re in the right place! Here at Cheap Joe’s, we have all the tools you need to kickstart your new hobby, including the perfect calligraphy lettering pens.In this blog, we’ll go into detail about the pros and cons of various types of calligraphy lettering pens, so you’ll know exactly which ones to get for your personal lettering needs. We’ll also give you a few ideas for ways you can put your newfound hobby to use! What Is Calligraphy, and How Can You Use It? Calligraphy has been defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush.” Practicing calligraphy can be a very therapeutic hobby, which is perfect for those who are looking for a relaxing creative outlet. However, there are plenty of ways you can profitably use your lettering skills. If you’re wondering what you can do with your new hobby from a business standpoint, here are some great options: Invitations - One of the most common uses for calligraphy today is on some kind of invitation. This is especially true for wedding invitations, due to their formal nature. Many couples want their wedding invitations to be elegant and unique to their particular tastes, so there are plenty of opportunities to get your creative juices flowing when designing them. Creating Fonts - Once you become more experienced in the craft, you can start designing your own calligraphy fonts. When you digitize your work, you can sell your custom fonts online. This is a great way to get your art out to the public and to make some extra money on the side. Logos/Branding - If you pay attention to all of your favorite brands, you’ll notice that they often have a form of calligraphy in their logo design. As you perfect your lettering skills, you could consider working with companies on their digital logos and branding. Calligraphy Fonts If you’re interested in taking up calligraphy, there are plenty of beautiful fonts available for you to use. A quick online search will direct you to numerous websites where you can download fonts for free. Here are some of our favorite fonts that we’ve been seeing recently: Alex Brush - This is a classic brush-style font that features dramatic, sophisticated caps. Allura Regular - This font has a handwritten feel with a feminine touch. It’s simple and legible, so it’s great for a variety of projects! Sophia - This brush script features alternating thin and thick strokes, resulting in realistic-looking letters that have a personalized feel. Champignon - This classic font boasts thin, dainty strokes for a feminine look. It’s great for invitations! Types of Calligraphy Pens Now that you’ve learned a bit about calligraphy and its uses, it’s time for the fun part – the tools! There are numerous types of pens for calligraphy, and the one you choose to use will most likely depend on your experience level. For now, we'll review these three common types: Straight Dip PensThese are one of the more popular types of pens for calligraphy lettering. Straight dip pens are cheap, easy to use and maintain, and they feature a firm grip. When using this kind of pen, it can be difficult to consistently write at an angle, which can potentially limit your design options. However, these pens are great tools for getting those effortless-looking swirls and curves! Oblique Dip PensOblique dip pens can be a bit more challenging to get the hang of. These are the ones that have a metal tip called the flange. While these tools are one of the more expensive options, they differ from the straight dip pens in that they allow artists to achieve a right-leaning letter slant. These pens also offer more efficient pressure distribution. If you’re a more advanced calligrapher, then these pens would be a great option for you. Brush PensBrush pens are great for beginners and intermediate calligraphers because they’re really easy to master. These pens are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes, and they allow you to create calligraphy quickly. They’re perfect for use as a stepping-stone to dip pens because you have to learn how to control the brush width with pressure. The only issue with these pens is that some people think they have a bit of a casual feel, so they’re not the best for formal projects. Calligraphy Pens vs Regular Writing Tools If you’re just starting out, you might not be ready to commit to purchasing new pens just to use for calligraphy, and that’s okay. Many beginners prefer to use regular pens (gel, ballpoint, etc.) to practice their lettering. These pens are great for numerous reasons; they’re portable, they’re less messy, and you can find some beautiful inks that will look great on paper. However, if you opt to use a regular pen for your lettering, you won’t be able to get the thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes that are needed for calligraphy. You’ll have to use the faux calligraphy technique if you want to achieve anything close to dip-pen-like results. Faux calligraphy works like this: you write out your calligraphy in a style/font of your choice, then you add parallel lines on downstrokes, and you finish the piece by filling in those downstrokes.Ultimately, you can use other writing tools to create beautiful calligraphy, but using the faux calligraphy technique can be much more time-consuming. You can speed up your calligraphy process by using one of the lettering pens we mentioned earlier. We recommend the brush pens as a great alternative for beginners who may feel intimidated by other lettering pens! Shop for Calligraphy Supplies at Cheap Joe's Browse our full selection of pens, inks, and other calligraphy supplies in a wide range suited to fit every artist's needs.
Calligraphy Lettering Pens For Any Project
If you’ve been on social media at all during the past few years, then you’ve probably come across a calligraphy lettering video or two. Many viewers love the satisfaction of...
Top Deals for Oil Painters
Great news! You can get Black Friday Deals on many items at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff right now rather than waiting until the end of the month. We’re offering the best deals on oil paints, paint sets, supplies, and more. We are always happy to pass on the savings, and make sure you find the best gifts for everyone on your list this year. Read on to find some of our favorite brands for oil painters at the best prices.
Top Deals for Oil Painters
Great news! You can get Black Friday Deals on many items at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff right now rather than waiting until the end of the month. We’re offering the...
Why is Arches Watercolor Paper the Most Dominant
Excellence in Watercolor Paper, Why Arches Paper Is Worth It To meet the supply demands of artists, more efficient fabrication than hand-made procedures would be required. Arches turned to the cylinder mould method of manufacturing. Their expert papermakers determined the cylinder mould machine to be the best process for making a stable paper. It mimics hand-made characteristics but produces a consistent and heavy-duty paper that holds up to copious amounts of water application, giving artists more control. It works like this: The mould, covered by a wire mesh screen, churns slowly in a vat of 100% pure Egyptian cotton pulp fibers, lifts evenly distributed pulp, and with the help of wool felts, removes excess water and subtly marks the paper's finish with Arches' proprietary grain for a strong tooth, or grip, to their surface. The binding agent, a natural gelatin sizing, permeates the liquid and fibers in the vat to add strength and preserve the luster of the paper across all watercolor techniques. What is Arches paper made from? Let's take a closer look at their paper creation process. To meet the supply demands of artists, more efficient fabrication than hand-made procedures would be required. Arches turned to the cylinder mould method of manufacturing. Their expert papermakers determined the cylinder mould machine to be the best process for making a stable paper (not likely to warp when wetted). It mimics hand-made characteristics but produces a consistent and heavy-duty paper that holds up to copious amounts of water application, giving artists more control. It works like this: The mould, covered by a wire mesh screen, churns slowly in a vat of 100% pure Egyptian cotton pulp fibers, lifts evenly distributed pulp, and with the help of wool felts, removes excess water and subtly marks the paper's finish with Arches' proprietary grain for a strong tooth, or grip, to their surface. The binding agent, a natural gelatin sizing, permeates the liquid and fibers in the vat to add strength and preserve the luster of the paper across all watercolor techniques. Is Arches paper the best watercolor paper? Arches produces more surfaces, sizes, weights, and styles than any other manufacturer we're aware of. It might add to the popularity of the paper that with some 300+ different varieties for artists to choose from, Arches' offerings attempt to find something that suits the taste of any discerning watercolor artist. The downside to Arches (as we see it). While, there's not many, there are a few to take note of. Arches uses an animal gelatin as it's sizing. (Sizing is very important in keeping your colors vibrant, on top of the paper, and your paper from staining if using scrubbing or lifting techniques. Because of this the paper can have a unique smell when wet - from an ammonia-like to a wet dog-like smell. The animal sizing might be a turn off to vegans or folks with religious requirement. We're not sure if it's the application process or the animal sizing that creates inconsistencies with Arches sizing, but it seems Arches has more issue with "bad batches" than other paper manufacturers. However, they're quick to right the wrong and replace any instance of inconsistency should it arise. Maybe it's because Arches has been around so long. Or, it could be because of the variety. Or, perhaps it's because the process of the paper makes it heavy enough to let the artist work and rework the artwork. Or, feasibly, it's because Arches is the best all-around paper for its consistency and quality. But one thing is for sure: far and away, Arches is the most recommended watercolor paper for anyone attempting to master this thing called watercolor.
Why is Arches Watercolor Paper the Most Dominant
Excellence in Watercolor Paper, Why Arches Paper Is Worth It To meet the supply demands of artists, more efficient fabrication than hand-made procedures would be required. Arches turned to the...
Art Supplies For Every Studio Size
OK, not everyone who does art has a fancy studio, but everyone who does art surely has a space, no matter how small, where they can spread out and create.
Art Supplies For Every Studio Size
OK, not everyone who does art has a fancy studio, but everyone who does art surely has a space, no matter how small, where they can spread out and create.
Top Deals for Acrylic Painters
Beat the mad dash and start shopping now! Some of our best and top-tested supplies are marked down to bring you holiday deals on everything from our best acrylic paint sets to gifts that line your stockings.
Top Deals for Acrylic Painters
Beat the mad dash and start shopping now! Some of our best and top-tested supplies are marked down to bring you holiday deals on everything from our best acrylic paint...
How To Properly Care For Your Brushes
Brush care is very important to ensure the longevity of your investment. High-quality art supplies are not inexpensive, they are an investment. An investment worth making when you consider the tools you choose will determine your chances for success.
How To Properly Care For Your Brushes
Brush care is very important to ensure the longevity of your investment. High-quality art supplies are not inexpensive, they are an investment. An investment worth making when you consider the...
Tips and Tricks for Making Your Acrylic Paintin...
It makes sense that, as artists, we would assume the most important parts of our art are the colors, designs, lines, brush strokes, or even our muse. When it comes to acrylic painting, we’re talking about the finished product – the thing that everyone sees at the end and admires. What we may not pay as much attention to (but definitely should) are the beginning layer and the end layer of the piece. These features are extremely important if we want the art to last. In this blog post, I want to talk about the importance of properly prepping your surface before you begin painting, and how you can protect your artwork after you’ve completed it. After all, your painting can be destroyed by the elements from the moment you put your brush to the surface. I know it sounds intimidating, but it’s vital that you understand the importance of these steps, and that you learn how to take care of your art from start to finish, and everything in between. The Painting GroundTo start with, you need to make sure that a substrate has been properly base coated. This will allow the paints or mediums to form a secure bond to the surface, therefore resulting in a painting that will last a lifetime. To achieve this, the medium and the base coat have to be compatible. This is a very important step, because if you have incompatible aspects, then your painting can develop cracks and end up separating from the surface. Every medium has a preferred ground that you’ll want to work with, and you’ll find that not every type of paint will stick to every surface. You can still apply the paints to other surfaces, but if you want the best, longest-lasting results, you’ll want to keep the following pairings in mind: Acrylic – acrylic primed cotton canvas or wood surfacesWatercolor – 100% pure cotton rag watercolor paperOil – oil primed linen or cotton canvasPastel – sand-coated paper or textured heavyweight paperColored Pencil/Charcoal – smooth or slightly toothy heavyweight paperMarker – coated marker paperEncaustic – encaustic gessoed wooden panelsEgg Tempera – rabbit glue gessoed wood surfacesAlcohol Inks – clean, non-porous surfaces including tile, metal, glass, and Yupo Of course, the list could continue forever, but you get the idea. If you don’t take the time to prepare your substrate properly, then your paint won’t have anything to adhere to. Acrylic Paints with the Golden TouchGolden Artist Colors, Inc., also known as “Golden,” has developed multiple acrylic grounds and gessos to ensure that your colors stay where you need them to. Here at Cheap Joe’s, we offer the following Golden Acrylic Gessos: White or Black Acrylic Gesso – a ready-to-use acrylic liquid ground that’s prepared with more dry solids than acrylic paint, which provides tooth and expertly prepares a substrate for oil or acrylic application.It’s important to note that, while oil paints will stick to this ground, an oil painting ground or primer tends to make a better base coat for oils. You can also apply watercolors to an acrylic ground with minimal water content, but there are specific “watercolor gessos” that are designed to keep watercolor washes from resisting the acrylic surface. This can cause the paint to bead up and form a puddle on the surface. Hard Sandable Gesso – this gesso results in a harder surface and heavier consistency when dried and gives you the option to leave various textures on your painting surface. Acrylic Ground for Pastels – features a fine grit that offers the required tooth to hold the pastel dust to the substrate. Now that you’ve created a strong surface base coat, you can move on to the most exciting part – the painting! You can express yourself to your heart’s content, knowing that you don’t have to worry about your painting getting ruined.If you’re looking for a new set of gels, consider checking out the Golden Introductory Gel Medium Set. This set is a great way for you to sample some popular gels before buying full-sized products. We love Golden because they have the most expansive line of professional quality paints, gels, mediums, and texture mediums. Check out any of the following categories to find the highest quality products at great prices: Golden Open AcrylicsGolden Heavy Body AcrylicsGolden Fluid AcrylicsGolden GelsGolden Molding PasteGolden Specialty MediumsGolden Texture MediumsGolden Fluid Mediums Protect Your Work, Don’t Forget the Final LayerNow that you’ve created a beautiful piece of artwork, it’s time to apply the top coat. This acts as a barrier to help protect your art from various dangers, such as grime, dust, fingerprints, sand, oils, or light. While light is important when it comes to viewing the artwork, it will also immediately start working to deteriorate the piece. The longer the art is exposed to the light, the duller the colors will become. The paint can also begin to crack and separate from your substrate. This might not happen right away. It could take years for you to visibly see any damage on your painting. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen eventually, so it’s imperative that you protect your art for as long as possible. When it comes to varnishing, Golden has a pretty simple system. Here are the Golden Acrylic varnishes that we have available at Cheap Joe’s: Golden Polymer Varnishes with UVLsThis is a water-based acrylic polymer varnish that is formulated to provide extra defense from ultraviolet radiation. Designed as a topcoat for acrylic paints, this varnish offers a removable protective surface for the soft acrylic paint layer. It tends to have a harder film than most acrylic paints, allowing the surface to be less susceptible to dirt and dust. It also provides enhanced protection from any moisture, marring, or scratching that may occur. The Polymer Varnish is intended for indoor use only and is not meant to be used on furniture or other surfaces that are prone to physical contact when in use. This varnish can be removed easily because it remains soluble in alkaline solvents like ammonia. When removing the varnish, you will also simultaneously be removing any surface contamination. But don’t worry – the removal won’t cause any damage to the painting. If you’re trying to clean or restore a painting, then this could be a useful product for you. The Polymer Varnish is available in three finishes: gloss, satin, and matte. The gloss will dry to an extremely reflective finish. The satin option still offers a moderate reflection. The matte varnish is flat. You’ll want to thin this varnish before use, and it’s preferable to either spray or use a brush application with Golden varnishes. Golden Archival Spray Varnish (Mineral Spirit Acrylic Aerosol with UVLS) I like to call this the “Do It All Varnish,” because it can quite literally do it all. You can use this varnish for almost anything because it has very few limitations. The Golden Archival Varnish is formulated with 100% solvent-based, reversible acrylic polymer resins. This product was designed to produce a clear, flexible film that will protect against various environmental concerns. It targets issues such as ultraviolet light, moisture, and dirt. Better yet, the cured coating is highly resistant to yellowing. The Golden Archival Varnish will adhere well to most surfaces, as long as they aren’t oily. If you’re using it on fresh oil paint films, or if there are residual surfactants present with your water-based paint films, then the varnish may not stick very well. This varnish remains flexible and defies alterations in appearance as time goes on. Media Application Methods for Golden Archival VarnishWe know that different paints and substrates have their ideal circumstances. It’s important to abide by these circumstances when using the Golden Archival Varnish. Before you begin, you should always start by testing out the varnish on either a scrap piece or a non-visible area before proceeding to use the product on your final artwork. Listed below are general application guidelines for common substrates. For example, permeable substrates require multiple layers of gloss to seal the surface. For more detailed information regarding concerns about specific media, please review various information sources, such as artists’ handbooks. Applying Acrylic Paint Isolation CoatsWith acrylic paints, isolation coats need to be applied per the MSA Varnish directions. You can find these directions in the main Golden Varnish document. You’ll want to give the varnish 24 hours to cure the final isolation coat layer. Once that’s finished, you can continue to build layers of the Archival Varnish if necessary. When working with acrylic paints, you’ll want to consider using an isolation coat. This is something that is only used on acrylic paintings; it should never be used on oil paintings. An isolation coat is a permanent coating that works to separate the removable varnish from the paint surface. It aids in the protection of your surface in case the varnish is ever removed. So, if you’re going to be working on any conservation or varnish removal projects in the future, using an isolation coat before varnishing can be very beneficial. If you’re wanting to use a brush application, you can alter the isolation to the right medium by diluting the Golden Soft Gel Gloss with some water. You’ll want to use two parts by volume of the Soft Gel Gloss to one part of water. If you prefer a spray application, use a two-to-one mixture of Golden GAC-500 to the Transparent Airbrush Extender. This product can be applied with a touch-up spray unit, an airbrush, or any kind of commercial spray equipment. You might have to increase the number of isolation layers you put on your surface, depending on how absorbent it ends up being. For most non-absorbent surfaces, you should be fine with one or two coats of isolation. For more absorbent surfaces, you could end up using two or more brush application coats, or three or more if you’re using a spray application. You want the final result to have a satin sheen to it, so you’ll need to make adjustments accordingly. Oil/Water Soluble Oils or Alkyd PaintsFor oil/water soluble oils or Alkyd paints, you’ll want to account for a minimum curing time of 6-12 months (if you’re using the isolation coat as a final varnish). If it’s just a temporary varnish, make sure the painting is dry to the touch before using anything on it. Having substantial layers of oil paint that isn’t dry will hinder oxidation development, causing the varnish to fail. The number of layers you’ll need will vary, so just apply layers of the Archival Varnish with UVLs as you see fit for your artwork. Graphite/Pastels/Colored Pencil/Marker/Watercolor/GouacheResults of using the Archival Spray Varnish over these mediums have varied drastically, so it’s extremely important that you do not use the product to top coat, varnish, or fix your artwork without running extensive tests beforehand. We’ve found that the varnish can cause an overall darkening of the artwork, which could potentially be avoided, but should be noted anyway. After all, you don’t want to ruin your piece! If you decide to use the varnish after testing it first, make sure you begin by applying light coats of gloss varnish. When dried, these light layers will eventually form a glossy film. Once you’ve accomplished that, you can move on to applying layers of whatever sheen you want. Applying Varnish with Inkjet PrintsWith inkjet prints, you can usually put the Golden Archival Varnish with UVLs directly onto the print, but you’ll still want to take the substrate absorbency and your desired protection level into consideration. Multiple thin coats will work for moisture resistance, but you’ll want to do some testing if you’re going to be applying any gels that are water-based on top of the varnish. Special Uses for VarnishesThere are a few other special finishes that the varnishes can be used with. These finishes are watercolor and alcohol ink. In the past, it wasn’t very common for artists to apply varnish to their watercolor paintings due to the fear of potential alteration of the piece. However, some current artists have ventured out and sealed their watercolor paintings with a varnish, and are okay with the changes that will occur. If you’re interested in trying out this technique, it’s a good idea to test it out on a smaller watercolor first before moving on to a large piece. When you’re ready to begin the application, you’ll want to spray the piece with the Golden Archival Gloss Spray Varnish, applying three light coats. Make sure you allow each coat to dry before going in with the next one. Then you can go in with additional coats of either a matte or satin finish. You can see the difference between the two watercolor paintings in this image. The top tile was sprayed with a satin varnish, and the bottom was not sprayed at all. For anything made with an alcohol ink finish, you don’t necessarily need to use a varnish at all. Dried ink tends to be quite durable, so you most likely won’t need any extra protection. If you find that you do need an added layer (like if you aren’t planning on framing the piece) then you can seal it with a spray varnish. If you need further protection, apply a brush-on coat afterward. You’ll want to make sure that the product is fully dry, so allow it to do so overnight, and then you can proceed with applying one or two coats of the gloss. Follow that up with either a satin or matte layer; this will alter the sheen. Note: When using the satin and matte finishes, make sure you consider their solids matting agents. These agents help to reduce the sheen of your artwork. This is imperative when you decide to apply these to darker, more saturated colors (like alcohol inks) because heavy coats will end up giving you a dull, cloudy finish. For more thorough information on these varnish products, please visit Golden’s website. Things To Remember When Applying VarnishBefore using any of the varnishes, don’t forget to shake your spray varnish can. It’s recommended that you do this for at least two minutes. This is a very important step, so don’t forget! It doesn’t matter how you shake it, just that you do so for the entire recommended duration. Check out this video that Golden made, where they demonstrate various ways to shake a varnish can: It’s also super important that you take your time during the application process. You want to apply the varnish correctly the first time, to avoid any damage to your painting. The following video is a demonstration of the right way to apply the spray to achieve the best results: When you use products from Golden Artist Colors, Inc., you can create with confidence that you’re working with some of the best materials on the market. This company is very well-known in the world of acrylic painting materials, and for good reason. They’ve spent many years perfecting their products! If you find yourself needing more in-depth information about any of Golden’s products, you can head on over to their website. They have a great site that has tons of educational and instructional materials. They also have several tutorial videos that can show you how to use their products. If you still have questions after viewing their website, you can contact their representatives. They have plenty of artists and employees who will be happy to assist you! If you’re looking for more art inspiration, make sure to browse around our blog page. You’ll find tons of posts on all sorts of topics. Also, don’t forget to check out Cheap Joe’s Facebook page, where you’ll find the most recent updates on our best deals, as well as other information about our Art Stuff. After reading through this blog post, we hope we’ve been successful in helping you recognize the importance of protecting your artwork. When you put so much time and effort into making something beautiful, you want it to last a lifetime. So, the next time you find yourself wanting to start a new acrylic painting, refer back to these tips and tricks for protecting your piece. A solid defense begins with proper preparation and ends with the right protective coat. We’ve given you the best tools for the beginning and end, but the middle (the best part!) is up to you. So what are you waiting for? Get those creative juices flowing and start on your next painting today. We’re sure it’ll be the best one yet, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come thanks to these preservation techniques.
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