PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET

wax VARNISH

Product Description

Final varnish that dries to a matt finish but may be buffedto a satin surface if required. For oil and acrylic painting.

Product Code: 023

Constituents: Refined Beeswax, Low Toxic Solvent.

Product Application

A varnish is used to protect finished artwork. Langridge Matte Varnish performs the following functions:
.  Be fully removable without disturbing the oil paint film underneath.
.  Be resistant to moisture and general pollutants.
.  Create a complete film of even reflective quality.It is the varnishes’ function to prevent dirt reaching the paint surface. 
It is much easier to remove a dirty  varnish and replace that than to remove dirt from the painting itself, potentially damaging the paint film.

Artists oil colours dry by absorbing oxygen. Full drying generally takes between 3-6 months although it can take longer with extremely thick paint films (5mm or thicker). If needing a temporary protective varnish before full drying has taken place apply Retouch Varnish.

How to apply a varnish to a painting

Lay the painting flat, face up, on a table. Position it so you can see light reflected from its surface.Take a clean, lint-free cloth (preferably white) and dip into the wax varnish. Do not overload the cloth.Begin application at one corner of the painting, wiping on the varnish in one direction across the whole painting. Make sure that the surface receives as thin and even coating as possible. Proceed in a systematic way across the surface of the painting. Check the work against the light from time to time to be sure all parts of the surface are receiving an equally thin coating.

If wanting a satin finish: After the entire painting has been varnished, begin lightly buffing the surface with the cloth in a broad circular motion. Do not apply too much pressure as this will create uneven polishing and potentially push the stretched canvas onto the stretcher frame leaving a mark.

If wax varnish looks too glossy: It is possible to overpolish the wax varnish creating more glare thanoriginally intended. To revert the varnish to a matte finish, lightly dampen a clean cloth in artists solvent and gently wipe the surface in short strokes to ‘open up’ the varnish. Wait 5 minutes to allow partial evaporation of the solvent and check the finish. Repeat process to desired level of matte/satin.

Matte reflective surfaces optically create a painting with a flat, more compressed picture space and do not appear to recede. Artists attempting to create a picture with optical depth (such as a landscape) should be aware that the glossier and deeper in tone a paint surface is the more it seems to recede.Because wax is not absolutely clear it will reduce the depth of tone of colours. For this reason, Langridge does not recommend using matte varnishes if wanting very dark passages of colour in a painting.

Langridge Wax Varnish is designed to dry to a matte finish. If a painting has major differences in gloss/matte reflection Wax Varnish may not completely even these out.

Langridge Wax Varnish is made by dissolving refined beeswax in Low Toxic Solvent to make a paste. Applied over paintings, the solvent will evaporate, leaving a thin, even coat of the wax.Refined beewax has all impurities removed leaving a wax with little long term yellowing properties.

Remove the varnish using Low Toxic Solvent or Artists White Spirit.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION

Using Wax Varnish for matting oil mediums.

Because oils and resins used in oil mediums dry to a gloss finish, waxes can be introduced to create satin or matte finishes. Because Langridge Wax Varnish contains no oil, its addition to oil mediums will soften the paint film, potentially making it more suscetable to bruising or scratches.Langridge recommends a maximum addition of 20% to existing mediums to prevent possible film defects. For this reason oil mediums with a high oil content should be aided in their matting effect by adding Langridge Wax Painting Paste which has enough oil in its formulation to prevent film softness.The addition of Wax Varnish to mediums will give them more body, so the artists’ technique should allow for this in application.

WORKING PROPERTIES

Thinning
For best results thin with Low Toxic Solvent. Alternative solvents such as White Spirit or Distilled Gum Turpentine may be substituted.

Appearance
Langridge Wax Varnish is a white paste with faint distillate odour.
The colour of the varnish will not effect the oil colours over which it is applied.

Clean Up
Clean brushes only with any artists’ solvent (e.g. Gum Turpentine, Low Toxic Solvent, Artists White Spirit, etc.).
For further washing apply a small quantity of Marseille or other pure olive oil soap and massage the bristles of the brush to release any remaining varnish. Wash thoroughly in warm water. Leave to fully dry before re-use.

Drying Times
30-45 minutes to touch dry. Any airflow over the surface will evaporate the solvent more rapidly which will reduce drying times.

Available in:
120ml (0191), 500ml (0195), Litre (019L), 4 Litre (0194)