Gamblin Gamvar Picture Varnish 250ml - Satin

Gamvar Satin Picture Varnish saturates colours in your painting and gives your work a unified and protective semi-gloss surface.

Gamvar Varnish stays water-clear and can be easily removed with Gamsol. It is odourless and can be applied when the thickest areas of your work are dry and firm to the touch. Can be brushed onto oil, alkyd and acrylic works. 

Gamblin Picture Varnish products are designed to give artists professional-quality protection and a lasting finish for their paintings. These varnishes not only protect but also unify surface sheen, bringing out the richness of colours and enhancing depth. Suitable for oil and acrylic paintings, Gamblin varnishes are formulated to be easily removable for future conservation, ensuring the long-term safety of your work.

A final varnish is an essential step in preserving artwork, and Gamblin varnishes provide a clear, protective layer that safeguards against dust, dirt, moisture, and UV damage.

Features:

• 250 bottle with screw cap

• Archival protection, for long term preservation

• Non-yellowing formula

• Available in Gloss, Satin, or Matte

• Suitable for use on acrylic or oil paintings

Handy hints:

• Work in a dust free, well ventilated space

• Before applying varnish, ensure your piece is fully cured; six months for oils, and at least 24 hours for acrylic paints

• Using a clean brush soft brush apply thin, even coats of varnish

• Allow the first coat to fully dry before adding a second coat

• Avoid over-working the same area

How to choose your finish

Choosing the right varnish sheen depends on your artistic style and preference, but understanding the qualities of each finish can help.

Gloss varnish is the most popular choice, delivering maximum colour saturation and strong tonal contrast. However, gloss can create glare on darker artworks and may highlight surface imperfections under direct light. Matte varnish is perfect for flat or graphic artwork and is favoured by artists who need to photograph their paintings without reflective shine.

While matte varnish reduces glare, it can also soften bright colours and diminish contrast. Satin varnish offers the best of both worlds, retaining vibrancy while minimising glare, making it a versatile option for many painting styles. For greater flexibility, artists can even mix varnishes: adding gloss to satin for more shine, or matte to reduce the finish further.

Ultimately, choosing between gloss, satin, or matte varnish comes down to the final look you want for your artwork.