Pat Merewether 09 Jun 2006

Interesting - I like learning about new products - I'd still be using Aqua Net if someone hadn't clued me in.

Marty Yokawonis 10 Jun 2006

Hey Jacqeline

The cold wax medium is actually something that comes in a can and is a waxy paste and can be melted into oil painting mediums to reduce gloss. I just got it into my head one day that I wanted to paste wax a watercolor just to see what it would look like sealed under wax because of course once you wax the surface you cannot out watercolor or any water based paint on it. I liked the soft effect of the wax rubbed into the paper. I have a very long painting called My Soul that is waxed. It doesn't change the colors at all and isn't visible once it is rubbed on. It's made by Gamblin.

Pat Merewether 10 Jun 2006

Hmmmmmm. Sounds kinda cool - live and learn.

Jenna Anderson 11 Jun 2006

This may sound weird but ive used mod- podge (very tricky though) i did very thick coats to make the water color look paste like the first coat you may notice a little color run .. but not much...(you know for a differnt effect than the usual,) but then i sealed that with an acrylic matte sealer. this way i didnt have to use glass when framing ! I think its best to to little samples to find what works best for you. sometimes it will give the piece a unique look.

Pat Merewether 11 Jun 2006

Interesting work, Jenna!

It sure would be nice not to have to do the whole mat/glass thing, especially since some shows and galleries are now requiring folks use plexiglass, which is quite expensive.

Jacqueline Bishop 11 Jun 2006

i have found several watercolor artist here on AW while i was brousing artworks last night that seal their watercolors.besides the ones that commented here on the topic i started.

carrie holst 14 Jun 2006

Hi, I think mod podge was the most fun stuff back a while. They make a nice acrylic matt varnish now that I think I would be feeling a little more archival using. I was on an E-mail conversation with Aleta Pech about her now sealing her watercolors with many thin layers of acrylic varnish. She does this so she doesn't have to put under glass. It is so time consuming, I will just buy the glass. Carrie

Meghan Henley 14 Jun 2006

I never thought about sealing them but I think I might from now on.

jennifer blenkinsopp 14 Jun 2006

Sealing watercolour on paper to me is a waste of time, they still have to be framed behind glass,or fixed to a board, personally I like the freshness and translucency watercolour gives, this surely will dull the colour---- if the watercolour/goache is on a board then yes I can see this being advantagious in using a varnish to frame without glass.I usally use goache on board, which is opaque so a varnish may give it more life.

John Houle 15 Jun 2006

sealing it doesn't change the color at all .... unless you spray on a very thick coat of fixatif which makes the colors more vibrant.

Spraying on a light coat of it changes nothing and is invisible to the eye.

Jacqueline Bishop 15 Jun 2006

i sprayed my latest watercolor with kamar varnish, it is recomended for watercolors & does not yellow, i plan on mounting it on a peice of wood & pouring envirotex on it. thanks for all the input.ZAZ

jennifer blenkinsopp 16 Jun 2006

I commented on this work earlier Jacqueline its beautiful,very rich in colour, what make of watercolours do you use?,----- this is all new to me thankyou for the input.------------- John your piece you put on too I can,t tell wheither you sprayed it, it has its freshness still.

Jacqueline Bishop 17 Jun 2006

Jennifer, i use Daler-rawney,gumbacher,reeves & prismacolors,

Marty Yokawonis 17 Jun 2006

I have used fixative maybe once or twice on a watercolor mostly to set an area so putting more paint on top wouldn't disturb the initial layers but I would add that if the effect you are after is to do multiple layers of paint without changing the layers underneath just adding some acrylic medium to your water that you use for painting will do the trick and not change the look of the watercolor at all ***BUT*** if you are brushing on layers of acrylic medium you will get a reflective brush mark reflecting surface. The swirls and passes of the brush when you apply the acrylic medium will show - they absolutely will show as a reflection on the surface of the painting and the colors will be brighter more wet looking too.

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