Can I use an isolation coat without varnish?

Can an isolation coat be left without varnish on an acrylic painting? You can do it, but I do not recommend it. The varnishing protects the acrylic paintings from yellowing, UV, and dust, but an isolation coat for acrylic painting doesn’t have protective properties against environmental factors.

Is it okay to not varnish an acrylic painting?

Currently, the Smithsonian recommends not varnishing your acrylics. Varnishing acrylic paintings has several problems: 1) Acrylic resin proprietary varnishes have similar solubilities to those of acrylic paint. This necessitates the use of solvents which might damage the paint layer for their removal.

What is an isolation coat on acrylic painting?

An isolation coat is a clear, non-removable coating that serves to physically separate the paint surface from the removable varnish. The isolation coat serves two purposes: To protect the painting if/or when the varnish is removed by separating the pigmented area of the painting from the solvents used in removal.

Can you varnish acrylic paintings?

Varnish is a hard, protective, removable coat applied over the painting surface. There are two types of varnish that can be used on an acrylic painting: It also can only be used on acrylic paintings and comes in a variety of finishes: matte, satin, and gloss.

Can you varnish acrylic without isolation coat?

Firstly, varnish should not be applied to a painting until it is fully dry. For acrylic paintings, it is recommended to apply an “isolation coat” between the finished painting and the varnish. This consists of a coat of clear acrylic medium evenly applied over the entire surface.

Is isolation coat necessary?

Oil painters don’t traditionally employ an isolation coat because it’s not really necessary. In terms of conservation, removing oil varnish requires different solvents than the ones used for removing oil paint, and therefore the process is not likely to harm the oil painting beneath.

How do you protect acrylic paint from canvas?

5 effective steps to protect acrylic paintings on canvas

1. Prime your canvas before painting with gesso or use pre-primed canvas.
2. Apply isolation coat once your painting is done.
3. Varnish your painting after isolation coat is dried or choose good protective finish.

Do acrylic paintings need an isolation coat?

For acrylic paintings, it is recommended to apply an “isolation coat” between the finished painting and the varnish. This consists of a coat of clear acrylic medium evenly applied over the entire surface.

Can I paint on top of an isolation coat?

Pro tip: If you’re not sure if your painting is finished, or you are nervous about varnishing it, you can leave an isolation coat on for ages, and then repaint on top in the future. Just bear in mind the surface will be super slippy and won’t soak up moisture (see: How to paint over an acrylic painting) so paint thick!

Do you have to varnish An acrylic painting?

Learn how to varnish an acrylic painting! It is essential that you varnish your completed acrylic paintings. The varnish will protect the painting from dust, UV rays and yellowing.

Can I use varnish on a painting without an isolation coat?

(Also, note that you can still use a removable varnish on your painting, even if you don’t apply an isolation coat – the varnish will still protect the painting, but it’s best to never remove the varnish or you’ll risk damaging the painting.)

What happens if you don’t protect an acrylic painting?

When acrylic paintings aren’t protected, they can slowly start to become discolored, cracked, or warped. Luckily, there are lots of ways to prevent this from happening. You can seal your canvas with varnish, protect it with a glass frame, and keep it in the right environment so it stays vibrant for years.

How do you apply varnish to a painted wall?

Dip the brush into the varnish about 1/3 to 1/4-way down the length of the brush and gently tap off the excess. Holding the brush at an angle, apply the varnish in even strokes across the painting, moving the brush in the same direction each time. Start at one corner and work your way across the whole painting in a parallel fashion.