I want to use a nonremovable varnish for my acrylic paintings. I don’t want the fuss of applying an isolation coat, and I am just a hobby painter, so I am not worried about any of my paintings ever needing to be conserved in the future, or having to remove the varnish. I am looking for a layer that provides UV protection, a unified sheen, a protective layer against dust, and a surface that I can clean dust off of. Because my work is textured, I want a spray application, and I don’t own or want to acquire a paint gun or an airbrush, so I want a spray can. I also want a low odor and low fume product. I have read about Liquitex Spray Varnish, and I have seen an ad for Krylon Crystal Clear. Are these good products? Is Krylon ok to use on fine art? Are there any other brands you can recommend? Thank you.
Also, the ad for Krylon listed a lot of surfaces it is appropriate for, but canvas is not one of them. Is it ok to use on canvas?
Thank you. What is a Regalrez varnish?
Is there a reason you recommend Regalrez and an MSA varnish over the Liquitex Spray varnish, which I believe is water based? Many thanks for your helpful comments.
If you are worried that a future restorer might remove the varnish, just put a note on the stretcher bars saying that you are against that procedure. Additionally, choosing a non-yellowing varnish would negate the need for removal.
The Krylon has been stated to be composed of B-72. That is appropriate (if not exactly the most saturating of resins). I do wonder about what solvents it is in. Additionally, one can certainly learn to perfectly apply varnishes from a spray can, but it is more difficult than by brush. It would be a shame to apply an uneven varnish and be forced to remove it. B-72 requires xylene, acetone, or mixtures of acetone and ethanol. The first two are quite noxious and acetone could dissolve the underlying paint (so can ethanol to a lesser extent). If you are confident of your skills, this should work.
A Regalrez or an MSA varnish would work fine for this. We often have to varnish textured surfaces but it is more tricky. The MSA can be purchsed in a spray can as well.
Actually, if you wished and liked the sheen, a layer of acrylic dispersion medium would be irreversible and certainly low/no odor. It is not as coherent of a film nor and would not solve any surfactant migration issues.
If it were me I would opt for a brush applied Regalrez or a spray applied MSA varnish.
Regalrez is a stable, non-yellowing resin used for picture varnishes. Google it and you will find a number of suppliers. Gamblin also sells it under the name Gamvar.
The reason why I suggested solvent borne varnishes is that they do not contain surfactants and, therefore, there can be no surfactant migration. This is not a huge deal and an aqueous dispersion varnish would likely do what you desire.
