Professional varnishes
Professional varnishes for artists
Professional finishing varnishes are designed for gallery-level works where pigment preservation for decades is important. The main differences from amateur formulations are high transparency without a yellow tint, the presence of UV filters, chemical resistance, and reversibility (a professional varnish can be removed by a restorer without damaging the paint layer).
What makes professional varnish better
- UV filter — blocks ultraviolet light, protects pigments from fading when exposed to light.
- Does not yellow — even after 10–20 years the coating remains transparent and does not distort the color of the work.
- Reversibility — dissolves with white spirit or a special solvent without damage to the paint layer. This is critical for restoration.
- High adhesion — evenly covers both smooth and textured surfaces.
- Stable finish — after drying, does not form streaks, uneven spots, or matte "clouds".
Who needs professional varnish
Artists who work for sale, exhibit in galleries, or pass works to collectors. Also — restorers, icon painters, authors of museum copies. For home paintings and paint-by-numbers, a regular finishing varnish from the amateur segment will do — overpaying for a UV filter doesn't make sense in such cases.
How to choose a professional varnish
Consider three parameters: base (water-soluble acrylic or solvent), gloss level (matte / satin / gloss), presence of a UV filter. For works under direct sunlight or by a window — definitely with UV protection. For works in galleries with proper lighting — a standard finishing formulation is sufficient. The BrushesPaints catalog features professional varnishes from leading manufacturers in jars from 250 ml to 1 L. Delivery throughout Russia by courier services, pickup in Moscow — workshop on Smolensky Boulevard.
