Ahead of our demo with Gamblin Colors, we're sharing the answers to some frequently asked questions. This article is shared with us by the team at Gamblin.
Article mentions:
Gamblin Gamvar Matte | Gamblin Gamvar Gloss | Gamblin Cold Wax | Gamblin Colors
How to use Cold Wax for Varnishing
While Gamvar is the easiest way to make your painting look better™ Cold Wax is an alternative varnish that is versatile and growing increasingly popular for a variety of different types of artwork. In addition to exploring new ways to create art, there is joy in experimenting with new ways to finish and protect your painting. Cold Wax is an excellent option for those looking to try something new.
Cold Wax is primarily used for Cold Wax Painting as a medium for oil painting, or as a modifier to reduce the gloss of oil mediums. Cold Wax also works beautifully as a final finish for your completed work, creating a unified, soft, subtle and velvety appearance. Read-on for more inspiration and information on Cold Wax as varnish and techniques to support your artistic intention.
Why use wax?
Cold Wax as varnish is archival, non-yellowing, and helps unify an artwork surface, just like Gamvar. Cold Wax provides a more subdued appearance to artwork. This is helpful to eliminate unwanted gloss or high shine. This application softens edges and makes the work easier to view under strong light or for the purpose of photographing and documentation. Cold Wax varnish will dry to a matte or satin finish, depending on how you apply the wax.
What different types of art can I use Cold Wax varnish on?
Cold Wax varnish works beautifully on traditional oil paintings, alkyd oil paintings, water mixable oil paintings, acrylic paintings, and Cold Wax paintings. Cold Wax can also be used to finish encaustic and mixed media collages.
When a painting contains a high percentage of wax in mixture with oil color the layers may dissolve or be removed by a varnish like Gamvar. For these scenarios, Cold Wax varnish is our suggestion for a safer option that won’t harm the painting. Cold Wax as a varnish is also ideal for paintings that incorporate the use of oil bars, as oil bars can contain a high wax content.
Cold Wax can also be used as a varnish on Giclee prints.
It’s also a great choice for varnishing 3D artwork and sculptures, such as ceramic, plaster or wood. Unlike fluid varnishes, Cold Wax doesn’t drip, is easy to control with a cloth for application and can still conform to the physical contours of your work.
Can Cold Wax be used for varnishing or sealing watercolor? Gouache?
Watercolor and gouache artists have reported using this technique with good success. However, we want to emphasize a disclaimer that once Cold Wax is applied to watercolor or gouache, attempting removal of the varnish with Gamsol has shown paint smearing or removal of pigment. Consider the use of wax varnish on these mediums to be non-removable.
What makes Cold Wax varnish different from using Gamvar?
Cold Wax is a simple mixture of lightly bleached beeswax, Gamsol and a small amount of alkyd resin. As Gamsol evaporates out, the wax hardens to the density of a beeswax candle. Applied in a thin layer, Cold Wax provides a flat, matte finish to your artwork.
Cold Wax as varnish does not provide the same level of surface protection as Gamvar.
Please see our “Why Varnish” article that addresses the benefits of Gamvar.
The use of Cold Wax as a varnish will not saturate color depth in the same way as Gamvar. For maximum protection and color saturation in addition to the finish of Cold Wax, consider the use of both varnishes together. If this is your intention, apply a thin layer of Gamvar Gloss firstand allow this to dry for 24 hours before applying a thin layer of wax varnish over the Gamvar.
Cold Wax alone will provide a more muted, desaturated and flat appearance, similar to a soft pastel artwork without the same level of surface protection as you get with Gamvar.
