Contemporary Artist Blog featuring the artist journey of Brittany Ellis

How to remove a varnish

9/22/2022

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to my new and improved blog where you will learn about the answers to essential art questions. You’re here today because although you know how to apply a varnish to your painting you aren't sure how to remove it. It’s funny how little things such as this are thought to be innate for an artist but in reality, it isn’t! We learn so much in school such as how to paint properly, how to write, and how to explore alternative areas of expertise. But rarely do schools teach us fundamentals such as how to varnish let alone remove one. I’m here to make removing your varnish easy!

What is a varnish
Before we discuss how to remove a varnish let's review what a varnish is. Varnish is a top coat layer that enhances the color of a painting while also serving as a protective layer for the painting. Paintings possess pocket holes similar to pores. When a varnish is applied it protects the surface creating a barrier coating that protects it from dirt, oils, UV rays, and yellowing. They’re two categories of varnishes (removable and permeant ) and various finishes (Gloss, matte, satin). However, the best varnish to use on your paintings is removable varnish for archival purposes in the future.

How to Remove a varnish.
Materials List: Gloves, respirator, mineral spirits, Liquitex soluvar varnish, Lint-free cloth, Plastic bucket or metal tray, plastic sheet the size of the rags.

To begin we will prep all of your materials with your gloves and respirator on before removing the varnish. Pour the mineral spirits, enough to fill the bottom of your bucket or tray. Before removing the varnish from the entire painting start with removing the varnish from a corner of the painting. Starting with a test will familiarize you with the process and test the effects of removing a varnish. If this is your first time removing a varnish start with testing an area of the painting before removing the varnish from the entire painting. Starting with the text begin start with your mineral spirit solvent.

Varnish Removal Test:

1.) After pouring the mineral spirits cut a square out of your lint cloth and soak the square in your tray or bucket.

2.) When the cloth is saturated wring out any excess solution from the cloth. Apply the square to one corner of the painting with the plastic sheet over the cloth to prevent the mineral spirits from evaporation.

3.)Smooth out the cloth removing bubbles allowing the entire cloth to touch the panting surface.

4.) After two minutes lift a corner of the rag to ensure the varnish liquified. If the varnish hasn’t leave the rag on for another two minutes.

5.) Using the cloth that is on the surface flip it over and proceed with folding it in half. Wipe the varnish off of the painting top to bottom once.

6.) Using a second cloth repeat steps 1-5 to another section of the painting.

7.) Repeat Steps 1-5 until the varnish is removed from the entire painting

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How to write an artist statement

9/12/2022

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What is an artist Statement:
Hi, Welcome to my blog!
If you clicked this post you are here because you need help with your artist statement. Writing an art statement can be hard at the beginning of your career when you aren’t sure what your artist statement should have. When I began to embark on my professional career I was where you were trying to navigate through millions of questions with vague answers to my questions. How many paintings should a collection possess? How do I become affiliated with a gallery? What is an artist statement? Do you need an art statement? The answer is Yes! Yes, you need an artist statement if you plan on being a fine artist or commercial artist. Whatever category of artistry you choose your artist statement will aid in connecting you with your audience and affiliate organizations.
Your artist statement will aid in connecting you with your audience and affiliate organizations. Connecting with your targeted audience who possess an interest in your artwork will increase sales and build your clientele list. Your artist statement will grasp the attention of an impactful audience through the explanation of your artwork's intent. For example, you might be a planetary painter which is evident when people see you’ve painted a planet. However, your audience might not be aware that you used recycled materials when you created your painting because they don’t know what you used when you made it. Providing this information in your artist statement or verbally through interaction during a show will interest people who are environmentalists. This knowledge would intrigue a larger pool of people who begin to trust in the product you're selling. Also, Consumers are more likely to purchase from you after you’ve made a connection to them. Think about it! How many times have you bought an item after being convicted to purchase it from a sales associate? Think about it! How many times have you bought an item after being convicted to purchase it from a sales associate? A person who capitalized on this principle is Cardi B.
Cardi B uses her personality to connect to her audience who in turn support her music career. She might not be the greatest rapper but because people are intrigued by her personality they’re more likely to support her career because they like her. Cardi B has connected to her audience who not only trust her but feel a kinship with her. Your artist statement can work for you like Cardi B’s career tactics by connecting you with your appropriate audience through the in-depth details you provide to your new audience.

How do you start your artist statement?
Now that we’ve discovered the possibilities of your artist statement you might be wondering well how do I start? Not to worry I’m here to aid you on your journey to writing the perfect artist statement. Although creating is a natural process for artists writing about your work can be daunting when it comes to organizing your thoughts. Artist statements help describe the vision behind your body of work to galleries, collections, and museums. When writing your artist statement consider introducing your collection, its intent, materials used, its benefit to the viewer, why you chose your approach, and what you hope the viewer will learn from your collection. When writing your statement be precise with what you are trying to explain to the reader. The best rule of thumb is to ask yourself what you would prefer to read when you reflect on someone else’s work. Everything doesn’t need to be included in your artist statement, mainly the essentials to get your point across. Ideally, a statement should be no more than one and a half paragraphs.
Let’s get started on that statement !
What are you as the artist trying to say or involve with your art? Some artists introduce emotion into their artist statements to help them connect to the viewer. While others tell a story or bring awareness to an important issue. Describing your vision in written form can be hard as an artist being visual however there are simple techniques to utilize to help you maneuver around an art block. begin your statement by asking what are you trying to say with your art. What materials do you use that connect to your artwork's message? Also, why are these materials important for your message? Who is the audience that your art is for? When and where were you inspired to make this body of work? Was there a moment in time that sparked your inspiration? Jot down the answers to these questions and set them aside.
Statement outline

Introduction ( Normally this would be a paragraph however make this one sentence)

Example: When I was a child I gazed upon the night sky filled with wonder about its untold stories of truth.

Body

Topic Sentence (A topic sentence is a statement sentence that explains the main idea of the point you will be making in your paragraph)

Example: My Art collection “glimmers in space” captures the wonders of space through its use of celestial narratives.

For Example (Give an example that will support your topic sentence. The best example will be to add the materials you used and how they support the message of your topic sentence)

Example: Acrylic, glitter, and holographic paper simulate the feeling of
being in space setting the tone of wonder when stars are viewed in adolescent youth.

This Shows ( The third sentence will explain your example sentence by explaining what your materials show. An easy way to discover your answer is to begin this sentence by asking This shows what? Your answer can be something as simple as a how your materials attribute the viewer through your artworks intent )

Example: Simple attributes such as reflecting on the stars brings happiness transporting the viewer to a time without the worries of the world.

This is Because (Your forth sentence will also be a supportive supportive sentence explaining your this shows sentence. In other words this sentence is asking why is your precious statement valid. Begin this sentence writing this is because)

Example: As a child the worries of the world are obscured under the safety of their parents.

As a result (your conclusion sentence will begin with as a result followed by a summarized epiphany of the paragraph) For instance all of my structured sentences were about space however each sentence revolved around one thing grasping the magic of wonder

Example: Wonder is an emotion to be valued most of all because the feeling of wonder fills your heart with so much joy that we begin to appreciate life for what it is. That feeling is the feeling “Glimmers in space” capture bringing a glimmer of hope through the chaos of the world.

Conclusion (Paragraph summary )

My Art collection “glimmers in space” captures the wonders of space through its use of celestial narratives. Acrylic, glitter, and holographic paper simulate the feeling of being in space setting the tone of wonder when stars are viewed in adolescent youth. Simple attributes such as reflecting on the stars brings happiness transporting the viewer to a time without the worries of the world. As a child, the worries of the world are obscured under the safety of their parents. Wonder is an emotion to be valued most of all because the feeling of wonder fills your heart with so much joy that we begin to appreciate life for what it is. That feeling is the feeling “Glimmers in space” capture bringing a glimmer of hope through the chaos of the world.

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How to remove a varnish

How to write an artist statement

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How to remove a varnish

How to write an artist statement

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