- 1). It is important that your oil painting is dried and cured before you apply varnish. Once you are sure the original painting has cured, clean the painting by lightly wiping it down with water and paper towels. Then check the painting to make sure there are no bits of paper towel stuck to the peaks or points of the paint.
- 2). Now that you’re ready to varnish, prepare your work area. Because varnish is a toxic material with fumes that can disable, set yourself up in a well-ventilated space where you can cover anything you do not want varnished.
- 3). It is necessary to blend many types of varnish with turpentine, or to warm the varnish to a temperature that allows for easy application. Prepare the varnish properly so that the final result is what you wanted
- 4). Select a high-quality brush. You do not want to have to go back and pick brush bristles from you newly varnished painting. Using a quality brush that gives good coverage is important, because the varnish can dry quickly; if this happens before you are finished, it will result in a varnish effect that is unsightly. Work quickly and with a good brush, and applying varnish can be quite easy.
- 5). Use the brush to completely cover the painting, first with a stroke that goes in one direction; once a layer is finished, complete another layer at 90 degrees to the first coat. By using perpendicular brush strokes, you will ensure that an even layer of varnish covers your oil painting. Be sure that you allow yourself enough time to complete the process at one sitting. Varnish can be hard to work with after it has dried, and may not give the same depth to the oil painting if these procedures are not followed.The painting will remain tacky until it cures and dries completely. Let the painting lie flat until it cures.
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