Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday weekend!
BBQ's, camping, and summer are on their way!!!
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Read our latest newsletter below that features an art tip from our Art Supply Manager, Patrick, a look at the next class coming up in our Art Lab, a unique feature film made with oil paintings, and Father's Day is just around the corner - we have some fantastic cards to help you celebrate!!!! |
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The Unvarnished Truth
by Patrick D
First of all, why use this varnish stuff anyway? Because paintings get dirty, exposed to the elements, and they can get scratched. Let's not forget fire season, cigarette smoke, and other airborne pollutants. Varnish can protect your labor of love from all of the above while giving it a nice even finish. What's more, any final varnish worth it's resin can be removed and replaced every 5 to 10 years with a nice, shiny new layer. It can also prevent your painting from becoming too dry.
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Varnishes generally come in high gloss, gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and matte. Some even offer UV protection. The oldest varnishes were made from natural tree resins dissolved in oil of turpentine. Dammar (aka Damar) varnish made it's debut in the 19th century. Dammar varnish, however, is high gloss and tends to yellow and crack over time. |
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The fragility of natural resins has led to the development of synthetic polymer varnishes (such as Gamvar) in the 20th century which offer a variety of finishes and use gentler, odorless solvents. These varnishes can be applied to either oil or acrylic.
When should you apply varnish?
Oil paintings must be completely dry, which can take anywhere from 6-12 months depending on the environment. As for acrylic, well, that is a matter of 24-48 hours. For acrylic it is best to apply an isolation coat first in order to create a buffer zone between the varnish and the paint. This is essential come removal time as the same solvents that remove the varnish can very easily remove the paint.
Before applying a final varnish, make sure you're working in a clean, well-ventilated space. Gently remove any dust/dirt with a damp, lint free cloth and allow to dry. For oil paintings, you can then use odorless mineral spirits to wipe away any buildup. Ideally, you would use a clean, specially made varnish brush to apply the varnish. Two thin coats should do the trick, and be sure to allow the varnish to dry between coats (in a few hours). Once again, make sure the paint is completely dry before you even get started.
During the seemingly endless wait as your painting dries (unless you're using acrylic, of course), you can apply what is referred to as retouch varnish. It can be applied thinly to an oil painting that is dry to the touch
(usually in a couple of weeks). It is often applied to "sunken" areas and offers protection to paintings that are not yet completely dry. Retouch varnish bonds permanently with the paint, and once dry it leaves a porous layer which will take more paint. Final varnish can be applied when the painting is fully dry
(again after at least six months).
Those be the bare bones, me hardies. As always, the rabbit hole goes deeper still. We at Frame of Mind love questions, conversations, and generally just droning on and geeking out about art supplies to anyone willing to listen. Happy painting!
-Patrick D.
P.S. - Did I mention the painting has to be completely dry first?
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Loving Vincent
Movie made with only oil paintings
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Loving Vincent is an experimental adult animated biographical drama film about the life of the painter Vincent van Gogh, and, in particular, about the circumstances of his death.
Released in 2017, Loving Vincent became the first film to be made entirely in oil paintings. It is the first fully painted animated feature film. The paintings were animated and dubbed over with voice actors, creating an experience never seen before in a movie. Vincent van Gogh might not be new territory to cover, and his death might be familiar territory in his lore, but this was a movie created with 65,000 paintings. Each of those paintings was made in the style van Gogh himself used. Perhaps that is the perfect way to create a tribute to a beloved artist: bringing other artists together to honor their life.
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First conceived as a seven-minute short film in 2008, Loving Vincent was realized by Dorota Kobiela, a painter herself, after studying the techniques and the artist's story through his letters.
Each of the film's 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, created using the same techniques as Van Gogh by a team of 125 artists drawn from around the globe. The film premiered at the 2017 Annecy International Animated Film Festival. It won Best Animated Feature Film Award at the 30th European Film Awards in Berlin and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards.
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Learn more about the paintings and the movie on the
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FANTASTICAL MARKER MAGIC WITH COURTNEY BLAZON
JUNE 22 @ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM MDT
Frame of Mind welcomes guest artist Courtney Blazon to host an in-depth dive into the world of art markers and pens.
Courtney Blazon is an artist and illustrator living and working in Missoula, MT. She is a graduate from Parsons School of Design, where she received her BFA in Illustration. She’s shown in Montana at the Missoula Art Museum, Holter Museum of Art and Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, and most recently, in Bozeman, MT at the Jessie Wilbur and Lobby Galleries. She is the co-organizer of the popular Montana MADE Fairs (under the umbrella of Handmade Montana), a series of art and craft fairs started in 2007. She is a past recipient of a Montana Arts Council Artists Innovation Award. Courtney Blazon draws intricate narratives layered with symbolism and meaning-in particular, issues surrounding women and the complexities of women’s lives throughout history.
This class will cover the use of Copic markers and give students hands on experience in this medium.
Bring in one of your favorite objects to draw and color!
Need supplies? Students get 10% off, or 15% off for celebrity impressions (including valiant attempts)!
10 seats available, $25 per student. Ages 12 and up.
Class fees are non-refundable.
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We will be closed
Monday May, 29th
We will resume regular business hours
Tuesday, May 30th
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Don't forget Frame of Mind when shopping for those Father's Day gifts and cards. |
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We have some items that will bring a smile to that special guys face and help you celebrate why your Dad is the best!!! |
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Thank you Missoula for your support of small local businesses like ours! |
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1706 Brooks Street
Missoula, MT 59801
406-549-8589
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