Watercolors, but no glass?

It might be surprising to see watercolors presented without glass. Glass, or plexiglass, is typically used to protect the water-soluble paint and the paper from moisture, dirt, and damage.

However, the watercolors featured in this page’s image gallery are “varnished watercolors.” They are painted using traditional watercolor paints on fine cotton papers, but the paper has been archivally mounted to a gessoed hardboard panel or ACM panel. The photo at right shows a closer view of the edge of one of the watercolors, so you can see the edge of the watercolor paper against the panel.

The completed watercolor then is sealed using multiple coats of an archival UV gloss spray varnish, followed by one or more coats of cold wax medium, which has been allowed to dry and then buffed to a satin finish.

The resulting artwork, which still is a watercolor painted using traditional paints and methods, is now protected from water droplets and dirt, so it does not require protection under glass or plexiglass. The presentation is similar to how an oil or acrylic painting on a hardboard panel might look, with no glass (and no glare) separating the viewer from the work of art.

However, just as it’s best to not regularly rub your fingers over an oil or acrylic painting, it’s advised to handle a varnished watercolor gently and avoid touching the surface.

Here are some examples of varnished watercolors:

If you are interested in purchasing any of these paintings, contact me.