How to Protect Your Artwork with Gloss Varnish

Ever heard of Gloss Varnish ? Last week at the Nairobi Art Fair, I met Grace, a talented artist from Kibera whose story broke my heart. Her beautiful painting—the one that took three months to complete—had gotten dull and dusty after just half a year. The vibrant blues she’d mixed so carefully looked faded. The details she’d spent hours perfecting were obscured by a film of dust she couldn’t remove without damaging the paint.

“I thought it would last forever,” she told me, close to tears. “Now it looks like it’s ten years old.”

Grace’s story isn’t unique. Across Nairobi, artists watch their hard work deteriorate because they don’t know about one crucial final step: varnishing. Within two days of learning about the right products and techniques, Grace’s painting was protected and shining like new. This guide will show you how to do the same.

Why Gloss Varnish Is Non-Negotiable in Nairobi

Think of gloss varnish as a clear protective shield for your artwork—just like a phone screen protector, but for paintings.

In Nairobi, our artwork faces unique and serious challenges. Dust from construction sites and matatus settles on everything during the dry season. Our strong equatorial sun—the same one that fades curtains and car paint—works overtime on unprotected paintings. Then there’s the humidity shifts during the rainy season that can cause paint to crack or develop mold.

Without protection, your painting starts looking tired within months. But quality gloss varnish does three essential things:

Protected from dust and dirt – Nairobi’s dust settles into the tiny valleys and texture of unprotected paint, becoming impossible to clean without damaging your work. Varnish creates a smooth, sealed surface you can gently wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Blocks harmful UV rays – Our equatorial sun sits almost directly overhead, delivering intense UV radiation year-round. Quality Gloss Varnish contains UV inhibitors that act like sunscreen for your painting, keeping colors vibrant for years instead of months.

Creates professional finish – That glossy gallery look makes colors appear deeper and more saturated, giving your work that “wow” factor that stops people in their tracks. It’s the difference between a student painting and a professional piece.

When to Apply Gloss Varnish: Timing Is Everything

The most common mistake artists make is varnishing too early. Rushing this step can ruin months of work.

For oil paintings: Wait 6-12 months before varnishing. I know it feels impossibly long, but oil paint cures from the outside in, and the inside needs time to fully harden. Varnish too early and you’ll trap solvents that cause cracking, yellowing, and permanent cloudiness.

For acrylic paintings: Much faster! Once your painting is completely dry to touch—typically 2-3 days after finishing—you can varnish it. This quick turnaround is why most Nairobi artists prefer acrylics. You can finish a painting on Monday and have it protected and ready to deliver by Friday.

Quick test: Press your palm gently on a hidden corner of your painting. If it feels cool, tacky, or leaves any residue on your hand, wait a few more days.

How to Apply Gloss Varnish Without Mistakes

Grace’s biggest fear when I explained varnishing was ruining her painting with the final step. “What if I mess it up after all that work?” she asked. Here’s how to do it right the first time.

Getting Ready

Work indoors in a clean space, ideally early morning when there’s less dust in the air. Lay your painting completely flat on a table—never vertical or angled, or gravity will create drips and runs.

Gently wipe your painting with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove invisible dust particles that would get permanently trapped under the varnish layer.

Application Methods

Spray method (easiest for beginners): Hold the spray can about 30cm away—roughly the length from your elbow to fingertips. Spray in smooth, sweeping motions, slightly overlapping each pass. Always apply 2-3 thin coats rather than one heavy coat. Wait 24 hours between coats for acrylic varnish, following the specific timing on your product label.

Brush method (more control for larger works): Pour varnish into a small clean container—never dip directly into the bottle, as this introduces dust and contaminants. Use a wide, soft varnish brush and paint long, smooth strokes from top to bottom. The golden rule: once you’ve brushed an area, don’t go back over it. Reworking causes brush marks and cloudiness.

Critical Tips for Perfect Results

• Use thin coats—two thin always beats one thick
• Work in good natural light so you can see wet vs. dry areas
• Keep your painting flat for at least 6 hours after varnishing
• Cover loosely with a clean cloth while drying to protect from dust
• Don’t varnish during rainy season humidity spikes if possible

Troubleshooting Common Problems when Dealing with Gloss Varnish

Cloudy or milky finish: You varnished before the paint was fully dry or worked during high humidity. Unfortunately, you’ll need to wait several months, then apply another coat during drier weather.

Brush marks visible: Your coat was too thick or you reworked drying areas. The fix is to apply another thin coat carefully, which will help even out the surface.

Uneven shine (some areas glossy, some dull): You didn’t apply varnish consistently. Add another complete coat, making sure to cover every inch of the painting equally.

Dust particles trapped in varnish: Your workspace wasn’t clean enough. You can carefully sand with very fine sandpaper (2000 grit) once fully dry, then apply a fresh coat in a cleaner environment.

Understanding Your Gloss Varnish Options

Not all varnishes are created equal, and choosing the wrong type can cause problems down the road.

For acrylic paintings: Look for acrylic polymer varnishes that are lightfast, waterproof when dry, and won’t yellow over time. These typically come in 35ml to 300ml bottles. Smaller bottles (35-120ml) work well for pieces under 60x60cm, while larger bottles are better value if you paint regularly.

For oil paintings: You need dammar or synthetic resin varnishes specifically formulated for oils. These are typically available in 100ml bottles and are applied much more sparingly than acrylic varnish. Never use acrylic varnish on oil paintings—the chemistry doesn’t work.

For clay and mixed media: Specialized clay varnishes work on polymer clay, air-dry clay, and craft projects where you need an extremely hard, waterproof finish. These come in 60-120ml bottles.

Your Next Steps: Protecting Your Investment

You’ve spent hours—maybe dozens of hours—creating something special. Whether you painted it in your studio in South C, your spare room in Umoja, or during weekend art classes in Karen, that painting represents your time, talent, and creative vision.

Protecting it takes just one afternoon and ensures your artwork stays stunning for years, not just months.

Where to Get Quality Gloss Varnish in Nairobi

Sayari Crafters stocks everything you need to protect your paintings professionally:

For Acrylic Paintings:

• KeepSmiling Acrylic Varnish Gloss: 35ml (Ksh 150), 120ml (Ksh 300) – lightfast, waterproof, crystal-clear finish
• Signature Acrylic Gloss Varnish 300ml (Ksh 800) – professional quality for frequent painters

For Oil Paintings:

• Marie’s 100ml Gloss Picture Varnish (Ksh 500) – dammar-based, enhances color depth
• Marie’s Oil Gloss Varnish (Ksh 850) – premium protection for serious oil painters

For Clay & Craft Projects:

• Gloss Clay Varnish Signature: 60ml (Ksh 300), 120ml (Ksh 500) – hard, waterproof finish

With your Gloss Varnish you as an artist are ready to step into your light and even present your art work at the GODOWN Art Center during Art Exhibitions

Why Choose Sayari Crafters:

• Wide selection from budget-friendly to professional-grade
• Trusted brands like Marie’s, KeepSmiling, and Signature
• Expert advice from a team that understands Nairobi artists
• Free delivery in Nairobi for orders over Ksh 8,000
• Best value in Nairobi without compromising quality

Contact Sayari Crafters:
Call: 0726 493 597 / 0705 915 877
Website: www.sayaricrafts.co.ke
Location: Nairobi

Don’t let your masterpiece become another victim of Nairobi’s dust and sun. Grace’s painting went from looking damaged to gallery-ready in one afternoon. Yours can too. Get the Gloss Varnish Today