#24: Sealing the Story: Finding the Right Varnish for Each Painting

The final stretch is always a little bittersweet. I’ve been living with these paintings for weeks — sometimes months — moving them from sketches to something finished, something that feels like it’s finally saying what I wanted it to say. But as I get ready for the art show, there’s still one last decision to make: how to protect that final layer. And how to make sure it still breathes.

More Than Just a Finish

Varnish might seem like a technical choice — something practical, to protect the paint from dust and the years ahead. But for me, it’s more than that. It’s the final note. The last brushstroke, even if it’s invisible.

Some paintings call for a matte varnish, soft and gentle, that doesn’t compete with the quietness of the colour. Others want the drama of a gloss finish — something that catches the light and says, “Look closer.” And then there’s satin, that subtle in-between, when you’re not sure which world the painting belongs to.

It’s a small decision, but it changes everything.

How the Mood Shifts

I’ve been experimenting with different varnishes in the studio, watching how they pull different stories out of the same painting. A gloss varnish can make the darks feel deeper, the colours richer. It can turn a quiet piece into something that sings in the light. But sometimes, it’s too much. Sometimes the painting doesn’t want to shout. It wants to whisper. It wants to stay soft.

And that’s where I find myself pausing. Listening. Asking: what mood do I want this piece to carry? What feeling does it need to leave with the person who stands in front of it?

The Ritual of Finishing

There’s a ritual to varnishing that feels almost sacred. I clear the space. I lay the painting flat. I make sure the light is right so I can see every inch of the surface. And then — slowly, carefully — I brush on that final layer. It’s a moment of care, of respect. A way of saying to the work: you’re ready now.

It’s also a moment of letting go. Once the varnish dries, the painting is sealed. It’s no longer changing, no longer mine to tweak or rethink. It’s ready for the world — to be seen, to be felt, to be whatever it needs to be for someone else.

The Balance of Protection and Presence

What I love about this final step is that it’s a balance — just like every part of the process. The varnish protects, but it also enhances. It’s about keeping the painting safe, but also about giving it a kind of dignity. A sense of being complete.

It’s easy to forget that the final finish matters as much as the first mark. But when I see the painting under the light, sealed and ready, I remember why I take this last step so seriously. It’s the difference between a piece that’s just “done” and a piece that feels whole.

Closing the Chapter

As I varnish, I can feel the shift in myself, too. There’s relief, of course — the knowledge that the hard work is behind me, and that soon these paintings will be out in the world on their own. But there’s also a quiet pride. Because each painting, in its final form, holds a part of me. And the varnish — that last invisible layer — is a promise to keep that part safe.

For anyone coming to the art show, I hope you see that care. The subtle decisions, the small acts of trust. And maybe, just maybe, a glimpse of the story that the varnish helped to seal.

.M.

Be real.

Make art.

If you’d like to learn more about my creative process or see my latest work, feel free to reach out or check out the rest of my website.