#29: Wrapped, Ready, and Real: Varnishing and Preparing for Holmfirth Artweek
This past week in the studio has been all about finishing touches — but not just the practical kind. Before the paintings are wrapped, labelled, and packed up for Holmfirth Artweek, they need their final layer of paint. And in my process, that layer is varnish.
Varnishing a painting might sound like a simple, protective gesture — but to me, it’s one of the most decisive and expressive parts of finishing a piece. It’s a commitment. A final breath before letting it go.
Varnish as Voice
Each painting has its own atmosphere, its own weight. And lately, I’ve been experimenting with how that final varnish layer can enhance or shift that feeling. Some pieces want to stay soft and almost ghost-like under a matt finish. Others benefit from a bold gloss — colours deepen, light catches in the surface, and everything feels just that bit more alive.
I’ve started using these finishes not just to seal the work, but to speak on its behalf. To amplify or soften its tone. In some cases, I’ve even combined them — playing with matt and gloss side by side — to create contrast and energy that feels truer to what the painting is trying to say.
It’s subtle, but it matters. And it’s something you’ll be able to spot if you see the pieces in person at Holmfirth Artweek, or on my social media in the lead-up to the event.
The Shift From Studio to Showing
Once that final varnish is on, everything changes. The work is no longer in flux — it’s ready to be seen. There’s something deeply satisfying about reaching that point. A quiet kind of “done.”
But there’s also a shift in energy. Once the pieces are sealed, it’s time to start packing. And while wrapping paintings in bubble wrap and cardboard corners isn’t exactly glamorous, it’s part of the rhythm. A transition from the internal world of making to the public world of sharing.
Trusting the Work to Travel
No matter how many times I do it, wrapping up paintings always carries a bit of tension. There’s the hope that they’ll arrive safely, of course. But also the feeling that I’m sending something deeply personal out into the world without being able to explain it.
That’s where the varnish becomes symbolic again. It’s the last moment of care — the final choice, the protective gesture, and the visual punctuation that tells the work it’s ready. After that, it’s about trust. In the process. In the people who will see the work. In the journey it will take.
Looking Ahead to Holmfirth Artweek
Holmfirth Artweek has a special atmosphere — welcoming, curious, buzzing with creativity. I’m genuinely excited (and a little nervous) to have my paintings hanging there again. They’ll be surrounded by so many other voices and visions, and I love that. I love the chance for someone to stop in front of a piece and see something in it I didn’t expect.
If you’re able to visit in person, you’ll see all the texture, the colour, and yes — the finish. You’ll spot those subtle shifts in varnish, the moments where gloss catches the light or matt lets the pigment speak for itself. And if you can’t be there, I’ll be sharing details across social media as the week approaches.
The Final Layer Is More Than Paint
In the end, varnishing is more than a technical step. It’s a final conversation with the work. A way of saying: this is what you are now. This is how you’ll meet the world.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. And as each painting gets its final layer, I’m reminded why I do this — not just for the making, but for the moment the work stands on its own.
.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.