Dear Creative Friend,

Have you ever looked down at a canvas, with a varnish brush or spray can in hand, wondering if you’re about to ruin your beautiful painting?

I know I have.

In fact...

I still remember the first time I varnished a painting that I sold to a client…

I had knots in my stomach as I dipped my brush in the varnish.

I didn’t know if I was using the right varnish or if I was applying it the right way. And I had a head full of questions like…

• Am I ruining the artwork I’ve poured my heart and soul into?
• Am I going to disappoint the client?
• What happens if something goes wrong?

I was not feeling confident about this varnishing step, to say the least. 

But, I followed the instructions on the label… I did everything I saw people on YouTube do… and… 
After wrestling with the varnish and brush for over an hour, I finally had it done.

(Or so I thought.)

Relieved, I went to bed. But when I came back to check on my painting the next morning… to my horror…

There Were Brush Marks And Streaks All Over It.

I was gutted.

“How can I call myself an artist if I can’t even get the varnish right?” I thought to myself.

Even worse, I had just ruined a perfectly good painting (the first of many).

Needless to say, I couldn’t sell that painting — not with visible brush marks in the finish, that would have been too embarrassing.

So, with great regret, I contacted the buyer and gave her the bad news.

(in photo: one of my early paintings
made in 2018 that was never sold
due to an epic varnish fail)

She was disappointed. But not as much as I was.

You see…

I Really Wanted To Sell My Art To Feel More Accomplished As An Artist

The idea of having my painting brighten somebody's home made me feel so excited and validated.

I also wanted to enter some of the local art fairs and get in touch with the local art community and potential collectors.

And, of course, I was eager to display my paintings in my home for my own pleasure… and… (If I’m being completely honest) to impress any friends or visitors who would see my art and know that a true artist lives here. 

But How Could I Do All That If I Couldn’t Get The Varnishing Step Right?

The next few months were filled with a love/hate relationship with my art.

On the one hand, my art skills grew significantly, and my paintings kept turning out better and better… with more requests from eager art buyers who noticed me on social media and wanted to add my art to their collections.

But the varnishing part remained a mystery, filled with stressful and disappointing results. 

And try as I might, I STILL couldn't get my finish right, especially on larger canvases.

I tried everything — brushes, rollers, sponges, pouring varnishes.

Every method brought new problems.

Roller marks, bubbles, pooling, tackiness.

Sprays weren’t an option either — fumes made indoor use impossible, and outdoor spraying was limited by the cold winters where I live.

So after many attempts, so many products, and countless ruined paintings…

I Gave Up On Varnishing. 

Yes, I actually gave up.

I just couldn’t do it anymore.

And I switched to epoxy resin as a final coat instead (for over 2 years).

There was a steep learning curve — but with the right technique, I was eventually able to get perfect results. 

Only problem was…

Many Of My Potential Clients Didn’t Want A Resin Finish On The Art They Buy 

That's because resin has a very shiny, almost glass-like surface. As beautiful as I found it, some art buyers didn’t like it.

Not only that, but the thick resin surface flattens out any raised effects and textured embellishments, reducing the overall look and appeal of the art if you work with texture.

As I started to combine many raised effects and embellishments with my fluid art, the resin did not work with my new painting style anymore. 

YouTube was no help.

It's full of contradictory, misleading, or incorrect advice. (For example, finishes recommended are not archival, don’t offer flexibility needed for canvases, or the techniques of application are wrong.)

To make things worse, most YouTube tutorials only cover basic varnish application techniques and products or show one specific method without explaining why it works and what to do if something goes wrong.

There’s no book or course I could find that walks you through all the steps to apply varnish masterfully.

It took me over a year of trial and error – and hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars of testing varnish brands, brushes, sprays, sheens, and techniques – to figure it out.

I finally got it.

And now, after 3 years of turning out one gallery-ready varnished artwork after another…

Plus hundreds of requests from artists who want to know how to master this final step…

I decided to finally put everything I learned into a brand new course!

(in photo: painting created and successfully varnished in 2022
- finally, no more varnish disasters!)

My students who went through the course already are raving about it:

It combines a subtle matte varnish for the negative space with a vibrant glossy finish on the main elements of the painting - bringing out depth and dimension for a high-end, gallery-worthy look.

Before trying this technique you must master the other varnishing techniques taught in Varnish Mastery.

I’m not going to give too much away here because you really do need a course with tutorials to explain and demonstrate the “Dual Varnish” method to you.

But I will say this:

My collectors and clients absolutely LOVE it.

But First, A Warning: 

I don’t want you to take my course on Varnishing unless you are truly ready to take this important step in your journey as an artist.

You see, unless you want to get a perfect finish on all of your paintings and hang them on a wall or present them at the the art fair, or sell your art to collectors or art buyers, there really is no need to varnish your art – especially if you just “dabbling” and are not truly serious about your art.

But, if you have a finished artwork sitting in your studio right now that you want to protect, preserve, and dramatically enhance the appearance of…

Or you are serious about your art, but frustrated by how difficult this final varnishing step is, and you want to create gallery-grade paintings that are enjoyed long after you're gone…

Then this course will show you how to do it in the easiest way possible…

In fact, with the right supplies, you can start applying the secrets in Varnish Mastery to your own artwork as soon as tonight.

So, without further ado, here are some of the vital secrets you’ll discover in the course:

Varnishing starts long before you actually apply the first coat of varnish.

Therefore in the first module, you’ll also discover…

• How to prep your canvas BEFORE varnish
• The right and wrong way to apply an isolation coat to your painting before applying varnish if you need it
• 3 scenarios when you MUST use an isolation coat (and when it's not necessary)

• The right temperature and humidity for applying varnish

And while we’re on the topic of temperature, did you know some varnishes should not be used above or below certain temperatures?

It’s true.

Same goes for the temperature of your canvas.

That’s why I share the type of varnish… and the right temperature for your canvas (and art room) so you can avoid problems like getting sticky wet varnish that doesn’t cure properly…

There are 3 factors to consider.

Get even 1 wrong, and your varnish will stay tacky long after it dries.

Plus, how long should you wait before applying a second coat of varnish?

Actually, the length of time between varnish coats depends on the brand and “family” of varnish you use, and the method you use to apply the varnish.

I give you guidance on all of this to make sure you get beautiful, uniform sheen when applying a second layer.

And that’s not all you need to know about your workspace.

You also need to know:

• How to set up your workspace to stop your varnish from cracking due to accelerated drying
• The materials I put on my table before I lay down a canvas to protect my tabletop
• What to do if you have pets, to keep hair from floating onto your painting during the varnishing stage
• A little “trick” I do to almost all of my paintings before applying varnish to enhance my artwork
• The correct lighting setup to make sure you can see the varnish clearly and get proper coverage

Speaking of lighting, there’s nothing worse than hanging a varnished painting only to discover you missed a section because you couldn’t see it properly while applying the varnish.

That’s why using the correct lighting while varnishing your art is so important.

And it’s why I show you…

There's even a whole section on safety when working with varnish. Including eye protection, breathing respirators, and more.

Plus…

The best part about this varnish is…

It’s almost impossible to get brush marks or make a mistake if you follow my instructions.

Even better: You don’t need to be as careful with this varnish as with all other varnishes on the market.

But only if you use the exact brand I show you (it’s available in many countries all over the world and online).

I tested over 50 varnish brands to finally find this one.

And I’m so glad I found it because it has made a huge difference for me.

And speaking of testing products… you’ll also discover:

• Which varnish to use when my personal favorite isn’t available or isn’t a good fit for a particular piece of art
• How to choose from the hundreds of different varnishes to get the exact right varnish for your paintings, regardless of what pouring or painting techniques you use.
• Which varnishes can be used on acrylic art and which ones can’t? (Some popular budget-friendly varnishes have been recommended to artists for use with acrylic pour paintings.
  But they are not formulated for acrylic paint, and might ruin your artwork if you use them.)
• A breakdown of the strengths and limitations of many different varnish types so you can make an informed decision about which varnish will suit your artistic style, budget, and art goals.
• Which varnish brands cannot be used together (and which ones can)
• And much more

(in photo: me and a painting covered with my most favorite varnish and brush-on technique)

You need to know these secrets if you use brush-on varnish.

For example:

• The exact brand of brushes I use for brushing on varnish. It’s expensive, but it’s worth every penny, and after using it for 3 years, it still feels like new
• The type of brush to get if you're on a tight budget. But I must warn you, the type of brush you use has a direct impact on the quality of your varnish finish. And the problem with cheap brushes (and believe me, I’ve tried them all) is the bristles “shed” and there’s a risk that one of the rogue bristles will get stuck in your art
• The correct saturation of varnish on your brush
• How quickly you need to complete varnishing your art from start to finish. (This depends on the size of your art and how many artworks, but I’ll give you my rule of thumb.)
• My “scrubbing” and "feathering” techniques for perfect coverage

• The tools I use when applying varnish to get the perfect professional finish
• What to do if you miss a spot on your canvas during your varnish
• What to do if varnish “pools” while it’s still wet in an area of your painting, especially around textured areas
• Why your varnish cracks or repels when used on paintings that use silicone oil and how to fix it fast 
• How much varnish to use… and how to avoid using too much (too much can be a disaster)

I also reveal:

• How to easily varnish even a large painting
• The best products for cleaning your brushes after you use them
• How long to wait after the varnishing
• And much more

For example: Let’s say you used a gloss finish, but when you hang your painting, it looks too “shiny,” and you want to tone it down with a satin or matte finish.

Or you used matte, but your colors look flat or dull… and you want to bring back the vibrancy of your colors or make your metallic colors “pop”.

You’ll see the right and wrong varnish brands to use when changing the sheen.

And the right and wrong methods to apply different sheens inside Varnish Mastery. 

The problem with sponge brushes is they don’t last long – usually good for four paintings – and to me, it’s worth investing in a quality brush – especially when a good quality brush can last several years when you clean it the way I show you in the course.

However, I’m not against using sponge brushes, and I show you how to use them to get the best results, including:

• The right amount of varnish to apply to a sponge brush
• How to use a sponge brush to remove excess varnish to avoid damaging your artwork
• The best techniques for applying varnish with a sponge brush
• How to clean and store sponge brushes to increase the number of times you can use them
• And much more

Check out the transformation of this painting after I varnished it using the foam brush:

I get a LOT of questions about using spray varnish. And I answer everything you need to know in the course.

For example, there are dozens of spray varnish brands. And the quality and performance varies dramatically.

But after testing dozens of spray-on varnishes, I can now share with you my favorite spray-ons that work incredibly effectively.

In fact, inside Varnish Mastery you’ll discover:

• How to avoid spray lines or a milky, cloudy finish when using spray varnishes
• Which spray-on varnish to use if you can’t stand the smell of varnish… 
• The exact spray on varnishes to use if you want your painting to look as good in 40 years as it does the day you varnish it
• My personal “black-list” of spray varnish brands to avoid at all costs – even though I see them being actively promoted on YouTube
• Safety precautions when working with spray varnish
• How to set up a temporary “spray booth” when working with spray varnish to avoid spray lines and other unwanted effects – complete with the right ventilation, protection from wind and dust, and perfect for working with any size canvas
• Things to consider when using your garage as a spraying area

(in photo: example of a painting varnished using
spray-on technique that I teach in this course)

• How to avoid getting drips of varnish on your art when using spray? (Drips are virtually impossible to remove, so it’s critical you take every precaution to prevent them – one small mistake here and tears are bound to follow.)
• And (you guessed it) much more

Including where to store your painting while the spray varnish dries… how soon can you hang your painting after applying spray varnish… and how long before you can pack and ship your art.

There’s more.

But this page is already quite long.

And although I could go on for another 20 minutes about everything you’ll discover in the course… and how much relief and satisfaction you'll feel now that you can finally apply your varnish with confidence…

What you’ve just read is a fairly detailed description of what you’ll discover inside this comprehensive course.

And I think you’ll agree, this is…

And the best part is:

• The course is designed for ALL Levels – whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your technique, this course will help you achieve flawless results every single time.
• It includes troubleshooting & pro tips – to make sure you avoid and fix common problems like brush marks, sticky finish, cloudiness, cracking, uneven sheen, and more.
• You get step-by-step guidance – on everything from preparing your workspace to choosing the right varnish for your artwork – I’ll walk you through every step.
• And it comes with lifetime access to all course materials and future updates - so you can work at your own pace and rewatch the lessons as many times as you need!
• Plus you get step-by-step instructions to achieve my now famous “Dual Varnish” technique:

I wish I’d had this course when I started using varnish...

Students who have benefited from my other courses will attest that I leave no stone unturned when I create a tutorial-based video training like this.

That’s because I present each lesson in a simple, straightforward and detailed way so you “get it” instantly (or after watching just one or two times).

(in photo: example of a painting with "Dual Varnish" effect)

And, I not only answer your questions in detail, I demonstrate the answers with tutorials using my own artwork. You literally see me varnishing some of my most recent paintings. After all, there is no better way to learn than to…

See Every Technique Demonstrated First Hand,
As If You Were In My Studio, 
Looking Over My Shoulder

That’s the experience you get when you watch my new course on “Varnish Mastery.”

And for that reason, I could easily justify charging $500.00 or more for this course.

After all, the trip to my studio to see all these techniques and insider information in person has to be worth at least $500.00, right?

However, I’m not done yet because…

Enroll in Varnish Mastery today and
get instant access to these 3 valuable bonuses: