Winsor & Newton - Dammar Varnish
Dammar Varnish
Protect finished oil paintings with a traditional high-gloss finish
Dammar resin dissolved in turpentine creates a traditional varnish that oil painters have relied on for centuries. This natural solution dries within hours rather than days, letting you protect finished work quickly or build luminous glazing layers without long waits between sessions. The high-gloss finish intensifies colors and adds depth to darker passages, though the pale yellow tint gradually deepens over time, a characteristic of natural resin varnishes that becomes part of the painting's patina.
Beyond final varnishing, dammar works as a painting medium when mixed with linseed oil and turpentine, increasing flow and transparency for traditional glazing techniques. Conservators and printmakers use it to protect maps, drawings, and prints, though its tendency to darken makes it less suitable for work requiring long-term color stability. The quick-drying nature proves valuable when you need protection fast, but this same speed demands confident application, brush marks show if you rework areas.
Available in 75ml, 250ml, and 500ml bottles. Store carefully; this is a flammable solvent-based varnish requiring proper ventilation during use. Best applied in thin, even coats with a soft brush.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
- Dries quickly to high gloss finish
- Works on oil and alkyd paintings
- Suitable for prints, maps, and drawings
- Available in 75 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml
- Pale yellow, flammable formula
- Tends to darken with age
