To preserve my paintings, I seal them with some form of varnish. When using a brushed varnish, acrylic paints require applying an isolation coat. An
isolation coat acts like a buffer between the paint and the varnish, so that if the varnish ever has to be removed or fixed, the paint underneath will be safe from harm. Pretty simple, right? You paint on the isolation coat. Let it dry. And finish it up with brushing on a coat of varnish. But it doesn’t feel simple.
The isolation coat first appears milky. No matter how many times I have applied it, I always feel a moment of panic. What have I done? My painting that I spent weeks on is cloudy. I breathe… tell myself of course it will dry clear. And then the true moment of truth sets in… there is no going back. There is no more fixing. No more nit picking the colors or shapes or brushstrokes. Whatever I present to the world is now permanent. It is a moment when I have to learn to let go of control. I have to accept that in this moment, this is my best self.
We all have these moments of truth. When we need to reach down inside and be happy with the choices we’ve made. When we need to stop questioning ourselves and be proud of what we’ve accomplished. These moments show us how to move forward and learn from what we’ve left behind.
There will always be critics, worry, and doubt. In this moment of truth, we can choose to appreciate the clear picture that emerges while we walk away.
Thanks,
Marla Bender