How Do You Clean Varnish From Canvas Paintings?
Art restoration experts Cher Goodson and James Hamm offer a good deal of cautionary advice on varnish removal. Hamm advises against removing varnish on “young” paintings—those that are less than a century old. The paint on a work that is only 15 years old, he explains, may not be hard enough to resist varnish solvent, and there is a danger that the paint may be inadvertently removed during the process. Professional conservators may sometimes use close to a hundred different solvents to remove paint, but the expense involved in professional restoration may not be within your scope or budget. Removing the varnish yourself will save you money, as long as you don’t damage the painting in the process. Choose a varnish remover or solvent that will work best for the type of painting you are working with. Visit an art or hobby store with a wide selection of materials. Considerations such as the age of the painting and the type of varnish on the work will affect the type of solvent you select
