Best Varnish For Oils

I've heard that it takes months for oil paints to fully cure and that one should wait at least six months before varnishing. With that said, I don't varnish at all. I'm too impatient.

Sharon...
You may not be getting an answer to your questions on this thread... and your other thread... because you are not specifying how you painted the painting...
i.e. is it in thick impasto?...what mediums are you using? Do you understand how to use mediums when painting in oils?

There are different drying mediums one can add to oil paints in order to speed up their drying time...are you using any?

You are also not saying whether you want to spray the varnish or brush it on?

If you want to spray it on...try Winsor & Newton Professional Satin Varnish...it's not matte or very shinny...
though the new formula is not as satin as their old formula.

as far as matte vs. shinny (glossy)...it's all a matter of preference. I prefer satin.
hope that helps ;)

Gamvar, made by Gamblin is a varnish that can supposedly be used as a final varnish when the paint is dry to the touch.
I have some but haven't tried it yet. This would solve the drying time/varnishing problem for oils before selling them.
I'm thinking though with a thicker impasto painting I might wait longer anyway, they might manage to mush it up somehow.

I don't varnish . when dry to the touch I use "oiling out" with Winsor & Newton "Artist's Painting Medium". You put it on a clean soft cloth and wipe a thin coat over the painting. It brings out the colors and evens out the oil to get rid of any dry spots. When it dries I often do a second coat.

I have not used any mediums other than.. Mona Lisa odorless paint thinner... to thin the paint for fine details
My paint is not very thickly applied

Lawrence i am new to oils and self taught so have a LOT to learn ..I had thought to spray it on ,,is a varnish or any other finish needed or can it be left as is ?

Karen the oiling out sounds interesting ,,Yikes I sure have a lot to learn ..thanks for the advice everyone

There are some great video tutorials on You tube. If you go on youtube.com and enter "oiling out" in the search field you get lots of info. Lessons are available from some instructors for free.

Be aware of cost for varnishes--they have become very pricey in recent years!

My work is typically large and thickly painted with heavy impasto--I wait one year. Thinly painted work, completed under typical weather conditions, usually can be varnished in 6 months. I use Liquitex Soluvar varnish--mixture of matte, gloss and at least 20% paint thinner, preferring a thinner application, even if the work requires two coats. Thinner varnish also cuts back costs. I do not like damar varnish--no matter who makes it--tends to be to glassy, and seems to stay sticky if thinned. Soluvar by Liquitex gives me an even sheen, but the mixture of gloss and matter requires experimental trial and error.

I have to ask why is a varnish required ..does oils change so much overtime ?
Thanks Karen I will look appreciate every ones advice ....
this is the painting i just finished last week ,need to send it 700 miles to the north

Varnish is a protector. Since oil paintings are not usually displayed under glass like watercolor, gouache, or other works on paper, they can collect dust and grime from the air which, over time, will make them appear dark and dirty. Varnish can be removed and then reapplied. The paint underneath the varnish will still be fresh looking after the varnish is removed, but removing and reapplying varnish can be tricky business. It is important not to damage the painting underneath. From a collector's standpoint, varnish is a good idea because it will protect the painting from all the crud that floats around in the air. If I were spending a lot of money on an oil painting with an eye toward investment or toward preserving family history, I would definitely want it varnished. If I were buying a painting to decorate my kitchen, it might not matter.

This one looks like a wonderful family portrait that probably should be varnished.

Thank you Nancy appreciate your advice :)