Used as a protective topcoat for sealing and finishing a variety of media from oil paintings to collage, Dorland’s Wax is especially popular as a varnish for watercolor and gouache paintings. It provides a durable waterproof finish, protecting the artwork from moisture, smudging, dust, and fingerprints, while adding depth to color and allowing for glassless framing and display. Applied with a fine cloth or gloved hand, it is easy to use, and the finish is malleable: leave it matte, or buff with a rag after drying for a uniform satin gloss.
Mix Dorland’s Wax with oil paints or powdered pigments such as Pearl Ex to create heavy-bodied, super matte, and fast-drying colors for “cold wax painting,” unique textures, impasto effects, and for layering and palette knife techniques. By varying the ratio of medium to colorant, you can easily control the transparency or opacity of the color. Add mineral spirits or solvent to thin the viscosity or adjust the dry time.
Dorland’s Wax also provides a beautiful finish on wooden objects, such as jewelry or furniture, as well as on metal, polymer clay, ceramics, drawings, photographs and more. Add a small amount of pigment, dye, oil color, or alcohol ink to tint the medium, or apply it straight for a classy, wax finished look.