Recently, I’ve been on a quest for the perfect spray fixative and varnish for my scratchboard art. I had been using Lascaux’s Fixativ matte finish spray but I’m not sure if they changed the formula or what, but it’s been leaving a sort of “spotty” finish on the surface of my favourite support: Claybord Black.
I know most scratchboard artists use Ampersand’s Claybord Fixative spray, and I’ve heard that it’s an amazing product. But I can’t get it locally and the brokerage fees from shipping things across the ’49 are killing me! So I went back to the drawing board and pulled out my tech sheets on a few sprays, got out some scrap boards and started playing around with some varnishes I could get locally. And the winner is…
Golden’s MSA Spray Satin Varnish!! http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/msavar.php
and I think I’m in love (or maybe it’s just a high from the fumes?) at any rate, the varnish is exactly what I was looking for: archival, removeable for restoration purposes, with ultra-violet light protection, and a finish that’s not too matte but not at all glossy. I’m still going to use the Lascaux Fixativ underneath – as an isolation coat, but the final surface will be Golden.
Ahh, artists are so easily amused.
