Varnish Matt Gamvar 125 ml

Developed in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art,

Gamvar Matte reduces surface sheen while maintaining the deepest values in your painting.

Gamblin Gamvar is a pre‑mixed, synthetic resin picture varnish developed in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, designed for use on oil and acrylic paintings . It’s virtually odorless and water‑clear—unlike traditional damar or damar-based varnishes—and comes ready to use without mixing

🌟 Key Benefits

• Minimal odor – perfect for indoor studio use

• Dries quickly with thin coats – touch-dry in ~24 hours; fully dry to ship in ~2 days

• Protects & enhances color – deepens saturation, evens sheen, safeguards against dust, debris, and UV

• Removable – clean removal possible using Gamsol without harming original paint

Finish Options

• Gloss: High shine, full color “wet” look

• Satin: Subtle sheen (eggshell), halfway between gloss & matte

• Matte: Minimizes glare, ideal for dark or matte paintings

When to apply?
Apply Gamvar as soon as your painting is firm to the touch, even in the thickest areas—no need to wait 6 months as with damar varnish As one Redditor confirms:

“Yep, you can apply it as soon as everything is thoroughly touch dry, and it’s suitable as a final varnish…

How to apply

• Apply one very thin coat—Gamblin stresses avoiding pooling or thick layers

• For gloss: after tack-free, apply a second thin layer if desired

• Satin or matte: stick to one coat to prevent patchiness

• For textured or impasto works: wick away excess with a dry brush

• Touch-dry in about 24 hours

• Paint ready for shipping in ~2 days

• No need for long wait-overs like with damar—fast and efficient finishing

✅ Tips & Considerations

• Use a low-profile brush (preferably under ¼″ thick) for even coverage

• Matte and satin versions may require shaking to resuspend matting agents before use gamblincolors.com

• Can be safely cleaned or removed with Gamsol

• Avoid mixing Gamvar with other varnish types (e.g., damar) to prevent compatibility issues

🎨 What Artists Say

• Eric Santoli (review): “The first thing I noticed… it has almost no odor… water-like consistency… spreads nicely…

• Michael Chesley Johnson (matte review): “Just brush it on… matte version is a little more viscous… no need to wait six months…”

• Eva Christensen (blog): “…rich, saturated, unified appearance… a little Gamvar goes an extremely long way

In Summary

Gamblin Gamvar is an easy-to-use, pre-mixed varnish that enhances color depth, evens out surface sheen, protects your work, and is removable—all with minimal odor and fast drying times. Choose Gloss for a vivid shine, Satin for a gentle glow, or Matte to avoid glare on darker pieces. It’s considered final-varnish quality by many, despite being usable shortly after initial drying.