Revnate, when I first started out I used a spray finish on my pieces. I didn't like how I couldn't control the amount going on, too dull one place, too shiny the next and one time, when the humidity was high.....it even turned to a white powder....that was a mess!!
I now use only brush on varnish, the one I use is by Ceramcoat, in matte, which give a nice low gloss sheen. It's sold in little bottles right with the Ceramcoat paints. Just paint a couple coats on. Be sure to paint in nice even, one way strokes, if not you'll end up with air bubbles.
A tip, if you're doing antiquing on your pieces, coat the white or lighter color parts (like faces and hands), with this varnish first. It will prevent the antiquing from taking too dark. It's no fun having to totally repaint faces, hands and other light places when that happens, been there, done that!! Good luck!

Deborah
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