[Paul_Guraedy]

I am interested in antiquing a piece that I painted with watercolor. Any recommendations? Should I seal it with a finish to keep from lifting the watercolor?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I seal everything with either "Deft" or polyurathane

[Paul_Guraedy]

I should have been a little more clear about the "sealing" part. I use Krylon on the pieces that I have finished in watercolor. Since watercolor is "lifted" when liquid is used on it, I am wondering if I should seal prior to using antiquing on the carving. Or, is there an alternative that someone has come up with that is OK on watercolor?

[Irish]

Hi Paul,

Yes, you are correct that you need to seal the watercolor work before you do the antiquing. Plus, that sealer really needs to be a spray type sealer whether you use varnish or polyurethane. As you noted, because the watercolors are not permanent ... they are simply color pigment floated in a water based media ... any other 'wet' brushwork will move them. And that is why you go with spray instead of brush-on sealers.

When you apply the spray do so in very light coats and build your sealing layer up slowly ... lots of time to dry between coats. A heavy application of spray with the first coat can loosen the watercolors causing them to bleed out of their areas ... light, light, light layers.

I expect that you have used spray sealers before but for those that have not ...

1. Check the instructions of the can before you use it. Some sprays require vigerous shaking but others don't and will become cloudy if you shake the can first.

2. Spray outside ... it's really a sticky operation for both your furniture and your lunges.

3. Spray on a clear, dry day. Cloudy days or humid days will also cause clouding that does not go away.

4. Use light coats to build up your finish and with each new coat turn your work in a new direction, one coat upright and then the next up side down. That way you get all of the hidden tucked away corners.

5. Use the same desired finish for any steps in the project. If you want to end up with a matte finish use matte throughout the work steps ... it can be very difficult to get a high gloss undercoating to go to a matte finish later.

Hope this helps.

Susan