What is the best way to seal watercolor on Aquabord?

artwork by Louise De Masi

Artist Question: Best way to seal Aquabord?

A: If you would like to display a watercolor on Aquabord, without glass, we recommend a “fix” layer, followed by a varnish.

The fix application is a spray on fixative or varnish (4 coats, minimum) to lock the painting in place and can be followed by a brush-on polymer varnish as the final varnish if you want additional protection. When selecting a brush-on varnish to use, make sure that it is compatible over your chosen acrylic fixative and is a polymer varnish. Ampersand recommends selecting products that offer UVLS protection from UV light to help preserve the color of your painting.

Always test new materials before trying them on a finished artwork to ensure that the look and finish is what you want.