Back to TianTaru to test Natural Varnish
I have been given a plant based natural varnish to test out on the earth pieces. Around 400ml varnish is diluted with 300ml 70% distilled alcohol as an initial test.Initial notesMatt Varnish darkens the colour quite considerably, adding a gloss sheen to pre shined surfaces, and a semi sheen to textured, matt surfaces on my smaller works. Blue pigment seems to turn a dark brown/ black/ dusty navy which can be buffed. Tests placed under extreme rains for over an hour and seem to be completely waterproof.
-colour change
Despite my smaller tests turning out positively, unfortunately the natural varnish has taken differently to the final sculpture. It appears to have dulled and whitened the colours with inconsistent streaks, likely where the work is not yet dry. In sections the colour returns slightly when buffed, but on trying to blend and recover it, I feel I have lost the colour I was happy with before.
Again, another lesson in patience.
On the way up here I stopped at a cafe named after Viktor Schauberger, on reading his book and sipping a coffee I read
‘Planet Earth is finite. Matter cannot be created or destroyed it can only change its form. As everything we see is in process, matter is continually changing its form. Downwards, through destruction and decomposition into it’s simpler components, or upwards through refinement and growth.’
I have mixed feelings about the use of the varnish, despite it being plant based and natural, I am questioning whether my desire to preserve these works (even temporarily) is necessarily inkeeping with the ethos. I remind myself the earth bodies are in fact never ‘finished’, rather that they are always in a constant state of flux as is nature.
I may continue working on it in a months time, but for now, I will leave it be and let it rest.