Bloom

Bloom refers to a phenomenon that occurs on a varnished surface of a painting if kept in damp conditions. This results in dull and cloudy areas on top, or sometimes below the varnish. Blooming is basically a result of moisture building up on the painting.

It if occurs on top of the varnished surface, you may be able to remove it with a clean and slightly moist rag. If it is below the surface, you would need to remove the layer of varnish first and attempt to clear up the bloom. If funds are not an issue, then you should seek a professional to address any blooming if you are not familiar with it yourself.

To avoid blooming, you need to be careful when applying varnish on your paintings. Do not varnish your paintings on dreary and humid days, as you may end up trapping moisture under the varnish.

Want to Learn More?

You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I’ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It’s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.

Thanks for Reading!

I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.

Happy painting!

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

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Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page.


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