Dammar Resin from L’Artisan Pastellier

The dammar resin from L'Artisan Pastellier is used to make dammar varnish, which is renowned for its gloss, durability, and removability. It is with this dammar resin that the best so-called “soft gum” or “gum” varnishes are produced. Dammar varnish is reversible and can be removed with nail polish remover. It is easy to make a variety of painting mediums from this varnish. L’Artisan Pastellier’s dammar resin, dissolved in turpentine, can be used to prepare painting mediums that accelerate the drying time (siccation) of oil paints.

Uses:
Varnishes: Painting mediums. These can also be called painting varnishes and help improve the drying time of paints that are difficult to dry.
Mixing Ratios: The generally recommended mixing ratio (by weight) is 90 g of L’Artisan Pastellier resin to 150 g of turpentine. Or 1 part L’Artisan Pastellier dammar resin to 2 parts turpentine.

Preparing the varnish: Crush and then finely grind the “Artisan Pastellier” Dammar Extra resin pellets; place the powdered “Artisan Pastellier” Dammar resin in a muslin bag, tie the bag with a string, and suspend it in turpentine in a sealed bottle to prevent turpentine fumes from escaping into the air, especially in enclosed spaces. The resin dissolves after a few hours, with the coarsest impurities trapped in the muslin bag. Filter it a second time. It’s ready; generally, the varnish will have an opalescent appearance, which in no way affects its quality. If you want a transparent varnish, simply heat it gently on a hot plate (do not use a gas stove or an open flame, due to the risk of igniting the varnish vapors.)

Preparation of painting mediums: Generally, dammar varnish is mixed with linseed oil or boiled linseed oil (stand oil); the viscosity is adjusted by adding turpentine.