I read the articles here about shine removal, but did not find my answer. What do other artists find successfu for removing shine?
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Using a very matte varnish will remove the shine. If your varnish isn’t as matte as you’d like, you can add corn starch to make it more matte. @anjsmiles has a great recipe for this that works wonders.
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This is the way I make air dry varnish more matte. I have been doing this for years as you can see there from my blog link above I have been teaching it since 2017. It has grown popularity even more so in recent months since Genesis Matte Varnish has been out of stock. I have seen where even Sue-Ellen was using Corn starch in a demonstration video to make her varnish she was using more matte.
In all honesty, nothing is as matte as Genesis Matte Varnish and it is probably more durable. However, all of them including the Genesis can be worn off over time. Especially if the doll is handled, dressed and played with a lot. If the doll is going to be owned by a child, it will stay matte even less time.
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I saw a post from Nikki Johnson (Johnston?) about gently using a magic clean dry eraser in dabbing motions to remove built on oil
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I would be careful with that because those magic erasers basically are ultra fine grit sanders. It is basically sanding off the oil or whatever on the top varnish layer with a bit of the varnish as well.
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The Vallejo brand polyurethane matte varnish, is that available in the States? I’d like to try it.
Did a search and it’s mostly available in Europe. And it is now marked with a “new formula” tag, which makes me wonder if it has been changed.
I haven’t done it, but I definitely won’t recommend it again if that’s the case!!
I was thinking that as well, sometimes I use a magic eraser to remove painting mistakes.
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I am not sure. I myself do not follow her work or what she uses as there is not a good history between us and it was very hurtful to me. However, someone else had brought to my attention that she was using corn starch similar to my methods and sent me that video link. I know several UF users are also using AK Ultra Matte Varnish now.
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Angie have you used the AK ultra? I see a lot of people talking in the groups about it, but haven’t actually seen it on a baby.
I have not. I was watching a video last night about using it on figurines with an air brush. In the video he said it works well brushed on also. I think it is so heavy with matting agents that it offers less in the way of varnish protection from the way he talked. He said if you were wanting the figurines to withstand being played with to mix the varnish half with satin and it would still be matte but more durable. In my experience, what looks matte on a hard figurine takes on more sheen on a vinyl doll. So I am thinking if you use it to matte you would want to apply a good isolation coat first for protection.
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Good to know. Trying every new thing gets awfully expensive!
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That was a terrible loss!