I tried to remove Polymer varnish from a painting. I followed what was written on the bottle. It removed the whitish trails & didn't alter the colors but some parts of my paintings became shiny. How can I remove the shiny effect of those surfaces?
We are not sure why the painting became shiny, especially if it actually got shinier than the original paints. Perhaps you removed the excessive matting agent and the varnish resin was left. The best way to remove the variances in gloss and hopefully not have it develop again is:

1. Mix up an "isolation coat": GOLDEN Soft Gel Gloss (trust me on this) 2:1 with water. This mixture makes a brushable medium for easy application onto the final artwork. It will seal the surface, consolidate the artwork, intensify the color, and make applying the varnish much easier. Apply 1 or 2 coats to the artwork (allow at least an hour between them).
2. Give the isolation coat(s) 24 hours to dry, and then apply the Polymer Varnish. Apply one or two coats.

• Make only enough varnish mixture for this painting.
• Mix the varnish in a glass container with marked measurements on it. We use canning jars, and mark the sides with a marker if needed.
• Don't store the mixed up product.
• Practice with a relatively stiff bristled brush with soft tips. A split-hair china bristle brush is recommended. Use as wide of a brush as possible. 3" or wider is better than a smaller brush.
• Thin the varnish less than what you are currently doing. 5:1 to 2:1 (varnish to water) is what we suggest.
• Don't force dry the varnish layer.
• Mix in a glass jar, but pour the mix into a shallow tray for dipping the brush into.
• Don't overload the brush, halfway loaded is maximum. Use the edge of the tray to remove excess from the brush.
• Apply the varnish quickly but avoid making foam. Once you get an even film, don't try to fix tiny areas. It's better to apply a second coat than to rework partially dry varnish.

BEFORE you try these suggestions out on this painting, please practice them on non-important work or test panels. Get a feel for the new mixtures and techniques and get comfortable with them. We'd rather have the painting go unvarnished for a couple more months if needed, rather than have problems happen again to it.

Can I get mud off of a painting varnished with Polymer Varnish (Gloss)?
First, try wiping off the grime with a soft damp rag. DO NOT use any soaps or cleaners at this point. IF you find there is still some grime discoloring the surface, try the removal procedure as outlined on our web site, and apply a new coat. If you get almost all of the grime off with the damp cloth, but there is just a little left, use a gentle soap and water solution (20 parts water to 1 part Ivory liquid soap) and gently rub the surface until it lifts.