Opera Pink After 6 Months of Direct Sun The Honest Varnish Test Results

I started this test on December 5th, 2025 — Opera Pink is famously fugitive, and I wanted to know if layering Golden UV archival varnish with Dorland's wax would actually protect it. After six months of direct Washington state sun, here are the honest results. What I tested: Golden archival varnish alone, Dorland's then Golden, and Golden then Dorland's — on both Aquabord and paper. I also ran a broader lightfastness check on Holbein, Rockwell, and other brands I've been using on Aquabord.The short answer: Golden archival varnish alone repels water just as well as Dorland's wax, which changes the equation on whether you actually need to layer them. The combination affected color in ways I wasn't expecting — and one Holbein color I trusted completely let me down.This is part of an ongoing test. The 12-month update will be in December 2026.Products mentioned: Golden UV Archival Varnish → https://tinyurl.com/yxfy7tu4 go to Dorland's Wax Varnish → https://tinyurl.com/4zfd7vf4 Aquabord → https://tinyurl.com/34787dzz Opera Pink I used →https://tinyurl.com/2xs7fjwt Blog on the test: https://www.miwagardner.com/blog//ope... 🎨 Next video: Are Drawing Oils Lightfast? I Tested R&F for 8 Months So You Don't Have To Subscribe so you don’t miss it →    / @miwagardner   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 🫧Connect✨ Website → https://www.MiwaGardner.com Podcast → https://pod.link/1764257886 Instagram →   / miwagardner_art   Pinterest →   / miwagardner   Newsletter → https://www.miwagardner.com/subscribe Business inquiries → [email protected] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ART SUPPLIES 🎒 My Full Art Supply List: https://tinyurl.com/esmppz56 📄 Paper I Often Use (Baohong-made, hot press alternative): https://go.meedenart.com/4rCg1NG Everything I tested in this video is linked above. Some links are affiliate — no extra cost to you, and it helps me keep making honest reviews:)