To Varnish, or NOT to Varnish - MUST We Varnish Acrylic Paintings?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- To Varnish, or NOT to Varnish - MUST We Varnish Acrylic Paintings?
Links;
fineartamerica.com/profiles/c...
teespring.com/stores/choelsch...
Sources;
GOLDEN's tech info on varnish and it's application: www.goldenpaints.com/technica...
and:
www.justpaint.org/tips-and-tr...
Museum Conservation Institute: s.si.edu/2H1Dnai
It came to my attention, recently, that there is some confusion and possibly some misinformation out there regarding the need to varnish our acrylic pours and acrylic paintings in general. I am here to tell you the facts from two of the most reliable sources I could find. I'll share the pros and the cons of using varnish. I'll explain why others use varnish and why I do what I do.
What do you think?
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Courtney Hoelscher - Artist / Instructor
I am a full-time artist and instructor.
I provide Acrylic Pour painting tutorials and demonstrations.
It is fun to make these paintings but also fun to just watch the process.
I use only archival professional quality products and never use silicone in my paintings.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I love sharing my passion and knowledge.
___________________________________________
Donate:
PayPal.Me/choelscherart
patreon.com/choelscherart
My art is available here:
fineartamerica.com/profiles/courtney-hoelscher
teespring.com/stores/choelscherart
choelscherart.com/
Social Media:
Facebook: choelscherart/
Instagram: instagram @choelscherart
ALSO instagram @i_see_faces_in_my_paintings
Twitter: @choelscherart
Tumblr: choelscherart.tumblr.com
pinterest.com/craftybunnshine/
Subscribe to my Channel - / craftybunn
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Paint Recipe:
Each paint color is mixed with
3x GAC800, 2x Floetrol, 1x paint
____________________________________________ - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
GAWD, THANK YOU Courtney!!!!! It was driving me batty. I really don't like how the varnish changes the surface, and I feel relieved to hear it's okay to just leave it! Thank you! your explanations are very clear and straight forward.
Thank you so much! I just started acrylic painting 2 years ago. All the artist I follow say you must varnish especially if you are selling your painting. I have tried the sprays and the liquids and have been so frustrated with the finish. Brushstrokes visible and the spray is never even....omg!! I love my finished product but absolutely hate varnishing...having ruined so many pieces. I really appreciate your honesty and feel free now of varnishing forever!
I'm doing a 15 to 20 large canvas project. I'm so relieved to hear your comments based on good research. I think using GAC in Floetrol is so much easier for getting a nice sheen that doesn't appear overdone.
Exactly. Glad you agree. Thanks for watching.
I have lung issues as a result of the Covid virus, so after doing some research watching many many videos by different artists and the varnish and resin manufacturers, warnings of the necessity of wearing a ventilation device, the decision was pretty easy. Plus, like you said, it's a pain in the but. I don't like the reflective nature of resin, and I don't like the often uneven result of varnish. I usually find a creative way the hide large cracks, gold leaf or hand brushing the same pigments in the cracks. Or, just tell people it's supposed to be like that 🤷. It's my painting I can cry if I want to! Haha 😄
Glad I watched this. Just starting to finish my paintings so this was a good vid for me. Thanks.
I am torn apart with that question. My first thought was : I HAVE to varnish but nobody could tell me why and was it efficient !! I varnished LOTS of wood pieces, painted or not and I ‘m REALLY good at it, looks professional. Never had an issue with it. But when I began varnishing paintings (tried different brands, brushes, spray or liquid, name it!!) my troubles began !! I can have a nice and even coat and the other one can be crap after the process. And it’s expensive too !! So I ‘m GLAD to have watched your video, on Julie Vatcher’s advice. Unless I want absolutely to hide a flaw or something else, I won’t, from this day, varnish my paintings, thanks to you very much !! Have a VERY nice day ...you made mine ! ☺️
Can't thank you enough. So many videos on how to varnish out there that I thought I had to. I like the look and feel of unvarnished canvas and hated putting on varnish. It changes the look and feel so much it no longer appears to be natural. No more varnish for me.
Great! Glad I could be a help to you and your art, Leah!!!
Thank you for this!!! I absolutely agree it is a very personal choice. I don’t always varnish but when I do, I ALWAYS put an isolation coat on first...and sometimes that’s enough for me! 💖 Have a super weekend!
You are welcome, Angie.
Angie so you sometimes just add the isolation coat only? Is it glossy? I have goldens isolation coat but havnt tried it yet. I hate the tacky feel of the varnishes.
What a great video!! So much great information!!!💕💖💕💖
Glad you found it helpful, Julia.
I agree it’s a personal choice .. thanks Courtney ☺️
You're welcome, Linda!!
Excellent information, thank you 😊
Thanks for sharing your thoughts (and links) on this topic. I have had really mixed results with varnishing my paintings. I have found that any painting that combines paints with a matte finish with metallic or glossier finishes really benefits from a nice smooth varnish coat. But it is definitely a pain, so I don't varnish all of them by any means. If I get to the point where I am more consistently happy with my paintings and feel more confident using more professional products, maybe I won't want to bother with varnishes. Maybe someday!
Thanks for watching and commenting, Carole. Yep. Everybody has to figure it out for themselves in the end.
You are always so fun to watch. Wish I'd had an art teacher like you back in the day. Nah I don't varnish. Like you i avoid as many chemicals as possible in life due to skin irritations. Wow that rash looked bad glad you are ok now.. Been there it sux & now I am forever careful of new soap or food or any product! Luv yr stuff keep showing us how.. Cheers hun :)
It was awful, Donna. So scary. I hate to hear you went through anything similar. That's why we need to be as well informed as possible with these new techniques and products we are experimenting with. Thanks!
Hi Courtney thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I personally don't varnish my paintings because I find that I am limited in where I can hang the painting due to light hitting the art in a way that it blocks or interrupts your view. I like viewing a painting from all angles. Thanks and have a great weekend 👍😊🎨
Right. Thanks, Donna. There ARE matte versions of varnish, too reduce the glare.
@@CourtneyHoelscher I really like the finish I get from GAC 800 why mess with a good thing 😁🤜
Thanks for the very sound advice. No varnish for me - if I am keeping the painting. I always put paintings away for a while (a month or a year) and I can continue to work on it if I feel like I want to.
Great info! I like the liquitex gloss varnish with a foam brush. Easier to use for sure. I’m still intimidated by resining anything 🤭 but I do like the end result. When my painting is abstract and not a pour I never varnish. 😊
Thanks!
Great work my friend, l like it very much..🙂🖼👌😊👍👏🖌
Thanks!
Thank you! I tried varnishing my paintings and you are so right about it being a pain. I have ruined a few and they were some of my favorites I will never get them back. Pouring is hardly a repeated process. So never again do I want to take the chance. I feel much better about it now after hearing you choose to not varnish. If paintings happen to change a bit over time so be it. It can't be that bad! Keep educating us all we really do appreciate it.
You are so welcome. Glad this was helpful!
Thanks Doll...always a wealth of information!!
You are very welcome, Maria!
I asked this very argument on paint pouring group on FB today. I actually like my paintings as they are.
Please help spread the facts and knowledge, Rosemary. Thanks!
Good overall perspective and discussion. I have been varnishing. Still tinkering with different methods and materials trying to determine what I like. You are correct about it being a pain in the backside (right hip billfold specifically). Primary reason I'm varnishing is it brings the colors back. Using only Floetrol and water for pouring medium with mostly Liquitex Basics paint at 1 part paint, 2-3 parts Floetrol and 1/2 -1 part paint by weight. Produces a somewhat thin fluid. The higher amount of Floetrol causes the paint to dry with more of a matte de-saturated look. Varnish seems to help brighten the colors. From my woodworking and cabinetmaking background, I have experimented with 3-4 coats of gloss topped with 1-2 coats of satin. Cathleen tells me it's overkill and I'm sure she's right, but I do have one tough protective surface. Still experimenting. Thanks for the video! Serf 'rett
Well, maybe you should consider adding GAC 800 to your mix. Compare the time and cost and see if it wouldn't be worth the switch. Then you might not need to varnish.
@@CourtneyHoelscher But Teach, GAC 800 is for REAL ARTIST! It might disrupt the order of the cosmos for us peasants to attempt to use that royal stuff! Peasants and Pretenders shouldn't have Golden products! (I love Blick's Art Supply because they didn't check to see if I was a REAL ARTIST before they sold me a quart of GAC 800 a couple of weeks ago. It might have helped that I told them the GAC 800 and Isolation Coat was only for experimental purposes and would not used to create REAL ART!)
Also, I live in Kansas for a while and had a bunch of Osage orange trees in our back yard. They had some nasty thorns and nasty fruits.
Long before acrylic pouring became popular, I was brush painting with acrylics back in the 70’s. We never varnished our paintings. I still have some hanging in my house today and they’ve travelled around the world with me on many moves. My old paintings look the same as they did when I first painted them. They’re not full of dust (and believe me, I hate cleaning house 🤣) and they haven’t faded or deteriorated in any way.
I think some people get an idea in their head and try to tell others that their way is the only way to do something.
Thanks for reminding people that varnishing is a choice. 👍🏻
Oh my gosh about your hives with the resin. You should post those pics in a separate video. Glad you got over those.
Thank you for that. I really appreciate your time tested experience. Yes. I think I should do a video on the hives...
I learn something from you everyday, thank you
I love hearing that. You're welcome!!
Very informative instructions!
Thanks, Mommy!
I love the wet look just after creation and I am usually disappointed after drying . Resin , though a pain to use , gives amazing results and restores that look. I do love the uniform finish of your painting and i understand why you don't feel a need to Varnish or resin. Thanks .
I bought some Pebeo Studio Acrylics Pouring Medium and I absolutely love it.....it also leaves my dried paintings looking like I already put a coat of varnish on it and the painting is soooo smooth & soft. And my colors look the same as when they were wet. Their paints are pretty amazing also but I've used the pouring medium with different brands of paints and always get the same amazing results. 😉😉
Thanks, @Golden Reward. Just make sure to use a respirator mask. Take care of yourself.
Awesome, Julie. Good to know!
@@CourtneyHoelscher I'm sure they aren't as good as Golden products but I only paint for fun and just give to friends & family so it's more economical for me. 😜😜😜😜
👋 Thanks for clearing up confusion wether to use Varnish. Silicone and to promote checking out chemical ingredients in our art supplies.
Jeepers they were serious hives you had hope you all good now.
I’m a Golden girl too 👍 . Have advised Golden to check out your work as you are one of their “ unpaired “ celebrity in my eyes. 🙏
Thanks, Karen. That is very sweet of you to pass my name along. I really appreciate that.
Awesome vid! Bring on the sass :) I varnish occasionally. I do remember when I first started fluid art, many TH-cam artists promoting varnishing because it protects paintings from UV light. Do you find when you unvarnished the painting gets "faded" with time? And also Liquitex Varnish does claim to be non yellowing with time. I am testing that out, so only time will tell. haha
Thanks! Higher quality paints, fine art quality vs craft quality will guarantee not to fade.
Txz so much for sharing your experience with you very telling pictures of how we poison ourselves inadvertently! Due diligence for sure!
Yes, ma'am. I am fragrance free as well. I could do a whole video just about this and did write an entire blog post about it on my website.
choelscherart.com/art-as-catharsis/
chronic idiopathic urticaria
Courtney, thank you for this. Yes i have ruined a few😩 In the end I leave many unvarnished, and varnish an occasional piece that I think will benefit. Question: do you ever use anything other then canvas? If so does it change your process in any way? As always I love to get your take😊
Thanks. I used to paint on wooden panels more but found it increased the chances of crazing due to lack of air circulation from underneath as the paint dried. It didn't change my process though.Currently I ONLY paint on canvas.
Thanks. Very helpful
Great advice. I use golden with your mixture recipe. I was wondering, can I use the same recipe with Amsterdam acrylic paint and have the same natural finish? It's not liquid Amsterdam, how this makes sense. Reason asking, I have loads of Amsterdam I want to use as I migrate to liquid golden.
thankyou lady :) you have given some awesome insight :)
Brilliant! Thanks so much Courtney. Great help and thanks for your research. You are my go to girl 😁❤. What are your thoughts on glue being archival? I dont use it but am curious. I wont be varnishing anymore as Im not a fan of the look and trying to perfect it. Jade Burchell xxx
Glad this was helpful, Jade. Thanks again for the heads up. I haven't done A LOT of research on the elmer's glue that others are using as a cheaper pouring medium (binder) since I've never used it. A quick google search gave me this info from various sources.
PVA; via wikipedia;
"Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA, PVAc, poly(ethenyl ethanoate): best known as wood glue, white glue, carpenter's glue, school glue, Elmer's glue in the US, or PVA glue) is an aliphatic rubbery synthetic polymer with the formula (C4H6O2)n. It belongs to the polyvinyl ester family, with the general formula -[RCOOCHCH2]-."
BUT other sites point out that, though it is pH neutral (wont yellow over time) and dries clear, it is not water proof. That means when dry, if exposed to prolonged moisture, the bonds might dissolve. So, n the end of my video, when I talked of some pigment binders being water soluble, this would be that.
There are various forms of PVA as well, with different viscosity used across many different industries for different purposes.
@@CourtneyHoelscher thanks again xxx
If I just wanted to even the sheen or create a glossier sheen, can I use gloss medium as a top coat? Or do you have to do the whole isolation coat/true varnish thing? Is there any disadvantage of using gloss (or satin) medium as a top coat? (I generally use Golden products, so I'd be using Golden mediums.) Thanks!
You can do that. Varnish dries to a harder, less porous surface which discourages dust adhesion. BUT yes, a top coat of glossy gel medium would definitely be a fine solution if you just want to even the sheen.
@@CourtneyHoelscher Thanks!!
Having trouble with surfactant leaching from paint... The expensive non yellow resin ambers & stain splotches in a week, sometimes it stays white. I think i need to seal off all moisture & let white cure for 4-5 days?
Help appreciated, what a pain.
Your art inspires and humbles.
I love that you have stayed true to the swipes and to the colors that speak to you. I also love that you see faces in your work. I do as well...they are everywhere. I point them out to others and they don't see what I see. I was beginning to think that I should seek therapy about it, but I guess I am not alone. :). Maybe it just means that we love what we do!
Anyway, I was wondering if you could let me know what camera you use for your high res stills.
My prints are good, but I wonder if a new camera would help.
BTW, holy cow! Your hives from the resin...🥵
Yes. Thee hives were torture. I just use my phone camera. It is a high megapixel version. I see faces everywhere! It is fun and I presume quite normal for many.
After watching a lot of your videos and reading your blog, I do have a couple questions :)
1. What kind of canvas do you use? I've been using Art Alternative, but maybe they're not taut enough, but I have trouble covering the corners.
2. You mentioned you flood the canvas. How do you do that? Do you just puddle pour and tilt? Or do you paint/brush/smooth on the bottom coat.
3) After flooding, is one ounce of colored paint really enough to cover an 8x10 canvas? Seems hard to believe.
I'm really new to all this, and still practicing with premixed paints before I put down the money on the good stuff. I'm also legally blind, and while mostly this is stuf I can do and have good results with, there are some aspects that are challenging for me.
Thanks! I've already learned a lot from your material.
where did you learn to do that with the photo that's cool
Thank you! I use a phone app to play around with my images easily. The app is called photo mirror, BUT it makes the image low resolution. So then I try to recreate it at high resolution with the original photo size using Photoshop.
Hello! Please!!!! write what are your 2nd and 3rd ingredients that you tell us you use for your recipe at 4 mins 34. I can hear Golden acrylics, but I can't hear the second and third ingredients and (if possible) please write how to do it! Thank you so much!!! (It's a pleasure listening to you!!!)
Thank you “Teach” grateful for your knowledge. I have a question please. How would you thicken-up your fluid acrylic paints, if you needed your consistency thicker? I have this issue when I use my Golden Acrylics with other Metallic paints which are much thicker. Enjoy my coffee with ya girl. ☕️😊🎨
Hey, Girl! Thanks!! You could mix the fluids with their regular or heavy gel medium in gloss or matte, depending on the sheen you want. OR since that is going to require and additional purchase, you might as well buy their paint that comes in the higher viscosity already, which is their "Heavy Body" line of pigments.
You can thicken your paints with
Amsterdam HEAVY GEL MEDIUM GLOSS!
Hi Courtney, thank you for this lesson. Did you say that the Golden paints are non toxic? I have used the Golden fluid paints for years for non fluid paintings, but I have been leaning towards Arteza lately because they claim to be nontoxic.
I just bought some Golden heavy Body paints last night before seeing this, and I read that there were 7 Golden acrylic paints that are not guaranteed lightfast, but there was no mention of non toxicity.
Most water based and water soluble paints are considered non-toxic. Whereas oil based paints use solvents like methyl alcohol and toluene that emit dangerous volatile organic compounds or VOCs. BUT, some traditional pigments are compounded from toxic sources like cadmium, arsenic, and lead. I just found a great blog post from an artist with a background in chemistry. She has broken it down very well. I would encourage the read. Apparently I should look into some of my pigments as well...
carolineroberts.blogspot.com/2009/01/toxicity-of-pigments.html?_sm_au_=iVVHPVrSBrL0SSlkffkfkKt1R8cV3
Also just found this explanation on Golden. They hold themselves to a higher standard than the government threshold for "AP Non-Toxic" because they find it misleading.
www.goldenpaints.com/health-safety-labeling
OMG Courtney I'm sooooo glad you made this video !!! The comments happening on Facebook over that question the other day was the biggest shit fest ever !!! Hahaha. The amount of "know it alls" leaving comments made me laugh !!! Why people think Facebook is a good source of reliable information especially on things like that just blows my mind . I have read some horror stories about Resin also some with worse effects than yours & that was pretty bad . I plan on doing all the research I can before deciding to use any products like that & I only want to use it for some coasters that I am making or I wouldn't mess with it at all. People really need to educate themselves so they can make informed decisions about stuff like that instead of just asking & listening to a bunch of strangers on social media especially when it comes to things that can effect your health or the environment.
I tried joining a few groups and couldn't keep up with which ones had which rules. HAH! Lots of learning and sharing though, which is great. Please spread the word on there for me, Julie! Thanks!!❤️❤️
@@CourtneyHoelscher yeah I joined a few then quit a couple of them because of the drama but stuck with the good ones . You were the 1st person I thought of when I saw all of that going on. Lol. 😜😜😜😜
Julie Rositer Hi Julie, Do you know if the Pebeo products are non toxic.? I have been leaning towards Arteza because they claim they are non toxic.
It’s great that Courtney is teaching this information, and I have used only Golden fluid paints for years ( I have many other brands now) but I still haven’t seen anywhere that Golden paints are non toxic.
Courtney Hoelscher Thanks, Courtney, I have been painting with acrylics for many years, but about 15 years ago, I reacted very strongly when painting the inside of my studio, ( windows open ) with nausea, loss of balance, and headache, and I realized that unless I use no VOC paint, latex that I cannot house paint ever again.
When I tried my first fluid painting, I felt headachy and sick, but I was unsure of which paints, or was it the floetral? Since then I have only used Arteza, and Golden, but I had bought other brands, and as I am also very ill with late stage cancer, I am very worried about using the other brands. ( I refused the doctor’s opinion 9 years ago, and I am determined to keep focusing on my art, as I believe that creating, and believing in my future is helping me to stay alive) . That you so much for the link. I will check it out 😍🥰🙏🏼
Great to finally see an artist that doesn’t pray to the varnish gods. I use a paint called SoFlat by Golden and any varnish ruins the perfect velvety texture and matte sheen of their paint. I chose not to varnish for this reason and also because I enjoy mixing matte and glossy textures within a painting and a varnish unifies it all and you lose all that careful work!
Thank you thats really useful . I wont be varnishing 😊
I choose not to varnish as well. Great video. Thanks.
Are you coming back??? I love your work
Would matt varnish bring out the colours like a gloss varnish would?
Yes, it would still deepen the color, but not to the extent of the gloss. With the gloss, however, you have to fight glare. You CAN mix the two and get a middle of the road semi-gloss /satin finish, which I prefer.
Thank you, Courtney.
You're welcome.
Do you have to use floetrol? What about pouring mediums are they ready to use?...you opened the door...lol. ..I really enjoy watching you paint...I'm screaming stop some times to the phone...but in the end I like everything you do...
Haha! Thanks. Floetrol is what helps get the cells without the silicone. It would e a very different looking painting without it; smoother and glossier. Pouring mediums extend the paint and are ready to be mixed with any paint color (pigment) you choose.
I varnish only when i paint on wood
👍👍
do you varish abstract art?
I have always varnished but i will try some now without.
Cool, Laurel!
🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻
P.s. Congrats on the merch! Really cool prints!!!💕💖
Thanks!
Yourr mix doesn't need varnish. Zach never varnishes using your mix. That proves that further. Me, well...craft paints, inconsistencies, dries matte mostly. I use Liquitex Satin Varnish and a very expensive brush meant for varnishing. It takes practice to get no brush strokes. It's a learning curve for some. Liquitex was just the easiest for me to use personally. No yellowing so I like that of course. Its non toxic butlers forbid it gets on your hands. It's impossible to remove....well takes a couple of showers...lol. Gloves people....gloves! Cleaning brushes isn't fun either. 😎
I don't like gloves!!! I just deal with it on my hands for a couple days. HA! BUT with all this talk of toxicity, I might reconsider.
useful
I agree. I chose no to varnish. Thanks for the Honesty!
Hi Courtney! Te lo voy a preguntar en español porque es demasiado largo para traducirlo. Qué te pasó en el cuerpo?! que son esas manchas rojas, porque tu te agarraste eso?
Fue diagnosticado como urticaria idiopática crónica y no se conocía la causa. Fue muy aterrador. Aquí hay un enlace a una publicación de blog más larga que hice al respecto.
choelscherart.com/art-as-catharsis/
@@CourtneyHoelscher 你們在說什麼
What that you didn't exaggerate too much about the "isolation layer"?
I normally avoid making any negative remarks, but those cells on your hide looked awful! Awful and scary! So glad you appear to have recovered.
HAHA! The cells on my hide. Are you normally a cell fan, Everett? Just not on skin, huh? LOL! It was awful and scary and ugly and itchy and painful and all of those things.
@@CourtneyHoelscher I'm not a fan on cells on one's skin! Years ago, I had a reaction when I was working with a new to me wood, Osage orange, which caused a skin rash and airway constriction (few things are more exciting than feeling like you can't get enough air). Your rash was much worse and I was hurting for you as I remembered my experience. Cell lover? They have their place, but I'm more into controlling the creative process/materials to produce the images floating around in my mind. For the record, I am anti silicone and Elmers glue as I am convinced that within 5 to 10 years we will see the problems caused by adding these to acrylic paintings. Have a blessed weekend! Serf 'rett
I agree they are questionable additives. Floetrol worries me a bit too. I might experiment at doing away with that one day as well, BUT at lease it is manufactured to be used with paint, unlike the two you mention. PVA and silicone are not acidic so won't yellow theoretically, from what I've read, but PVA is not water proof and silicone NEVER dries...
Video begins at 3:57 :)
Varnish yellows with time(?) Could you please elaborate on this because you didn’t mention if this is brand specific or if it happens with all varnishes(?).
I have acrylic paintings that I created over 20+ years ago and they all look like I’ve recently painted them. No Yellowing at all.
My only issue was streaky brush marks. Sponge works like a dream.
I asked you what is that on your skin, those red spots, if it was an allergy maybe to some product ... or what happened to you to have that !!
Fue diagnosticado como urticaria idiopática crónica y no se conocía la causa. Fue muy aterrador. Aquí hay un enlace a una publicación de blog más larga que hice al respecto.
choelscherart.com/art-as-catharsis/
That resin rash allergy was serious! You definitely are allergic. I had a similar reaction. Never again. Resin isn’t worth it. It’s a beautiful finish but I can’t go near it.
No varnish anymore, thks
You are very welcome, Niedergang!
What the heck is in Golden Acrylics that it should come with a cancer warning?
Thank you. I chose not to varnish 😁
Dumb ? If you got a nice painting are there glass frames on the market that it could be put into .
Absolutely. That is what I meant by a "protective" framing situation. Not a dumb question at all. You might want to pay a little extra for the glass without the glare. The glass would protect from dust and pollution particles over time.
talks to much
After 3 minutes in I lost interest. What was the point?
For you not to varnish and spend the time you saved from varnishing, to watch gangsta rap
Teacher is high
What we see in others is a reflection of ourselves, Salli.
Who the hell has the time to watch this whole thing. Hurry up get to the point