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When you are actively working on an acrylic or oil painting, the wet paint looks incredible. It is glossy, wet, heavy, and blindingly saturated.
However, the agonizing reality of paint is that when it dries, the water and oils evaporate, causing the paint to flatten out, lose its shine, and shift into a dull, chalky, matte finish. The deep, rich blacks you painted have mutated into dusty, flat greys.
The only way to permanently restore the "wet look," bring your deep colors back to life, and legally protect the artwork from dust and UV damage is to apply a Varnish. Varnishing is the single most terrifying step in the painting process, because pouring wet chemicals over your finished, dried masterpiece feels incredibly dangerous. Here is how to flawlessly execute the final seal without ruining the art.