Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Caring For Modern, Impressionist, Figurative And Genre Art Works

By Claudine Hodges


Many of the most well-known painters in history have used canvas as their primary surface, and we are all very glad they did. Many of these oil-on-canvas paintings have lasted for hundreds of years so that modern people can view and appreciate them. We also admire the cave paintings which were preserved naturally by being contained in a cool and dry atmosphere, even if they were not figurative and genre art paintings.

The oils from our hands as well as our sweat and breath can damage the canvas of the painting. Many Renaissance painters utilized canvas, while earlier artists often painted on linens or tile. To this day most artists use canvas as it is easier to preserve than the linen which had to be cleaned with human saliva.

A variety of spray-on sealants can come in very handy to the novice painter who wishes to preserve their own work. These chemicals cover the surface with a clear sheen which resists staining and sunlight fading. Placing the piece in a frame and kindly covering this with glass is the best thing to do.

Many of us possess paintings which were given to us or picked up at a yard sale. It is important to clean a canvas painting on occasion, as one never knows what the value of a piece of art may be at auction. Some would argue that this process can damage the piece; however, there are some techniques which promise to clean the painting without removing any of the oil-based paint.

Should a piece prove that to be quite rare, it ought to be taken to a museum right away for preservation and display to the public. If it is a personal piece which is not very dirty, it is recommended to dust the surface with a hard-bristled paint brush. Emulsion cleaners can be used for a particularly soiled item, but one must use caution.

The cleaning of a painting on linen is certainly much more difficult, but is often possible to accomplish. Linen paintings tend to suffer damage and deterioration more rapidly than canvas, so the painting must be secured between glass right away. Later a few people come in and spit on the artwork, rubbing their saliva into the surface with a dry cloth to remove any dirt or oils.

Preserving graffiti art can be done by chiseling out the work for a museum as well as having citizens stand up and demand the preservation of certain pieces in city counsel. Those living within the confines of a city have a deep appreciation for the beauty that comes in the form of graffiti art. If a piece can be given special recognition than further efforts can be made to keep it intact.

Simply dusting the painting is quite effective for most hobby artists. Liquid cleaners should be avoided for cleaning these paintings because they are so new, and one does not want their colors to fade. Before putting any liquid on the painting, double check to see if the paint is acrylic or oil-based.




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