Trade Secrets On Maintenance Of Oil Paintings Reviewed

June 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Nice Art Gallery’s curator, Matt Hudson, discusses standard guidelines on how to properly care for oil paintings.

Oil paintings are very demanding works of art. They need to be sheltered from sunlight and kept in a room with a relatively stable temperature and humidity. As much as possible, they should be kept away from areas that have close access to water like kitchens, bathrooms, windows and air conditioning vents. And on top of that, hang them some distance from heaters, fireplaces and radiators. Hudson also emphasizes the need for oil paintings to be aerated since it usually takes a long time for them to dry.

As far as cleaning goes, schedule regular cleaning sessions for your prized painting collection and remove dust from the surface using a brush. Avoid making use of a rag or duster as this may ruin the texture and consistency of the oil painting. It would be preferable if the brush utilized was made of goat hair. They aren’t that hard to find. They can be bought from any craft store for $6 to $10 each. Usually, once a week cleaning would be enough to keep the integrity of the painting intact. But if you are busy, at the very least, do cleaning once a month. After you’re done, apply two layers of natural beeswax dissolved in turpentine on the back and front of the canvas for added protection. Or you could use a recommended varnish instead.

When it comes to displaying, see to it that you place the oil painting somewhere it can’t be scratched or knocked over. If you have small children, keep these artworks out of reach. Stabilize them on walls using secured hooks and bars. In transporting, don’t stack them on top of the other. Don’t store them in such a position as well. Keep one oil painting in one shelf and always see to it that the container’s environment is monitored. And whatever your intent is, never forget to wash your hands to rid them of natural oils that could ruin their form.

Nice Art Gallery is an online store that sells beautiful hand-made original oil paintings and replicas of famous artworks by world renowned artists. They can help you fit your home with the right illustrations and make it look more elegant and impressive.

If you’d like to find out what they have to offer, you could visit Nice Art Gallery’s website at http://www.niceartgallery.com.