Making sure your paintings go the distance
For the artist and the art buyer the longevity of a painting is always key, and both hope their art will go the distance. Even the most meticulously executed paintings must cope with outside influences such as accidental damage, neglect or simply old age, however there is much that the artist can do by way of careful selection of materials and technique to add durability to the painting.
To start with use the best quality materials, canvas or linen should have a tight weave and ideally a weight of 10oz or more (particularly on larger pieces). Plus, when making a frame for the canvas, using wooden stretchers that have been dried in a kiln will provide a more stable support than standard softwood varieties. The artist should also coat the reverse of the canvas with a layer of size or gesso, this will stop moisture penetrating the exposed canvas.
Paintings should be looked upon as living things which, like us, dislike extremes of cold, heat, excessively damp or dry conditions and, more importantly, sudden fluctuations between these conditions. These dramatic changes will cause sudden physical changes which, over a long period, will fatigue both paint and support, resulting in damage. To avoid this, a painting should be hung away from sources of heat (radiators or even strong sunlight) and away from external walls that tend to be cold or damp. It is always best to hang a painting with a slight tilt away from the wall to allow air to circulate around the picture, this also has the advantage of keeping dust off the paintings surface. Where rooms are centrally heated (which creates dry air) it is always a good idea to introduce plants into the room to raise the level of humidity.
Finally, if you bear these points in mind, your paintings will stay in good condition for many years to come.
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