Maintaining and preserving oil paintings is an essential aspect of art conservation, ensuring that our masterpieces not only endure but also retain their beauty and integrity over time.
In this article, we delve into the practices and techniques shared by a talented artist who has honed his approach to preserving and finishing artwork through discussions on drying times and varnish choices.
Preservation Techniques
The first step in preserving your oil painting is ensuring it is clean before applying a final varnish. This meticulous care not only enhances the appearance of the artwork but also allows the final varnish to the painting.
We recommend using surgical rags if the painting has been sitting for long periods and Gamasol to gently remove dust and dirt from the surface. Then Use 100% Cheese Cloth and Gamasol for a final cleaning before Oiling Out or Varnishing.
Variables Which Affect Drying Times of Pigments
Understanding the variables that influence drying times is crucial for avoiding potential damage to your painting.
Factors such as the type of paint (e.g., earth tones), the thickness of the paint layers, and environmental conditions like humidity play a significant role in this drying process.
For instance, paintings exposed to high humidity might take longer to dry compared to those in arid climates.
Humidity Effects
My experience with managing drying times is highly dependent on regional climate differences. In regions with high humidity, such as Georgia, items may take longer to dry. Whereas locations with lower humidity, like Arizona, will be shorter.
Why oil out?
Your painting will go through stages known as Sunken-In and in this stage, you lose the vibrancy of the color. At this time, it is hard to match the vibrancy when the dry paint has a different appearance than the wet paint. This Oiling-out Technique brings back the luster of the painting.
During the painting process, your paint may rest for a while and you may not work on it for a month or two, during this time the oil painting starts to get a little harder and slicker, and therefore the next layer does not want to adhere and stick to the painting. Though it may appear to grab the pain years later it is possible for it to flake off, so that's very important to watch your painting and protect each layer and the adhesiveness of each layer by Oiling-Out
Before varnishing a painting, you'll have areas that are shiny and areas that are matt and When you Oil-Out it evens out the shine. Therefore, when you do the final varnish, you'll have one even coat and a much more beautiful final appearance.
Varnish Choice
When selecting varnish for your oil painting, we prefer Gamblin Varnish due to its glossy appearance is less glossy than most varnishes and has UV qualities which we believe enhance the artwork more than a matte finish.
Overall, preserving oil paintings requires a combination of careful handling, understanding drying times, and thoughtful choice in varnishing techniques. By following these expert tips from our talented artists, we can ensure that our beloved artworks not only survive but also thrive for generations to come.