12/09/2014

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.

Any museum worth a reputation will have frames, hangers, glass covers and supports available in order to keep the hand oils, dirt, sweat and exhilaration off the priceless works of their many artists. Particularly well-funded museums, such as the Vatican, contain vaults which are temperature and pressure-controlled. Many of the works which originated from the segment of history known as the Renaissance are stored in such vaults.

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.

It is not unusual for an individual or family to pick up a piece of artwork at a yard sale. It is usually a print or oil-on-canvas machined recreation; however, sometimes a truly rare and valuable piece is found in a home. While it is important to clean the piece, one must take care not to damage any truly rare art.

It would be very unusual for someone to find a Van Gogh at a garage sale. However, if it is suspected that a piece of art may be valuable, taking it to a museum for an appraisal is a sensible thing. For most paintings simply dusting the surface with a dry cloth or toothbrush can do the trick, bringing back the original luster of the colors. Any persistent staining can be taken care of with emulsion cleaners and a cotton swab.

Cleaning oil-based paintings wherein the artist utilized linen as his or her medium is a bit more complicated, but still sometimes possible. Unfortunately, paintings on linen do suffer a greater degree of deterioration than canvas artwork, but there is one odd yet true method to clean the dirt without removing the paint. Saliva is the cleaner of choice, and it is not uncommon for professional restorationists to spit on it.

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.

Any painting can be made to last longer simply by dusting the surface very lightly on a regular basis. If an emulsion cleaner is necessary, one must first find out if the paint is oil or acrylic based. Keeping the room the artwork is stored in clean and free of dust is also important in maintaining what may one day be a relic.




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