Thursday, 4 December 2014

Caring For Modern, Impressionist, Figurative And Genre Art Works

By Claudine Hodges


From the blurred impressionism of Vincent Van Gogh to the surreal modern works of Sorayama, artists have traditionally stuck with the old-style easel and canvas. It does make sense that this medium would be used most often, as many paintings on such a surface have lasted hundreds of years. However, let us remember that the cave paintings have lasted thousands of years and did not have the museum protections of our modern figurative and genre art.

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.

Anyone wishing to preserve their own work can utilize aerosol sealant sprays that will help their painting adhere to the surface of the canvas. Covering this with glass is also highly recommended, especially if one intends to pass the work down to following generations. If properly cared for, generations of a family can appreciate the artistic talent of one of their own.

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.

It is important to note that regular dusting of any artwork will preserve the length of life it has to look forward to. If one can avoid utilizing a liquid cleanser, then the colors will stay more vibrant for longer. However, prior to any cleaning being done, one must confirm whether or not the paint is an oil or acrylic base.




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