Cleaning An Oil Painting On Canvas

If your oil painting shows paint flaking off it is better to leave the cleaning and restoration to an art restorer.

Cleaning an oil painting on canvas.

A simple method to retighten the canvas is to spray water on the back of the canvas and leave the piece to dry in the sun for a couple of hours. Many times canvases have become loosened on the stretcher bars. If you re willing to give cleaning it a try yourself here are two methods. And nowadays purchasing modern paintings or original oil paintings have become easier with the popularity of online art galleries.

Using a conservation gel will remove the surface dirt and not risk the painting. Art supply stores sell emulsion cleaner for dirt and smoke and varnish remover for yellowed varnish for cleaning oil paintings. For copper paintings it is best to avoid aqueous water based treatments. Cleaning an oil painting might best be left to the professionals so if the painting has extreme monetary or sentimental value it may be a good idea to take it to a pro.

But just as it takes one a long time to find an oil painting which one would like to own an oil painting also needs a lot of caring and maintenance to retain its beauty for years to come. A mix of dish soap and water can be used to clean oil paintings but can damage the painting if done improperly. For panel paintings we tailor the treatment to suit the painting and. Oil paintings can be cleaned at home saving you several hundred dollars in professional cleaning charges.

The quick and easy cleaning can be used on paintings you re not concerned with potentially harming. Some people think that baby oil can return suppleness to the surface of an oil painting and make the colors look brighter but baby oil actually makes the surface sticky and even more susceptible to attracting dirt. Before the 1940s paintings of oil on canvas were frequently covered with a layer of varnish to add sheen and protect the thick layer of paint called the impasto. Using a cotton swab test a corner of the painting with the cleaner of your choice.

Depending on what type of dirt and grime has accumulated on the painting there are several different safe methods for cleaning.