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Making Sure Your Paintings Last

© Susan A. Wenz-Denise

In the previous article, The Never-Ending Art Debate - Our Responsibility to Longevity, I laid out issues of the debate on preservation of every day artwork. The debate argues whether the longevity of a painting should be sacrificed for the concept or process, or if our responsibility as artists towards immortality through our paintings should rise above as the most important priority in oil painting. The choice remains the artist's, but will always remain a controversial topic. In this article I will explain some of the materials or techniques that could severely impair your paintings' survival through the future, and how they can be used safely.

Acidity
An increased level of acidity in any material will cause an accelerated disintegration rate. Some materials inherently contain acids, while others can be tainted through direct contact with other acidic objects. In order to safeguard your oil painting from acids, you will need to choose your materials wisely. The following materials that may be used in artwork contain high concentrations of acid, unless specially treated to become "acid-free":

Any kind of paper; especially newspaper
Wood
Matte Board
Fibers
Organic Materials
Canvas
Fabrics
Leather

Essentially, all the materials listed here are organic, as all organic things emit acids through the breakdown/dying/decomposition process.

In order to use these materials freely, without worrying about the acidic properties, some protective measures can be taken. Acrylic gel medium and acrylic gesso are the most effective materials in isolating acidic materials from a painting. Gesso applied generously and evenly on matte board, wood, canvas, and paper will serve as a protective ground between the surface and the painting. Since gesso is a polymer (plastic) and non-porous, it will serve as an airtight barrier between the two. Acrylic gel medium works similarly as a barrier as it is also a polymer, but it dries to a clear finish. Although it is not often used as a primer for the surface, gel medium is ideal for affixing organic materials such as fabrics, paper, or even flowers to the painting surface. However, gel medium must not be applied on top of the oil paint because a polymer cannot affix to oil, and the organic object must be completely covered by the medium in order to fully protect the paint that will come in contact with it.

Oil colour is a highly organic painting medium and is conceptually appropriate to combine organic materials with. Protect your oil colour properly and you'll be able to integrate them without sacrificing the longevity of your painting.