Original oil paintings should be thought of as a living, breathing entity, each unique and beautiful in it's own right.
Once we understand this to be true, we must consider the lifespan of your oil painting. How can you insure a long and healthy life? It is helpful to understand the individual parts of an oil painting, and how it's materials and composition will affect the life of your painting. The paint sits on a surface of gesso covered fabric or board called the canvas. The canvas can be made of several materials, and is covered with a coat of gesso that prevents the acids in the canvas from drying and cracking or otherwise destroying the painted surface. This canvas support can be cotton or linen fabric stretched onto wooden bars, or the artist may have chosen to paint on a wooden panel, a canvas panel or a heavy paper covered with a layer of gesso. The artist must use a layer of gesso to seal the support, protecting the oil paint from the acids in the fabric, wood or paper, and at the same time protecting the surface from the oil component of the paint. When Gesso is not used, acids from the surface cause ugly yellow or brown stains on the paint layer of the aging painting. The frame is the third level of your painting. Its purpose is to protect the painting, and enhance beauty.
Never touch an oil painting with your bare hands. The oils and dirt on your fingers can cause serious damage to your painting.
Clean your oil painting with a dry clean soft flannel cloth. Use this to gently wipe dust from the painted surface. Never use soap, water or chemical cleaners to clean your precious painting! Dust the painting surface frequently.
Have the painting framed professionally. Nails should never be the hardware of choice to hold the painting into the frame. Professional framers use special clips made for this purpose. The painting, should be hung using picture wire and screw eyes attached to the frame, never the canvas. Oil paintings can be framed under glass, but a spacer should keep the painted surface from contact with the glass. If using glass, choose non glare UV protected glass.
Do not hang your painting in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the UV rays of sunlight will shorten the life of your artwork causing fading and cracking to occur on the paint surface. If your painting has not been varnished, you should consider asking the artist do this for you. Varnish will protect the painted surface. The newer varnishes are designed to protect the paint from the suns UV rays.
Protect you oil painting from extreme heat, cold and humidity. Keep your painting away from any kind of smoke, including cigarette smoke, candle smoke, fire places. Nicotine and soot residues will damage the surface paint and cloud the colours of your oil painting. Should a problem occur, have the painting professionally repaired. Never attempt to have an amateur fix the problem!
It is important to note that should you transfer ownership of your painting to someone else for whatever reason, it is important to notify the artist or the artist's estate. In this way historical records for this painting can be kept current. Follow these guidelines, and your painting will increase in value. More importantly, future generations will experience the beauty and joy that your painting inspires in you today.
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