The Art Of Cleaning
Art
Art is a part of life and for some, it is their way of life.
Others usually consider art as a worthy investment. Regardless
of how you see art, restoring and preserving art pieces are
important techniques to maintain their value. Painting
restoration is a serious matter; that is why most people prefer
to have their paintings professionally restored. However, if
you like the thought of restoring your own pieces, lots of
practice and familiarity with techniques are necessary. Because
according to statistics, more paintings and art works are
destroyed each year by inept restoration and cleaning than by
accidental burning or fire.
Clouded varnish, dirt, and smoke are the usual culprits that
cause paintings to become dirty. Restoring paintings by
cleaning it is the logical step of most owners. However, wiping
paintings with rags or whatever liquid is damaging. Art
restoration professionals recommend researching restoration
techniques on the internet or attending seminars on restoring
paintings before embarking on a restoration mission.
Art works look more elegant and classic when preserved in
their original frames. As it is, detaching paintings from their
frames is necessary and important before the actual cleaning.
Non-removal of the frames not only causes discomfort and unease
in cleaning, it also causes scratches and abrasion. Remove the
frames by laying the picture backside up on a flat surface
layered with foam or cushion to avoid scratching the frames.
Vacuum accumulated dust on the frames' back and remove nails
gently with a metal ruler and pliers. Secure the nails on board
with labels of their previous positions. For example, secure
and label the nails plucked from the lower right side of the
frame as "lower right". This way, each nail fits exactly on its
previous place without causing added strain on the frame.
Marking the frame is also a good idea to be able to return it
to its original position.
After removing paintings from their frame, it is better to
inspect the kind of dirt build-up on the paintings. Knowing the
kind of dirt to be removed is necessary in finding and using
the right product and tools. Anti-mildew solutions remove
mildew build-up or "foxing" effectively. However, soaking the
painting in these solutions damages the colors and the
painting. To prevent this, soak or spray the solution on a
cotton pad and wipe on the area affected with foxing. Follow up
with a water-dipped cotton pad and wipe dry. Periodically check
cotton pads to see if some color or paint was dissolved. For
dirt build-up that requires light to medium cleaning, slicing
an onion in half and dipping it in lemon juice remove grime and
dirt off art work. Rub paintings with lemon-soaked onion using
a circular motion for even application. Slice the onion
regularly to expose a fresh layer. An alternative is using warm
water with lemon detergent or washing soda. Finish either
treatment by wiping their painting with a moist sponge and
leaving it to dry. Art works respond to this treatment with
improved depth of color.
Experts recommend leaving varnish removal and painting
repair to the professionals. Art works do not sell well or look
good if extensively damaged. As these types of restoration
require complicated techniques, the chances of botching the job
are high if done by amateurs. The job is expensive but make the
value of your paintings appreciate.
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