After thirteen years, I want to finish an oil painting.ApproveRejectUn-ApproveSubscribeUn-Unsubscribe
Question asked 2018-04-06 14:42:52 ...
Most recent comment 2018-04-09 12:57:28
Oil Paint
Alkyd
Paint Making
Good Morning.
In 2005 I painted an oil painting on a wood panel, work that I did not finish. Now in 2018I would like to finish that paint (unfinished).
I have read on the internet that it is not advisable to paint an old painting (in this case of the year 2005), for a subject of adhesion of the layers.
From the point of view of good practices and good conservation, is there No problem painting that panel(unfinished) after 13 years?
In the case that there is no problem in painting it, before painting it, I have to add some product so that there is good adhesion between layers (medium, oil, varnish, etc.)?. What should I do before painting?.
This painting is on linen support stuck to wood, board. The support was primed with Gesso acrylic. I painted it years ago with white alkyd titanium Winsor & Newton Griffin brand, The only alkyd color that was used was titanium white, the other colors that were used were oil colors (Winsor Newton Artist). The Also use medium for oil made with turpentine, linseed oil, and shiny varnish.
In relation to the above, and with the rule rule fat over lean:
Is it possible, advisable (from the point of view of good
conservation) to paint a panel using the lower layer Quick Drying
Titanium White Alkyd resin Winsor & Newton Griffin, and in the upper layer use oil paint Lead white (PW1 basic lead carbonate)?. (I started painting with titanium white alkyd, and after thirteen years, I want to finish the painting with lead white oil paint).
I await your recommendations urgently.
Thanks.
Regards.
Cristian A. (artist).
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(mkinsey)
I'm sure our conservation experts will give a more complete answer than this, but in my opinion (as a painter) the proposed approach sounds like a fairly complicated combination of materials, even more so if a transitional layer of varnish or oil is applied first. If you are determined to use this panel (instead of transferring the image to a new one), I would make sure the existing paint surface is clean, and just have at it. Any time issues with adhesion or cracking may be a factor, it's advisable to paint thinly and avoid broad, continuous impasto, because some areas may perform better than others.
One more thought: If you are just interested in the essential shapes and colors in the unfinished work, would it be out of the question to sand down some of the original paint to improve adhesion? (With personal protective gear and appropriate cleanup, obviously)
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Hi Cristian
I am glad that you took the time to post here.
It is true that many advise against applying paint to works that have dried
for an extended period of time. I have never read of any scientific study that
fully explains and proves this contention, but it does seem to have some
validity based on empirical evidence. Additionally, as a painting conservator
who has conserved many works that were overpainted in oil paint, it is common
to find poor adhesion between the original paint and the much later overpaint.
The reasons for this are likely quite complex including surface grime and old
oxidized varnish residue between the two campaigns of paint.
The second issue here is the concept of overpainting an alkyd work with oil
paint. In general, it is preferable to use faster drying paints in lower layers
and slower drying in upper layers. The length of time that your painting has
dried sort of negates that from being an issue here even though alkyds do
indeed dry quicker than most brands of oil paint. More salient is the
preference to use paints that are more rigid in the lower layers and more
flexible paints in the upper layers. It is also important that the painting’s
surface is not so glossy and closed off as to make it difficult for any subsequent
layers to adhere adequately. Recent
research seems to indicate that alkyds are more brittle than oil paint.
However, most of those made for artist’s use in the past had much lower pigment
load than similar oil paints and result in a rather glossy surface and may
effect adhesion. You are also saying that you used titanium white for the
initial layers, which creates a rather brittle paint so the situation here is
very complicated, and there is no way to state definitively that a specific
formula will produce the desired results. Your use of additional oil and
varnish probably further complicates this. To have a hope for success, you will
likely have to “finish” this work with relatively few additional layers and all
subsequent oil paint layers should have a bit of additional oil added to
conform to the flexibility principle. You may end up with a perfectly
stable work. However, it is certainly possible that you efforts could be in
vain. If your initial composition was painted using rather fat layers or with
substantial amounts of additional medium, you are probably much better off just
starting the composition anew.
As a general rule, though, I am not saying that one cannot return to a
painting years later as long as a number of criteria are observed. First, the
original painting should not have layers of fatty glazes or medium rich
applications, which would cause mechanical adhesion issues. Secondly, one
should abrade the surface in some manner to create a mechanical tooth to which
the subsequent oil paint layers can adequately adhere. I do not mean sanding
away the painting, but using an abrasive (eg 320 sandpaper) to remove any skin
of drying oil from the surface before resuming painting. I would then wipe the
surface with an aromatic containing mineral spirits or even true turpentine to
degrease the surface. Finally, and only if you are going to repaint the whole
surface, I would probably oil out to promote adhesion with the subsequent
layers. PLEASE READ OUR PDF ON THE USE OF OILING OUT, IN OUR RESOURSES SECTION,
BEFORE PERFORMING THIS STEP.
I am sure that others will have a different take on this subject but that is
mine.
Brian
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(mkinsey)
Brian, Some time ago, one of the paint chemists working for Utrecht suggested a remedy for beading and resistance on oil-primed canvas: wiping with household ammonia to remove oil glaze from the surface. Does this make sense at all? Would it be of use when resuming work on an older painting?
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Hi Matthew
There is a certain amount of logic to the concept. The high
alkalinity would certainly saponify and/or disrupt the oily residue at the
surface. It would also likely destroy the uppermost oil matrix making it overly
friable and desiccated. In practice, the results would probably vary from perfectly
fine to complete interlayer delamination. This is not a practice that I would
condone.
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(mkinsey)
Thanks, Brian- that makes sense. It's gratifying to have this cleared up!
EditDelete
Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Cristian.
I have slightly amended my post as a few of my stements were not well worded and even contained a factual error. None of this changes my overal suggestions to you but it is improtant to make sure that MITRA uses the most up-to-date information.
This Page Last Modified On:
restricted