Oil painting, as a delicate type of painting, especially needs to be well maintained and stored and preserved properly, it can even keep the color unchanged for hundreds of years. Otherwise, the color layer may crack, fall off, and change color.
1. Never paste the pictures of two oil paintings. Once the temperature rises, the picture is easy to stick, causing the oil paint to fall off and the picture to be damaged; oil paintings that are not hung should be wrapped in plastic cloth and placed in a wooden box to prevent scratches.
2. A thin coating of one or two layers of natural beeswax dissolved in turpentine on the back of the canvas can prevent moist air from invading the canvas and causing damage to the entire painting.
3. In addition, ultraviolet rays are very destructive to oil paint, which will cause fading and discoloration. Avoid long-term direct sunlight;
4. When rolling the oil painting, use a paper tube of four or five inches or more. The canvas is flushed inside, the picture is flushed outside, followed by the paper roll, and then wrap the outside with a plastic sheet to prevent the paint from cracking.
5. The room where the paintings are hung should be ventilated, moisture-proof, and maintain a certain temperature and humidity. If possible, keep away from the bathroom and kitchen. Pay attention to dust, oily smoke, and mildew. The damp paintings should be dried slowly in the shade and avoid exposure to the sun. Otherwise, the oil paint will fall off easily.
5. If the oil painting is covered with dust, wipe it off with a clean, slightly damp cotton cloth. If there is oily fume, you can scrub it with light soapy water, and then immediately use a dry cotton cloth to absorb the water and blow it dry with an electric fan. Older oil paintings with cracks must use less water and dry-wipe them locally.
7. If possible, you can buy varnish for oil painting maintenance. Before spraying, wipe the picture with a clean cloth. You can also ask auction houses or gallery professionals to help with cleaning and maintenance.
