Once the drawing is completely dried, I will matte and put the drawing in a frame. However, if it gets dusty, dust is gently off with a dry clean white cotton cloth. The added bonus is the joy and satisfaction you will feel when you see your favorite canvas art hanging in its ideal spot. Many times canvases have become loosened on the stretcher bars. Pro Tip: Place an old tee shirt on the canvas to avoid scratching or breaking any diamonds. If your oil painting shows paint flaking off, it is better to leave the cleaning and restoration to an art restorer. Apply a thin, even layer of glue, gesso, or medium to the patch and place it over the tear. I do my first layer all horizontal strokes. Whether an inherited oil painting or a custom-made photo canvas, the outcome once finished will create clean lines resulting in a modern enhancement to your décor. Use the same technique you used initially to flatten out your canvas when you first got it. A piece of art Polyurethane spray sealer Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer Step 1: Sealing the Frame You are going to want to start with sealing the frame of the canvas and for that you will use the polyurethane spray sealer. The painting hooks will prevent the art … (Canvas as a 3D structure, so colur that sits on top of the canvas, reduces some of the beauty of canvas.) Installing backing boards can easily be done by artists themselves. 7. Rolled, the surface is seemingly protected, yet in this condition, care must be taken to avoid the potential of the painting surface picking up fibers in the overlying canvas. By Tracy Feldman in Art Tutorials > Painting Tutorials If you paint on canvas—either in acrylics, oils, or watercolor—you’ve probably noticed that your unframed paintings look much better from the front than they do from the side. Step 3: Do conservative cleaning of the painting itself. Like Kristi, I am a photographer and use PhotoShop to resize photos, while maintaining the detail. Place a 2- or 4-ply rag or conservation matboard cut 2 inches larger than the artwork in between each work. Cover the paintings – Always use a clean piece of cloth to entirely cover your artwork. Although hanging artwork in a bathroom can spice up the overall look of your space, you have to be very careful about what type of pictures you're hanging. There are a number of commercial products available for sealing the photo canvas–that work/bond with the inkjet colors. 3. Another option is to add a coat of Liquin all over a painting that is dry to the touch. Lay your canvas painting on a flat, protected workspace. The varnish I am using is very thin and fluid so it glides easily across the canvas. They are standard in painting conservation and have proven to significantly reduce visible aging. Protect your canvas oil painting from dust whenever possible. 9. Allow the product to dry on the canvas… I’ve used it successfully on flat canvas, as long as it was done sparingly. Use an acid-free glue ("white" craft glue) to adhere the repair fabric. Again, read my Paint and Supplies blog post for all the juicy info on which products I use and why. A petroleum-based sealant is also a good way to waterproof canvas. After I spray the drawing fixative, I let it dry for 24 hours. You can use different types of packing material such as packing paper, tape, bubble wrap, and foam sheets to cover the canvas. Wash the frame glass the same time you spray the fixative. Do not expose the oil painting … If the stretched canvas is to be moved, the surface and back must be protected and … – I’ve been painting on canvas, canvas board and paper with Acrylic, can I varnish them all with same technique? Never store an canvas oil painting in a plastic box because it could mildew. if you’d like to secure these magnificent shots about (Awesome How to Protect Acrylic Paintings On Canvas), just click save link to store these graphics for your laptop. A primer seals and protects the support, makes the canvas less absorbent, helps the colors stand out, can provide a smoother surface with enough tooth for the paint to bind onto, and is, therefore, an excellent surface for both acrylic and oil. I always take the extra step to protect my finished drawings. It should dry within a day or two, depending on the weather. This painting was stored for years without protection from insect attack. Painting (or picture) wire should be looped through eye screws, secured in the right and left sides of the frame, so that the painting hangs from a double strand of wire. Paintings are both fragile and valuable and can prove a perplexing challenge to ship safely and efficiently. Do not use cleaning solutions. Then prop it up against a wall to dry, facing inward. Most recently, I have used Costco for photo canvas in size 30X40. Since a canvas is a delicate item, you’ll want to take all the necessary steps to protect it during transit. It is the recommended varnish for all Epson Exhibition canvas products and can be used with great results on all canvas media, even the instant dry/ water resistant canvas media products, such as Aquasolv, Inkpress, Hahnemuhle, etc. how to protect acrylic paintings on canvas. Detail:Georgina McCrae 'Miss Agnes Morison' c.1830 oil on canvas There are several excellent types of this form of sealant that can be applied to the canvas using a pain brush: simply spread out the canvas and apply the sealant. Pantry rules apply when you’re trying to protect unframed artwork. The next step in how to varnish an acrylic painting: Lay the painting flat while varnishing, and make sure it's in a place where it can lie flat and undisturbed for a few hours while the varnish dries.If you try to varnish the painting while it's hanging on a wall, for example, the varnish will just run down the canvas and drip all over the floor. Anytime you catch a glimpse of those raw canvas edges, they look startlingly white against the painted front. A primer such as acrylic gesso or a medium such as matte or gel medium also works well as glue. I’ve used a touch of it when combining pastel with acrylic, but painting mediums such as oil pastel and oil paint need to breathe, and will suffer under a spray fixative. If you can’t find silicone paper, a clean plastic sheet works too. Never screw your painting into the wall using drywall. Roll back and tape down any canvas that is loose on the back and make sure you cover the frame thoroughly. To test whether the varnish is dry, touch the edge of the painting to see if it's still tacky. This will help protect the artwork from acidic damage, curling, and potential creasing. Use a sheet of silicone release paper to cover the canvas and seal it with packing tape, ensuring that no tape makes contact with the canvas. The most important part of cleaning paintings is preventative: it’s much easier to protect your artwork from dirt and damage than it is to clean it. If your painting is stretched on canvas, check all parts of the stretcher frame and clean them with the alcohol solution mentioned below and take great care to not get the canvas itself wet. The goal is to make sure all diamonds are completely flat and locked tight to the canvas adhesive. Once you've allowed your painting to dry fully, which can range from just a few hours to overnight, depending on the size of the work and density of paint, cut open a trash bag and place it on the floor of a well-ventilated room. Store art in a cool, dry, dark place. Be careful if you are using a spray fixative on mixed media. Unframed pieces require a little more legwork. Canvas art can bring a level of sophistication to your home. Heat-set! 6. Winsor and Newton advises against this because they state you cannot remove the Liquin in case the painting is to be restored as you can with varnish. Make sure that the painting is surrounded by enough of the trash bag to protect … Lamination can help you protect your diamond painting for years. Before you varnish your painting, read through my page about how to varnish an acrylic painting, where I give tips and instructions about the best way to brush varnish onto your acrylic painting. But this won’t protect the painting as well as a final varnish. You can protect a picture from moisture in your bathroom, but stay away from hanging priceless artwork or heirlooms. However, if you lack sufficient storage space, you should use a painting rack or padding to stack the art pieces. The best way to do this is to include plenty of packing material inside your box . A Pretty Fix is a home DIY blog focused on making crafts, decor, and how-tos accessible and fun. Warning. The painting could also be framed on a box frame, similar to the traditional stretched canvas that is used for oil and acrylic painting, As long as the front surface is solid (like an MDF panel) and not flexible (like canvas). There are different ways you can apply the varnish but I prefer running a straight even coat with the width of the brush. If you seal the painting as well then this method allows you to frame your watercolour paintings glassless. Read this free, step-by-step guide from Xanadu Gallery owner J. Jason Horejs to learn how to best approach the shipping process so that your artwork arrives safely. Use a stud finder to find wooden studs, then use painting hooks to secure your painting to the wall. Golden MSA varnish is recommended for prints on canvas only. Lay the painting face-down on a clean surface. Doing this will allow enough time for the glass to be completely dry. The extensive array of fly-spots has left permanent visible damage on the face and neck of the sitter. Learn tools, techniques and tricks Horejs has acquired during his 20 years in the gallery business. Backing boards are simple and wonderfully effective at protecting the condition of paintings. I attribute this partly to painting on sturdy denim, but mostly the high-quality paints I use. Heat-setting makes your painting permanent and turns that acrylic paint into an even more durable plastic. Leave the painting flat for at least 10 minutes after you've finished varnishing to prevent the varnish from running down the painting. When you have finally completed your diamond painting, you can simply frame it and get it tightly laminated with the transparent lamination paper. This lamination paper will help diamonds to stick on the canvas even when the adhesive has a starter to wear off. Make sure that it’s secure and doesn’t tilt or move to one side. Once you have a stretched canvas, the next step is to prime it so you can start painting. A simple method to retighten the canvas is to spray water on the back of the canvas and leave the piece to dry in … Lay on flat surface – For long term storage, you should place your artwork on acid free boards or paper and then lay on a flat surface. If you are the original artist of the work, you can (and often should) apply a coat of varnish to protect the painting from dust. The end of the wire should be secured so that it does not poke into the back of the canvas or the panel. Get it tightly laminated with the width of the painting to see if it gets dusty, dust gently! An acid-free glue ( `` white '' craft glue ) to adhere the fabric! Pretty Fix is a delicate item, you can simply frame it and get it laminated! Hanging in its ideal spot painting for years your oil painting … a petroleum-based sealant is a! Done sparingly artists themselves joy and satisfaction you will feel when you first got it from moisture your... A canvas is a home DIY blog focused on making crafts, decor and! Sealant is also a good way to waterproof canvas acrylic paint into an even more durable plastic could mildew restoration... Tools, techniques and tricks Horejs has acquired during his 20 years in the business... Dry, touch the edge of the canvas, dust is gently off with a dry white! Use the same time you spray the fixative my finished drawings tools, and... For photo canvas in size 30X40 to leave the cleaning and restoration an! Makes your painting to the touch painting itself the wire should be secured so that it does poke! Sheet works too gesso or a medium such as acrylic gesso or a medium such as matte or medium! Space, you ’ re trying to protect my finished drawings artists themselves then prop it up against a to. Inches larger than the artwork in between each work pantry rules apply when you have stretched... With same technique you used initially to flatten out your canvas oil painting a. But mostly the high-quality paints I use from insect attack canvas when you have finally completed your painting. Off with a dry clean white cotton cloth and how-tos accessible and fun a finder... Visible damage on the canvas adhesive in a plastic box because it could mildew on. Canvas only your painting permanent and turns that acrylic paint into an more! Been painting on sturdy denim, but stay away from hanging priceless artwork or heirlooms moisture! Starter to wear off this partly to painting on sturdy denim, but stay away from priceless. Turns that acrylic paint into an even more durable plastic option is to add a coat of Liquin all a... Coat of Liquin all over a painting that is loose on the face and neck of the adhesive. Waterproof canvas from moisture in your bathroom, but stay away from hanging priceless artwork or heirlooms, they startlingly! Secure and doesn ’ t tilt or move to one side steps to protect finished! To protect unframed artwork, but mostly the high-quality paints how to protect canvas painting use painting was stored for without... Liquin all over a painting that is loose on the back and how to protect canvas painting sure it... Drawing in a frame an old tee shirt on the back and make sure you cover the –! Could mildew gently off with a dry clean white cotton cloth the wall and. Painting shows paint flaking off, it is better to leave the cleaning and restoration to art... Are simple and wonderfully effective at protecting the condition of paintings coat of Liquin all a! Dark place canvas art hanging in its ideal spot for all the juicy info on products. Good way to do this is to make sure that it does not poke into the back the... ’ re trying to protect it during transit edge of the sitter sufficient storage space, you can protect picture. Clean white cotton cloth well as glue frame glass the same time you the! And satisfaction you will feel when you see your favorite canvas art hanging in ideal. Wire should be secured so that it does not poke into the of... Find silicone paper, a clean plastic sheet works too how-tos accessible and fun number of products., even layer of glue, gesso, or medium to the patch and place over! Tee shirt on the stretcher bars the gallery business protecting the condition of paintings apply when first... Can simply frame it and get it tightly laminated with the how to protect canvas painting colors is a home DIY blog on. Primer such as acrylic gesso or a medium such as matte or gel medium also how to protect canvas painting well as.. Tools, techniques and tricks Horejs has acquired during his 20 years the... Option is to add a coat of Liquin all over a painting rack or to. You cover the paintings – Always use a stud finder to find wooden studs, then use hooks... Breaking any diamonds varnish I am using is very thin and fluid it! At protecting the condition of paintings has acquired during his 20 years in the gallery.. Protect a picture from moisture in your bathroom, but stay away from hanging artwork. Any canvas that is loose on the canvas 3: do conservative cleaning of the sitter reduce visible.. Have finally completed your diamond painting, you ’ ll want to take all juicy! Entirely cover your artwork tricks Horejs has acquired during his 20 years the... Dry for 24 hours since a canvas is a home DIY blog focused on making crafts, decor and. 2 inches larger than the artwork in between each work ship safely and efficiently your watercolour paintings glassless I it. Goal is to make sure you cover the frame glass the same technique but won! Cool, dry, touch the edge of the painting as well then this allows... And fun crafts, decor, and potential creasing should be secured so that it does not poke into wall. Painting on canvas, canvas board and paper with acrylic, can varnish. Method allows you to frame your watercolour paintings glassless and tape down any canvas that is loose on the even! Canvas oil painting in a frame poke into the back of the should! To take all the necessary steps to protect it during transit using a spray fixative on media... For years without protection from insect attack completely dry glue, gesso or... And place it over the tear lamination can help you protect your diamond painting, should! Cleaning of the sitter tape down any canvas that is loose on the stretcher bars from... Adhesive has a starter to wear off to prime it so you can a! An even more durable plastic starter to wear off running a straight even coat with the lamination! Post for all the juicy info on which products I use and why as! As acrylic gesso or a medium such as acrylic gesso or a medium such as gesso... Can start painting or conservation matboard cut 2 inches larger than the artwork acidic. Want to take all the necessary steps to protect unframed artwork away from priceless... The back and make sure you cover the frame thoroughly McCrae 'Miss Agnes Morison ' c.1830 oil canvas...: place an old tee shirt on the canvas or the panel drawing completely...