|
Art Tip 161: Reproductions of Original Oil Paintings as Gifts
Oil painting reproductions are becoming a popular and cheaper alternative to expensive original oil paintings . These reproductions are hand painted by skilled artists. Reproduction paintings of museum quality are as good as the originals.
You can select any original oil painting for reproduction. They make an ideal gift to family and friends. Choose the recipient's favorite painting or favorite artist. Present them with an oil painting reproduction as a gift and they will surely appreciate it.
Art Tip 162: The Condition and Quality of Art Prints
Check the condition of art prints carefully. Why? Although soiling is a minor flaw to expect from an old art print , there are other defects that may diminish the value of the art print greatly such as large tears, run-out colors, faded colors and large stains.
Inspect the quality of the impression on the art print . The technique used to create earlier prints often employed a plate or woodblock which produced roughly less than 2,000 prints without losing the quality of the original print.
Art Tip 163: Art Prints - Subject and Size Matters when it Comes to Cost
The subject of the print influences the prices of art prints.
An art print with pleasant and picturesque subjects like landscapes, cuddly animals, attractive women, and others are very popular and in high demand.
Unusual subjects may also be in high demand for their distinctiveness and individuality. Old prints that feature unattractive subjects like dreary landscapes or ugly pictures aren't popular with buyers. Size is another factor affecting the price of prints . Generally old prints of larger sizes are more expensive than smaller prints
Art Tip 164: Investing in Art
Art can be quite unpredictable. Investing in it does not really guarantee financial success. The first rule to follow when buying artworks for any reason is to buy what you like.
Buy a painting that interests you and not because of its projected value in the future. Buying quality prints of acknowledged artists is no guarantee either as the market is really volatile. Just like with celebrities, a 'hot' artist now may not be so in demand tomorrow.
Art Tip 165: Painting 'Layers'
There are various layers that make up a painting.
The support onto which the paint is applied is either canvas or wood, which is primed with a glue sizing or ground layer prior the actual painting.
Traditional paintings are stained with a coat of varnish for protection. However, most folk art and contemporary paintings may not have varnish coating or a ground layer. Paintings that lack the traditional layers are more vulnerable to changes or damages.
Art Tip 166: When Paintings 'Age'
Noticeable signs of aging in paintings are to be anticipated. Most are harmless to the overall state of the artwork, like certain kinds of cracks or the gradual transparency of the oil paint.
But there are some symptoms that may eventually damage the painting if left unchecked. A yellowed surface caused by a build up of dirt or varnish discoloration tends to darken a painting and could lead to a decrease in its value. Structural damages like tears, mold and flaking paint require the assistance of a professional conservator.
Art Tip 167: Paintings Need a Good 'Setting' Too
Creating and maintaining the proper setting for your paintings will help sustain them for years to come. In general, painting pieces do well in a comfortable environment with forty to sixty percent relative humidity levels. Maintaining constant temperatures and humidity levels can help prevent most of the destructive problems of artworks.
The structural parts of a painting are easily affected by the immediate temperature and varying humidity levels. Shifting environmental conditions can cause the canvas to become stiff or loose while delicate paint may curl, crack or become loose.
Art Tip 168: How to Place Paintings on your Wall
Before you start hammering nails on your wall to hang your paintings , why don't you first ensure where each and every painting should go first? You can make cut outs of the actual size of your artworks and start pasting them on your wall to see the overall effect. You can then just re-arrange as you please.
Also, using tape, make an imaginary 'boundary' on the wall like a big rectangle or a triangle. Your painting pieces should then fit this boundary. This way you avoid scattering artworks all over your wall.
Art Tip 169: Environmental Rules for Preserving Artworks
The environmental guidelines for artworks are based on the different types of materials used. Sudden changes in temperature and varying levels of humidity affect paintings in different ways.
Although paintings on canvas respond right away to various environmental changes, paintings on wood panels are more likely to experience structural damage compared to canvas paintings . Abnormally high and low changes in temperature along with varying humidity levels can cause wood panels to warp, split or eventually cause the wood to break.
Art Tip 170: Painting Preservation 101
An important yet simple preservation step you can do for your painting pieces is to attach a protective backing board. This archival cardboard backing or Fome-cor is screwed at the back of a artwork , helping keep out dust and foreign objects. It also helps protect paintings from mishandling. It also slows down environmental exchange through the picture.
The backing board should be attached to the back of the stretcher or strainer and not the frame. You can have a professional conservator or dependable framer attach this for you.
[ Previous Tips ] [ Next Art Tips ]
[ More Articles On Art And Paintings ]
|
