Cleaning Paintings

This course provides artists with practical and safer methods to clean their own paintings than what is currently practiced by artists. The cleaning methods demonstrated in this course apply specifically to oil paintings, but the techniques and materials can also be used with additional precautions on gouache and tempera paintings.

Over time, the appearance of paintings changes not only because of accumulated dirt but also because aging itself alters the materials that make up paintings. Besides the build-up of dust, dirt, and grime (e.g., soot, nicotine, etc.), the gradual yellowing and cracking of the varnish layer alters the image. Removing dirt and other obscuring materials requires great skill because any changes to the painting surface may bring about irreversible and damaging results.

What is Cleaning?

Cleaning is an irreversible treatment and one that demands careful consideration. Permanent damage may easily result from even the most cautious attempts to clean a painting. Cleaning and varnish removal require an understanding of the materials in each layer of a painting’s structure.

This course provides artists with practical and safer methods to clean their own paintings than what is currently taught or practiced by artists. The motivation behind this course came from witnessing artists clean their paintings with commercial cleaners, solvents, and oil mixtures demonstrated on YouTube and anecdotal advice from well-meaning artists. The cleaning methods demonstrated in this course apply specifically to oil paintings, but the techniques and materials can also be used with additional precautions on gouache and tempera paintings.

No one without formal training in painting conservation should attempt to clean a painting other than their own or if there is any doubt about its condition. The effects of various cleaning agents on a particular painting require a thorough understanding of the materials present in each layer of the painting and extensive practical conservation experience.

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Course Includes

  • 4 Lessons
  • 10 Topics
  • 1 Quiz