Yellowing of oil paintings

  • Yellowing of oil paintings

    Posted by Nadia on August 14, 2021 at 9:31 am

    I’m a mid career painter, working in oils. Lately I have noticed that some of my paintings start yellowing in some areas. There is a painting that I just got out of the closet that I did about 5 yrs ago and it has few yellow areas. There is also a painting that I finished about 3 months ago and it was standing in the light area and it also shows yellowing in a few spots. I paint landscapes so the yellow areas appear mostly in the sky and snow. What is strange is that I have a painting of 15 yrs ago of a snow scene and it doesn’t have any yellowing. I have been painting with linceed oil or glazing with damar and adding few drops of cobalt dryer. Sometimes I use damar as a medium as well. I’m in desperate need of some answers and would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you.

    Nadia replied 1 year ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Johanne

    Member
    December 28, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    Hi Nadia, you posted this quite a while ago, you may have figured out the issue already, for what it is worth, one thing I have learned is that paintings made with linseed oil and stored in the dark can yellow overtime. This is reversible, you can expose your painting to the light to bleach out the yellow.

  • Santiago

    Member
    March 23, 2023 at 4:06 am

    Hi @Nadia it is my understanding the yellowing comes from the impurities in the linseed oil. If you go through the process of cleaning the oil it should retard the yellowing significantly. @george-ohanlon do you agree with this and I assume you have a video or instructions on cleaning oils somewhere on this site?

  • Michelle

    Member
    May 8, 2023 at 11:14 pm

    Hi Nadia,

    The major issue regarding paintings is if not taken care of then it generally with time with dust and impurities it starts become pale and yellowish in color.If you want it not to become yellow then you should take extra care of it and keep it covered to make it safe

    • Nadia

      Member
      May 9, 2023 at 7:03 am

      Hi Michelle,

      Thank you for your comments. I’m a second generation artist and I’ve learned a great deal from my father as well as studying and graduating from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

      You are right in your comments but how does one make sure that he/she preserves works and takes care of them in the best possible way? Can you tell me or recommend a book where I can review my practice of oil painting?

      Thank you very much.

      Nadia

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