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Author Topic: Cleaning acrylic paintings?  (Read 2683 times)

Catherine

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Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« on: February 22, 2012, 09:58:04 am »
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew how to safely clean paintings.

We have many paintings that my mother in law did over the years before she started suffering from Alzheimer's. They're starting to look a little drab and I'd really like to bring them back to life, but I'm worried about damaging them. Is there something I can do myself, or should I look for a professional to clean them?

They are acrylic on canvas and most of them are heavily textured.

I would ask her, but her condition has progressed pretty far and she has a very hard time communicating.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tana

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2012, 10:57:35 am »
Quote from: Catherine;43764
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew how to safely clean paintings.

 
Mmh, I haven't tried to clean one yet.
It depends on the colors and and if she put a kind of a finish on the paintings or not.
\'You had to repay, good or bad. There was more than one type of obligation.
That’s what people never really understood.….Things had to balance.
You couldn’t set out to be a good witch or a bad witch. It never worked out for long.
All you could try to be was a witch, as hard as you could.\'
Terry Pratchett \'Lords and Ladies\'

Confuzzled and proud. :p

Catherine

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2012, 05:30:28 pm »
Quote from: Tana;43769
Mmh, I haven't tried to clean one yet.
It depends on the colors and and if she put a kind of a finish on the paintings or not.


Well, some of them are glossy, but others have a matte finish. If she did use some kind of finish or sealant, I have no idea what it was.:(

Ocelot

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2012, 05:43:53 pm »
Quote from: Catherine;43764
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew how to safely clean paintings.

 
I wouldn't use any kind of liquid cleaner at home. You can use a soft dry paint brush and a can of compressed air. Blow the loose dust off with the air first, lightly brush with the soft paintbrush, and blow off again.

If there is any kind of film on them from something like smoke then you would really need to have them professionally cleaned. :)
~<>~ Flame of light, flame of dark, working together, never apart.
Dancing in harmony, balance assured, dark absorbs so light may endure.
~<>~

MarieBay

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2012, 06:26:10 pm »
Quote from: Catherine;43764
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew how to safely clean paintings.

 
I would visit a local art gallery (you might have good luck going to a public gallery and visiting their resident curator or art restorer) and speak with a professional curator or art restorer if they have one. If they can't give you advice, they could certainly point you in the right direction.

I wouldn't recommend doing anything yourself until you consult an expert. Many an artwork has been ruined by good intentions...

Catherine

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 10:25:08 am »
Quote from: Ocelot;43819
I wouldn't use any kind of liquid cleaner at home. You can use a soft dry paint brush and a can of compressed air. Blow the loose dust off with the air first, lightly brush with the soft paintbrush, and blow off again.


Thanks, I hadn't thought of using compressed air.

Catherine

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 10:37:33 am »
Quote from: MarieBay;43826

I wouldn't recommend doing anything yourself until you consult an expert. Many an artwork has been ruined by good intentions...


I know I don't want to risk using any kind of liquid cleaners, but do you think the compressed air idea could cause damage too?

Jubes

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2012, 01:18:04 pm »
Quote from: Catherine;43886
I know I don't want to risk using any kind of liquid cleaners, but do you think the compressed air idea could cause damage too?

 
Quote
After you have established the type of dirt you are dealing with and its location, then you can start the cleaning process. You can use compressed air to blow off the dirt from the surface without damaging the painting.


from this site http://expertscolumn.com/content/tips-cleaning-acrylic-paintings  read the step  by step  directions first thou.
Armed with  common sense and worldly ways.......

Catherine

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Re: Cleaning acrylic paintings?
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2012, 09:51:16 am »
Quote from: Jubes;43896
from this site http://expertscolumn.com/content/tips-cleaning-acrylic-paintings  read the step  by step  directions first thou.


Thanks Jubes!

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