Cleaning Old Oil Painting

[Janice Horton]

Have an old oil painting done by a friend of my mother in the late thirties.
It is only of sentimental value to me - no big $$$. My parents were smokers,
so the thing needs a good cleaning. Anyone know a way to do this yourself? I
don't think it is worth paying a professional? Any advice appreciated.
Thanks, Janice

[Kris Baker]

Janice Horton wrote in message <97u16a$2k5$1...@news.jump.net>...

If it's not "chipping", just get a cotton ball wet with soapy
water, then wring it out. Wipe a small section of the painting
in little circular motions, dry that section immediately with a
soft cloth. Repeat.

If REALLY bad: put some ammonia in the water, but rinse
it off, dry, and work more quickly.

Kris

[Lucy B]

Hi there Janice,
Just go and have the painting checked out first. Cleaning an oil
painting is serious stuff and not easy at all. I wouldn't recommend
anyone trying to do it themselves (trust me on this i tried it once on a
painting that I knew was worth nothing that i just picked up from a
carboot!!!) It can so easily go wrong. My advice, get the painting
valued anyway and even it is worth nothing in terms of monitary value,
surely if it means a lot in sentimental value it's worth paying to have
it cleaned proffessionally?

L x

[ProAnalog]

>My advice, get the painting
>valued anyway and even it is worth nothing in terms of monitary value,
>surely if it means a lot in sentimental value it's worth paying to have
>it cleaned proffessionally?

I agree with this as well. If it is worth more to you in sentimental value,
then it is worth it to be professionally done.
I am a watercolorist and oil painter and know when you get into cleaning an old
oil painting, you have to remove the old varnish to completely clean it. Takes
a bit of experience and knowledge to do a good job...

Thanks,
Scotty
http://www.proanalog.com
sco...@proanalog.com

"Today, the part of Al will be played by a tall, dark, sinister, ugly man"!