How archival is your mat material? I say keep it, do the whole thing – looks cool …or just listen to Mr. Martin

I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff, but never had my yoga mat stuck to my painting. Pull yourself together man!

If the solvents don’t work, you have to get physical (pun kinda intended) – start scraping with a plastic utensil, if that doesn’t work… razor and repaint

Joshuaw have you actually used this recommendation on your own work and had success?

Joshuaw have you actually used this recommendation on your own work and had success?

Sure, Bill’s suggestion will likely work, but if need be, scraping is totally doable. Obviously one would like to be as surgical as possible (try a thin piece of plastic first – thinner than a credit card, or use a sharp razor and go just below the unwanted material, or maybe, just maybe, some steel wool and solvent (use gloves)), but many artists have engaged in cycles of construction and deconstruction involving physical and chemical means. There looks to be some subtle variations in layering cool colors there, but if lost in the process it can be repainted – just give general observance to the fat over lean guideline.

I have been a professional artist for more than 30+ years. I understand Bill’s recommendations, but not the scraping, razor or steel wool on an oil painting. Are you sure YOU have successfully used all of those techniques on YOUR oil paintings Joshaw??? I am not talking about Bill’s recommendations, but yours. YOU are writing as if you are experienced with using these methods on oil paintings? Are you an expert at removing varnish?

Gigalot is a chemist, perhaps he can help with a less damaging solution.

Thank you Alex for your recommendations. Will OMS work?

I am not a conservator, but conservators always recommended to use weak solvent (Mineral spirit) then more strong solvent like turp. I just think, that rubber spots are not bonded with oil paint, but adsorbed by
solvent soluble retouch varnish. The logic is to try OMS or mineral spirit to dissolve retouch varnish with rubber areas

Alex is right about the sequential progression from weak to stronger solvents, proceeding with caution gently, and stopping when you start to see unwanted paint removal.
I will add that for a safer and smoother transitioning, you can also blend solvents that are soluble with each other, what I mean is start with OMS, then a mix of 50% OMS/mineral spirit, then straight mineral spirits, then 50% spirits/Turp, then straight Turp, etc.

Sunflower oil is a good solvent for natural resin. I used it to remove Dammar and fir varnish from hands and from glass jar. You can rub safflower (soybean) oil on dirty place, wait one hour and then remove it with OMS or MS.