Archival materials for oil paintings

[Lilith7]

Hi!
I have a quick question! Do I have to use archival materials (acid free) when framing an oil painting??

Gracias

[Einion]

Sort of, but the frames used to stretch the canvas aren't truly archival themselves! But if you have something in the framed work that directly touches the painting ideally it shouldn't be made from something that doesn't last well, so it's best to use archival mounting boards and so forth.

Was there a particular element that you were concerned with or all of the possible parts?

Einion

[mick11]

Originally Posted by Lilith7

Hi!
I have a quick question! Do I have to use archival materials (acid free) when framing an oil painting??

Gracias

Quick answer, no.

It should however ideally be allowed to dry for a minimum of 6 months before varnishing and framing.
Here in the UK we do not normally cover the back of art on canvas, but it seems to be prevalent in the US. I did notice when in the states a few weeks ago, that original Kinkade pictures did not have any backing or covers.

[Lilith7]

Oh thanks Mick11 and Einion. I'm more used to watercolors so that’s why I was a little confused.

I was thinking in the boards you put in the back of the canvas to protect the painting. The painting is for someone else so I will feel better if it have some extra protection.


BTW: Why do I have to wait that long before framing?

[mick11]

Originally Posted by Lilith7

BTW: Why do I have to wait that long before framing?

This is only a recommendation, but many artists frame a lot earlier.
It can take up to a year for oils to fully dry but 6 months is normally ok..If you varnish to soon the paint will not dry, and will also stick to the frame rebate

[housecatnick]

For new paintings you should leave the back open to allow the canvas to breathe. This also allows the paint to dry faster and prevent the development of mold. Some framers do paper back the frame but the good ones will cut ventilation holes to allow the air to circulate.

It does take 6 months to a year for a painting to dry - to the touch! It takes up to 60 years for the oil to COMPLETELY dry.

For high end paintings or art that has been restored, the inside of the lip of the frame and any exposed raw wood is either gessoed or lined with a sealing tape (the adhesive side has aluminum in it to prevent acids and moisture to migrate from the frame to the art). That approach is the most archival that I know of and that is used in high end frame shops. Most commercial shops won't go that far. I think the PPFA goes as far as installing spacers in the lip so the painting isn't even TOUCHING the lip.

To simplify my answer - I go this far for clients whoh want/need it but, don't even bother for my own paintings! :-)

[Einion]

Originally Posted by housecatnick

It does take 6 months to a year for a painting to dry - to the touch! It takes up to 60 years for the oil to COMPLETELY dry.

Let's not confuse things here - paintings are dry to the touch when they're dry to the touch That's usually well under a week for thinnish oil layers. The initial 'drying' process then takes some months, enough that the painting can be varnished safely. After that the continuation of the oxidation/polymerisation process can indeed take many decades and this does require oxygen, but the only really significant source for this is from the face of the painting.

Micro-climates in the back of paintings can actually develop more from the small vent holes in backing paper than when the back is enclosed fully by the way.

Einion