Acrylics

Hang-Ups

Technical advice for Technical problems 

Q: A customer is thinking about purchasing an acrylic painting, but is unfamiliar with acrylics. She has asked me to enlighten her on the subject. Please give me some basic information I can pass along.

A: According to the Smithsonian Museum (www.si.edu), the acrylic paints most often used in the fine arts are water based; however once dried, they are no longer water soluble. They can dry in less than a half hour, whereas oils take a couple days to dry to the touch.

Acrylic paint films are not as hard as oil films. The soft, spongy acrylic surface holds onto dust and dirt, making it hard to clean an acrylic painting. The surface can also be easily abraded or dented with just fingernail pressure.

Should mold growth appear on an acrylic painting, there is no ideal treatment that does not cause some degree of damage. Since prevention is the best care, controlling temperature and humidity in the area where the painting is hung may inhibit mold growth.

Artists see a broad range of acrylic paints. The poorer quality acrylics have cheaper colorants that fade easily under UV light. Paint colors that fade may be due to nature of the materials used and not something that can be reversed by a conservator.

Acrylic paintings tend to develop fewer cracks tan oil paintings, because the surface is more flexible and can withstand much greater forces without breaking. Some acrylic paintings might form a gray film on the surface or develop a yellow discoloration with age.

Acrylic paintings have unique characteristics that require preventive care. Acrylics should be hung in a stable environment with below-standard room temperatures to reduce the chance of further softening of the paint surface. Protective framing is one way to prevent dirt from accumulating in the paint film.

Reprinted with permission from the PPFA (Professional Picture Framers Association)