I haven't posted for a while, my internet was down for a week, which was very frustrating as I needed to do some research for my next Professional Practice Workshop.
The workshop is this coming Saturday, the subject, Preservation, Presentation and Pricing your Artwork. I have most of the information I need from personal experience, But there is one part I just don't seem to be able to find information on and becomes part of the quality and preservation when creating of art.
As a student, a life time ago, we had a short introduction to the chemistry of paint and pigment. I found it most interesting and kept the notes for years, but I moved around a lot and 25 odd years later, the notes are missing.
While there is a lot of information available on the internet on pigment and chemistry, I can't seem to find the specific information.
Let me try and explain in the hopes that someone out there will know about it.
Pigments are based on various compounds organic, inorganic.
Like any chemical reaction these compounds can react positively or negatively when mixed. You may be wondering why this is so important to me, but if you stop and think about it, the old masters understood and studied these compounds and mixed their own pigments making their own paint. This is perhaps why the Old Masters works have lasted so long.
I have spoken to a few art restorers and read up on how modern or contemporary art will stand up in time and it seems that the feeling is current works won't last as long.
If the pigments in painting react negatively and create a physical reaction on paper or canvas, the pigment compounds may cause discolouration, premature cracking or brittle effect.
I know I was taught this, but so long ago, I just can't remember details/
Modern pigment and paints are very often created synthetically in labs and in my mind the more chemicals the more chance of reactions.
Is there any one out there that was taught pigment chemistry or knows of a web site that I can research and reference.
I'm desperate!
It seems that it is not being taught anymore! Why?
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