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Not all art is created equally! Yes another Equality Issue to solve…

If you are confused about what to look for and what to ask when looking for that modern abstract art painting with mixed media or collage added to it, here is a quick primer for you.

1.  First, preparing the canvas…

Canvas needs to be prepared with 3-4 coats of Gesso before applying anything else on the canvas or most papers. Gesso acts as a binder for the paint, whether acrylic or oil and anything else you affix to the canvas. Even when I buy commercial canvases that touts been gessoed I still put several coats of my own gesso on as well. Manufacturing cannot always be trusted so I add more. And most don’t tell you how much they have added.

This is a canvas that I added 2 coats of black Gesso and then another coat of black liquitex paint. You cannot use Gesso as your layer of paint, no matter whether you use white, black or gray Gesso. It is not meant to take the place of paint for your canvas.

So this might be one question that you ask the artist or gallerist to ask the artist. It is important. It is amazing how many artists don’t do this.

2.  Quality paint and mediums are also important.

I shudder every time I hear an artist or art instructor tell students to use paint from Lowe’s or Home Depot that is meant for painting your walls or exterior home that is not formulated to last over centuries. And to use varnish that is not made for art as well.

There are many quality art paint companies that make the paint that artists should use for their artworks. I use Liquitex and Winsor Newton acrylic paints and mediums. I can’t in good conscious sell an artwork that hasn’t been created with quality products. 

The price of a painting might give you a clue on the shortcuts someone has taken when creating a painting. You get what you pay for. But ask what brand of paint the artist uses.

Here is a painting that I created 35 years ago that I have kept for myself. It is still in as good of condition as the day it was painted!

Women in Art, Where Are They?   44” x 37”  ~ Acrylic on Canvas

3. Mediums and affixatives will only last so long if they are not meant for fine art.

There are too many creators who do not ask the important questions before working on an artwork.

Collage is used so much today to affix a few items or many pieces to a creation. Mediums should be used to affix them to the canvas otherwise they will dry out and fall off. You can’t just use the average glues that are meant for short time spans. You can use the paint itself as an affixative.

And all collage items need to be ended with another coat of medium once the layer is dry to seal it to the canvas.

4. The final step is the sealer.

And not just any varnish but those that are meant for archival purposes and for canvas or paper fine art. I use a spray and many thin coats. I like a matte finish because glossy surfaces IMO cause too much glare depending where you hang an artwork.

The 4 items I listed are the questions you can ask and sound like a more experienced buyer. But more importantly it lets you know exactly what you are buying and if it will stand the test of time on your wall as a fine artwork should if prepared properly.

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