ageing canvass

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Compomouldings
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Location: Wickford
Organisation: Compo mouldings ltd
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ageing canvass

Post by Compomouldings »

Hi

Does anybody know if a product is available to buy (or make) to age paintings after they have been painted. (making new paintings look old)

thanks
Mark
vintage frames
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Re: ageing canvass

Post by vintage frames »

They used to use a stuff called Meglip (mastic varnish and linseed oil) coloured with lead etc and in the 19th cent many English artists varnished their paintings with it to give a pleasing golden tone. Whilst it also helped with glazing, the varnish cracked and decomposed so badly as to break off the paint from the canvas and many paintings were ruined by this fashion.
However, if you wanted to try give your paintings an antique golden glow, then one way would be to varnish lightly with some asphaltum. Google it for some. Another way is to mix a golden brown spirit stained shellac varnish, a bit like the Mecca varnish we talked about in a previous post.
These people sell Fiddes Spirit powders-
https://www.restexpress.co.uk/acatalog/ ... _dyes.html
Mix yellow, walnut, mahogany and black into transparent polish diluted 50/50 with meths.
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Abacus
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Re: ageing canvass

Post by Abacus »

vintage frames
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Re: ageing canvass

Post by vintage frames »

Yes, that should do it.
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Warren@Lionpic
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu 06 Dec, 2018 11:45 am
Location: Birmingham
Organisation: www.lionpic.co.uk
Interests: Picture framing, mounting & laminating, picture hanging systems, framing workshop equipment
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Re: ageing canvass

Post by Warren@Lionpic »

Lion stock varnishes for this effect.

Ageing varnish - https://www.lionpic.co.uk/p/8119/Vernis ... nish-250ml

Cracking varnish - https://www.lionpic.co.uk/p/8186/Vernis ... nish-250ml
Warren @ Lion Picture Framing Supplies
www.lionpic.co.uk/picture-frame-moulding/
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Not your average framer
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Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
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Re: ageing canvass

Post by Not your average framer »

PolyVine do several crackle varnishes and a cracked paint effect finish in larger bottles with are a lot more cost effective, but it still a matter of personal choice as to which particular manufacturer and product will produce to most preferred results. I think that the result will also be affected by what sort of surface to which they are applied to as well, so I think it will be good to get opinions from those who have used them for the same requirements as you.

I have noticed that the size and spacing off the cracks on old paintings are not particularly uniform, or even, which is another consideration when trying to reproduce something that really passes for a genuine aged effect. As some of you will know, I repair and restore old paintings and when I have to replace areas of missing pigment on a painting which is heavily cracked, it can be very problematic.
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
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