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Storing paintings
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Message
Posted
I've just posted a painting on the gallery that I had 'stored' behind a wardrobe for a number of years ( I'm not too keen on decorating ). The painting was on a cheap canvas and the frame quickly warped so the best place for it was in my opinion, 'behind the wardrobe.'
Collette commented on the painting and said that if I wanted to keep it, I could remove the canvas from the frame and glue it to a piece of MDF for example.
This started me thinking about the difficulties we all have with where to put our finished 'masterpieces' and if it would be feasible to remove paintings from their frames and just store them one on top of each other? It might seem drastic but I'm sure I'm not alone in having paintings that will never be sold, certainly true in my case, or that are not 'up to scratch' etc but you may want to keep. It seems like a solution to me but before I go mad with a sharp knife I'd like to hear what others have to say.
Posted
I’m probably in the same position as you Russell. I have quite a few paintings “ stored” - in my case, in the roof space. Sometimes I paint over them but there are others which I recognise are ok and I’m loath to get rid! Veering off the subject, at present I have a pile of Leisure Painter and Artist mags which I need to go through ( !!) before they are consigned elsewhere.
Back to paintings, yes….of course you can do what Collette suggests but it’s all putting things off isn’t it? Most of us are guilty of that. Every so often I tidy things up - move them around really and convince myself I’ve decluttered. But it’s not really true….I’ve still got most of the stuff. It all really comes down to - are you decisive and rational rather than emotional…I’ve come to accept I’m the latter. Someone who comes after me will have to bin stuff unless I change drastically! But I still try 🥴😄
To add, yes, why not? You or someone else can still reframe canvas after cutting . You haven’t lost anything.
Edited
by Marjorie Firth
Posted
A common dilemma.... I have boards stacked in all sorts of places: some are just bad paintings: I keep those for the lessons they impart. Others are better: I store those as best I can, and frame as many of the better ones as I can. Sometimes, people call on me, or see them on Zoom meetings, and make me an offer. Never give up! I've sold five to ten year old paintings that way.
Watercolours can be stored in drawers; acrylics can be stacked (up to a point); oils - those are difficult - they shouldn't really be stacked on top of each other, unpleasant things can happen to them. Frame them if possible - you don't want oil paintings lying directly on top of each other. And - also if possible - have a "retrospective" now and then; call upon a relative, nephew, niece, younger friend, to do the physical work for you - which means that I really can't do it any more, so have to rely on the younger generation to develop an interest in my old stuff, in the hope that this will create an appetite for the newer.
In short, you can't have too many younger friends.
It does come to all of us who live apart from close relatives and do not have many younger friends, or at least those not especially interested in traditional arts; those of us who cannot rely on anti-social media - we will be surrounded by unsold works, and while they may be of value to us, they will be of none to others, unless, perhaps, our reputation is enhanced some 75 years after we've been entombed beneath the hungry turf. Either flog your innards out publicizing your work while you remain generally sound of limb, or stack it in cupboards, under the bed, frame it and plaster the walls with it, and hope that indifferent destiny will recognize our worth long after we're far too dead to benefit from it.
Such is the lot of the artist - or at least, of those whom contemporary fame does not reward, and contemporary magazines, websites, publishers and more do not advance because the swine think they know best and choose others over ourselves.
Do not think one bitter. HEAVENS no.
Posted
I sometimes paint on gessoed canvas cut from a roll, taped to a board. I hang the finished paintings with a hanger that has clips, the sort for trousers or a skirt, the clips are on a bit of unpainted canvas. I can get loads on a rail. If someone wants it I can glue it with bindex to a cradled wood panel or a flat panel. Apply bindex to both surfaces or any archival pva glue. I have a soft rubber brayer that I keep for the purpose of pressing the canvas to the wood, center out. I let the glue dry 24 hours face down on a clean cloth with books on the back then cut the canvas flush with a new stanley blade. Those paintings already on panels or canvas, 
glassine paper is great for keeping paintings from sticking together if you have to stack them.
I found an old picture sorry it's a bit blurry but it shows what I mean.
glassine paper is great for keeping paintings from sticking together if you have to stack them.
I found an old picture sorry it's a bit blurry but it shows what I mean. 
Posted
And Bonfire night is gone....shucks we could have had a great one...Russell expand to the top of your wardrobe... Another thought...Christmas is a coming on!.
I have just counted up how many I have hung on my own walls ..37..I also have a big walk in cupboard fitted out to hold pictures....Tis full.I have found that big plastic storage boxes hold quite a lot ...what's really daft is we are all bemoaning the storage of our opuses ( not sure ..is it Opus, Opus's or Opi) Then we go and paint another one...
Collette, you clever lady.
Edited
by Sylvia Evans
Posted
Thanks all for responding. Marjorie your thought on 'what happens after we've gone' is something I'm beginning to think about too. I'm 70 in March and we accumulate so much 'stuff' over the years don't we. Books, magazine, cds, clothes we don't throw out because they might fit again one day - some chance! - and much much more. And then of course our Art paraphernalia. I think the bonfire might be pertinent Sylvia as I'm sure much of my stuff will eventually end up fuelling one or interred in a skip. I think a rational approach is required so I shall invest in a new Stanley blade!
Posted
An interesting read about a common problem. I just make pictures for myself these days... long, long ago having decided it wasn't worth the bother of trying to sell things (I did try various avenues). So selling stuff isn't even on my agenda, and I hate commissions. What to do with it all? Since selling is a no-go area for me, ruthless culls is the answer. I've three large portfolios that regularly get reshuffled, new stuff I want to keep for a while replacing older stuff. The portfolios are crammed full.
I paint on the back of old pictures. Most of my sketchbooks are for more fully worked drawings, when full these go on a bookshelf. Luckily I didn't get into sketchbooks until perhaps 7 or 8 years ago, otherwise I'd be neck-deep in sketchbooks by now. I do have cheap sketchbooks that are for scribbled ideas, when full they are dumped. I guess it's easier for me because I'm using paper. For the last eight years I've been putting some of my stuff into photobooks, when printed, most of the originals are scrapped...some will be in my sketchbooks but anything done on a single sheet of paper has a limited life expectancy. I get these photobooks printed just before Christmas when big discounts are available, I'm putting together the ninth book now.
As I'm well past my 'sell by date', I've discussed this with my son. He doesn't want me to get rid of anything, but he's not aware of how much I have. When I'm gone, he MAY keep the books, I suspect everything else will have to go in the tip. What do I care? All the logical evidence suggests I won't be bothered by then.
Sometimes I wonder why I do it, and tell myself it's to keep myself active. By now putting marks on paper is pretty much part of my DNA.
Posted
Interesting read as Lew says and definitely a common problem. I like a lot of you have loads of painting and sketches the sketch’s are in multi page plastic covers , sketches and paintings are kept in several under bed very large storage boxes some in the shed as well . I don’t see what the problem is as next week I will become very famous and sell all of them even the scribble pads for a absolute fortune ( yes I’m still taking the happy pills). Like all things I suppose they will not be really looked at properly when I bite the bullet and sold to the nearest skip, for nothing one one two might just be kept for a short while til the kids have a clear out . I have sold a few over the years and of course I don’t know what will be the fate of those like to think that some will still be around in a few years time. But again quoting Lew I paint for me and my pleasure if they are like well what a bonus, if they sell well blow me down that’s either a good painting or the buyer has no idea . Will I keep producing more , you bet I will until I can no longer see or hold my brush.
Posted
A comumal problem....we should have an on line sale of incredibly reduced [email protected] cover the cost and add p postage ....
Yay my kind neighbour has a birthday next week, guess what she is getting?.