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Portraitists often strive for exact visual likenesses. However, although the viewer's correct identification of the sitter is of primary importance, exact replication is not always the goal. Artists may intentionally alter the appearance of their subjects by embellishing or refining their images to emphasize or minimize particular qualities (physical, psychological, or social) of the subject.

Clean Oil Paintings

The procedure is as follows:

1. Buy a loaf (two or three loaves if the painting is large) of a good doughy bread--a large sourdough works nicely.
2. On a pretty day, take the painting outdoors--or work inside on a large drop cloth--since this is a messy procedure.
3. Using dough pulled from the inside of the loaf, scrub the painting using gentle pressure. You will see the soil collect on the dough. Get a new hunk of dough as the older piece gets dirty or disintegrates. Continue this process over the entire surface of the work.
4. Using a soft bristle brush-- such as a good quality house painting brush--brush the remaining dough crumbs off the painting. Go methodically over the entire surface because the dough likes to stick and any remaining crumbs would be an enticement to insects.

Paintings on Artist Board, is probably no more than 50 or 60 years old. Protecting paintings with a layer of varnish has not been standard practice in the latter half of this century, this further suggests that your painting doesn't have a build up of varnish, oil residues and imbedded grime that would require using a solvent. (Alcohol and cotton swabs work well on such oils and some varnishes, but please don't try this on the family Vermeer.)
Your biggest concern before undertaking any surface cleaning would be the actual quality of the paint's adherence to the artist board. If the paint is flaking or if the impasto (paint layer) is very thick and raised from the surface, you probably should just leave the piece as is. If the surface appears stable, intact and relatively flat, you might try the following approach:
Remember: patience and a light touch are required.
Dust the piece--ever so gently--with a very soft brush. (Imagine you are cleaning a soiled rose bloom from the garden.) Next, prepare a mild soap solution (dishwashing liquid works well) and clean, soft rags. Using a very gentle blotting motion, clean off surface oil and grime build-up. Work in small areas. At no time should the painting's surface be allowed to become saturated with the soap solution. And for heaven's sake, don't rub. Let this dry. If progress has been made, but it doesn't yet meet your standards of clean. You may repeat this process--once.

Other caveats: Do not submerge the painting in water. Its backing could warp and possibly dissolve. In fact, the less water you use on this painting, the better.
There are no guarantees here: If the artist did not take proper steps in preparing the board, then you may find paint starting to flake off. The main reason why older paintings have varnish build-up is from previous efforts to counter this effect. Also, if you have mistaken gouache, watercolour or any other readily soluble medium for oil paint, this cleaning process will almost certainly destroy the work.
And a closing word of advice: the reason some people choose watch repair as a hobby is they lack the patience to do art restoration.
At a car boot sale, I found a wonderful old drawing. But it's rather dirty and perhaps has had some water dripped on it. What is the best way to clean it?
It is for good reason that the value of an artwork on paper--be it a drawing, a watercolour or a print--is closely linked to its condition: works on paper are very difficult, sometimes impossible, to clean or restore.
Perhaps, a kneaded eraser could be used to carefully remove a small blemish or bit of grime. Otherwise, simply smooth the drawing with the assistance of a mat and enjoy it "as is".

Good luck with your spring cleaning!

Having a portrait painted is usually a once in a lifetime experience.

To make sure you get the portrait you desire, think about the composition, context and subject of your Portrait.

A family, a child, an honoured member faculty or board-member, a beloved horse or pet or an individual portrait of you dressed at your best.

Oil portraits obviously will take longer to paint due to the fact that it takes longer to dry before it can be varnished. Typically one or two months, some can take up to six months, depending on the level of detail and number of figures. We aim under a month. We offer you:

Convenience - There’s no need for time consuming and expensive sittings. You simply supply us with a photo of the person – or even pet - and we work from there.

Control - You are the art director. You choose the style, the size and any colour preferences you have to fit in with your interior. We do the rest.

Affordability - With prices starting from just £47.00 ready stretched and ready to hang, and delivered FREE. They make wonderful original present.

Portrait Paintings, oils, watercolours, Silhouette, Pop-art hand painted on 3D Canvas FREE DELIVERY +70%OFF