Dust on canvas

Joan Breckwoldt · 05-06-2002, 08:34 PM

If it's not one thing, it's another...

I have started applying glazes to an underpainting and I am having a terrible time with what I think is dust on the canvas. I have turned the canvas to face the wall while it's drying (I read that on a helpful post on this Forum), but I'm wondering how I can solve my problem. It's not even really dust, it's more like specks, which I guess is a few pieces of dust clumped together. It's not a lot - on the face of my painting I had to wipe away 4 or 5 of these bothersome things.

Should I be wiping the canvas clean with a clean brush before I glaze? Or a cloth with something on it?

I suppose I've always had this problem but when painting with thick paint, just never noticed it before. With the glazes, every little thing seems to show.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Joan

Michael Georges · 05-06-2002, 10:41 PM

Hello Joan:

There are brush hairs, cat hairs, and a variety of dust, ashes, et.al in most old master paintings. I saw what I thought might be a cat hair in a Rembrandt - I am pretty sure he had cats. Clearly it is an age old problem. I now paint on a slightly textured board, so the dust is not quite as visible. For a couple of years I tried to get a glass smooth surface on my paintings and it drove me crazy because there was always that one little proud spot in the dark area that caught the light...

Nowadays I still follow a habit I got into from those paintings - I begin each session with a picking and smashing bit where I use my palette knife to pick off, or smash in as many of those annoying spots as I can. And, as I mentioned, I now paint on a textured surface so a lot fewer of them show or are noticable.

That said, I recommend an air filter in your room - helps to keep out the dust. Some even use drying boxes - too complex for my taste, so I just pick and smash.

Karin Wells · 05-06-2002, 11:02 PM

Dust on a wet canvas is an annoying part of painting and here is what I do about it:

I use "auto wipes" that I buy from an automotive supply store - or from Wal-Mart. They are an ugly blue, but are absolutely totally lint free. I use them instead of rags and/or paper towels which transfer a LOT of lint when you wipe your brushes.

I use an ordinary tack-rag from a hardware or paint store to wipe the dry surface of my painting before I begin a painting session. These rags are cheesecloth and are impregnated with beeswax and are meant to remove all lint from a surface. They work great. After a couple of months, I toss the old tack-rag away and buy a new one (for about $1).

I often run an air filter during pollen season and when the weather is really dry. I borrowed an ionizer/ozoneator last week. I like what it does and will eventually purchase my own for the studio.

I always dry my painting in a vertical position....NEVER horizontal as it would attract more dust that way.

I damp mop the studio floor at least once a week and wipe down my easel.

Joan Breckwoldt · 05-06-2002, 11:04 PM

Thank you Michael for your post, it makes me feel better that this is a common problem. We are temporarily living in an apartment so my 'studio' is part of our art room/computer room which is open to our living room. I have a husband, two kids and a long haired cat so even using an air filter may be like fighting a losing battle. I like your pick and smash technique. Thanks!

Joan

Joan Breckwoldt · 05-06-2002, 11:11 PM

Thank you Karin for your reply, it came in as I was replying to Michael's post. I will try both the auto wipes and the tack rag.

Now that you and Michael have both mentioned an air filter, that might be something to try (maybe there is such thing as an industrial size!). But I'm just not sure it'll make a dent. My painting area is in a carpeted room and I'm sure that's not helping.

Thank you, as always, for the suggestions,
Joan

Michael Georges · 05-07-2002, 12:33 AM

Joan:

Let me praise my air filter to the STARS!!! It is a really great addition to any artists environment - it filters not only dust, but likely grabs up floating particles of charcoal (if you use it), vapors from turp and other solvents (if you use them), etc. Not to mention the cat hairs. I have a HEPA filter that also ionizes the air.

Karin: Your idea of a tack cloth is great, thanks. I also use those blue automotive towels - they absorb a lot of paint without soaking through. I fold one in 1/4s and can use it for two days to wipe my brushes on.

Sandy Barnes · 05-08-2002, 07:15 AM

Hi Joan, I have always had the same problem whether painting with (recent) glazes or ala prima. Dust and fibers! After reading your post it dawned on me what my problem may be... I store my brushes upright in a variety of cans and jars. They look like furry flower arrangements. I have tried storing them in a case, but I like to SEE all of my brushes at once. All I need do is look around at my silk plants and see the dust settled on them to realize what is happening. From now on I will give my brushes a bath before beginning a session. I will also cover them with a lightweight fabric, such as a scarf between sessions.

I too have carpet in my 'studio' It is my plan to put wood on this floor, but until then I will refrain from vaccuming while a painting is drying (bummer, I looove to vaccum

).

Karin Wells · 05-08-2002, 11:18 AM

Sandy...you just reminded me of something....

I leave my brushes upright in containers so I can see them. However, I never dip a dry brush in paint. I always swish them in thinner (partly to get rid of dust) and wipe them off before I begin to paint.

I use a "Silicoil" jar. Any kind of container that will hold thinner is better if you have some kind of screened barrier in it. When you dip your brush, the dust and paint particles will sink to the bottom and remain there forever. The "barrier" prevents the sediment from re-entering your brush.

Sandy Barnes · 05-09-2002, 08:04 AM

Great tip Karin, thanks. I have always dipped but not swish and wiped. I have seen the contraption you mentioned at Pearl and they're inexpensive.

Tom Edgerton · 07-31-2002, 08:31 AM

I've given up on trying to eliminate every last speck of dust and hair, but I had a painting once where I used a lot of medium in a particularly dark shadow (and man, did it attract the stuff, even after drying!). Now if I glaze (rarely), I borrow a technique from pastel artists and tip the easel just slightly forward of vertical while the paint sets up. The dust falls away from the surface rather than onto it. Usually kills glare, too. It's helped a lot.

Best to all!