Great Starts and Smart Finishes: How to Make Sure Your Art Lasts a Lifetime

Creating a lasting masterpiece is about more than just the strokes of paint you apply; it’s the careful attention to detail before and after you start painting that makes all the difference. While the process in between might get the most attention, without proper surface preparation and finishing touches, your artwork is vulnerable to fading, cracking, or damage over time. Whether you’re working with watercolors, pastels, oils, acrylics, or encaustics, the beginning and end stages of your artwork are important for maintaining its longevity. In this post, we’ll review how to start and finish a painting, using the proper art supplies and techniques.

The Importance of a Strong Beginning

No matter the medium or technique you choose, every painting needs a strong foundation to make sure the paint adheres properly and lasts. Surface preparation is key, and the art supplies you use to prime your surface can vary depending on your medium. A good priming process not only prepares the surface for paint but also helps the pigment grip and adhere to it, giving your artwork better durability.

• Watercolor: The surface for watercolor painting has to be absorbent to allow the paint to flow and blend smoothly. Cotton-based watercolor papers are great because they provide the right texture and absorption, allowing your colors to settle in and create the fluidity needed for a beautiful finish.
  
  
• Pastel: Pastels require a textured surface to hold the pigment in place. Without texture or grit, the powdery pastels would simply sit on top of the paper without proper adhesion. A rough or sanded paper surface is often the best choice for pastels to make sure that the colors stay vibrant and intact.
  
  
• Oil: When working with oils, a good primer is key. Oil-based primers, also called oil grounds, seal the surface and create a non-absorbent barrier that allows the paint to sit on top. Without this primer, oils would seep into the canvas, affecting the color and texture.
  
  
• Acrylic: Acrylic paints require an acrylic primer to result in good adhesion to the surface. This primer not only helps the paint adhere but also prevents the acrylics from absorbing too much into the substrate, preserving the vibrancy of your colors.
  
  
• Encaustics: Encaustic paintings need a raw, unsealed surface, like raw wood, or encaustic gesso. These materials bond perfectly with encaustic medium, allowing the wax-based paint to adhere and create the desired texture and richness.

Some surfaces may require additional products to ensure proper adhesion, depending on the medium you're working with. For example, certain types of canvas may need a more specific primer to accommodate acrylics, while more delicate papers may require a light application of surface preparation to ensure they can hold the pastel pigments properly.

The Finishing Touches: Protection is Key

After you’ve put in the hard work on the painting itself, it's time to protect your masterpiece. The right finishing techniques are just as important as the priming process. Not only do they help preserve your work for years to come, but they also provide an extra layer of protection from dust, dirt, and physical damage. Whether you're framing, varnishing, or using heat, here are the best ways to protect your art based on its medium.

• Watercolor: Once your watercolor painting is complete, it's important to protect it from fading and environmental damage. Framing it behind glass is the best way to shield it from dust, dirt, and UV rays. If you’d rather not frame it, you can also use a varnish spray, though it may change the surface texture slightly, giving it a glossy finish. Just be sure to test the varnish first to make sure it won’t affect your color or texture.
  
  
• Pastel: Pastels are delicate, and because they rely on surface adhesion, they need a little extra protection. Like watercolors, framing your pastel painting behind glass is ideal to keep it safe from the elements. Otherwise, you can use a spray varnish to protect the piece, but be aware that it may alter the surface slightly.
  
  
• Oil: Oil paintings need a protective layer of varnish to prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on the surface and to protect the colors from oxidation. The varnish should be removable, so you can clean or refresh the painting over time without damaging it.
  
  
• Acrylic: Acrylic paintings benefit from a protective varnish that seals in the color and protects it from wear. Varnishing not only enhances the colors but also provides a smooth, protective layer to shield the painting from environmental factors.
  
  
• Encaustics: Encaustic paintings need a heat treatment to bond the encaustic medium to the surface. Once the painting is complete, it’s often a good idea to apply a layer of encaustic medium, using heat to fuse the medium into the surface. This process gives the painting an extra layer of protection, ensuring the encaustic wax doesn’t peel off over time.

Extra Considerations for Certain Surfaces

Some surfaces, especially acrylic panes, can attract static electricity, which could pull pastel pigments off the surface and onto the panel. When working with pastels, be careful when using acrylic panes that might cause this type of static interaction. It’s best to use surfaces and framing methods that are compatible with your chosen medium to make sure that the artwork stays intact.

Mastering the Start and Finish of Your Painting

To make sure that your artwork lasts as long as possible, it's important to start with proper surface preparation and finish with thoughtful protection. Whether it’s priming or varnishing, the right beginning and end processes make all the difference in the longevity of your masterpiece. With the right care, your artwork will continue to bring joy and inspiration for years to come, no matter the medium!