Acrylic Paint Warning

[Michael Mahoney]

The April 2016 edition of Scientific American magazine has a lengthy article concerning the rapid deterioration of acrylic paint. It goes into fine detail on what is going wrong and why and there is no cure. The paint is simply turning to gook.
Museums are going nuts trying to save what they have in their collections.
You might want to take another look at using the stuff.
Michael Mahoney
[email protected]

 

[arj]

Could be interesting, ...... but at the same time, I'm aware that April Fools day is just around the corner.

 

[Nap]

Checked all mine from manys years ago ...all is fine!!!

Nap

 

[mick3272]

Probably be dead my the time it affects mine.
Mick

 

[Alex]

The problem with varnished acrylic paintings is that you can't remove the varnish layer from the paint layer without damaging the paint layer.

The solution is simply to not varnish your figures and keep them in cabinets, far away from direct lighting. My collection of hundreds of russian figures is behind glass and in complete darkness 95% of the time.

 

[Eludia]

Looking at some of my earlier pieces painted in acrylics I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if the paint fell off

 

[sippog]

Looking at some of my earlier pieces painted in acrylics I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if the paint fell off

Absolutely - a 2nd chance to paint them. What's not to like?

 

[Babelfish]

Quote from the article: "They believe there is a good chance the art they showcase now will not be fit to be seen in one hundred years, according to researchers"

Ah well - nothing lasts forever! And I think it's a safe bet that most of us will be dust 100 years from now. So why worry?!

- Steve

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Quote from the article: "They believe there is a good chance the art they showcase now will not be fit to be seen in one hundred years, according to researchers"

Ah well - nothing lasts forever! And I think it's a safe bet that most of us will be dust 100 years from now. So why worry?!

- Steve

Steve, you will still be moderating in 2099!

 

[harto]

Just looked up the article, the editor posted the following clarification which I hope I'm ok quoting since we reference the source material - it seems that they were talking about other materials containing plastics which became more popular post 1940 and have started to degrade; "[Editor's note: A reference to acrylics in the first paragraph has been removed on March 18, 2016, to avoid implying that acrylic artist paints will be unsuitable for display in one hundred years.]".

 

[peedee]

Well I'be been using them for 40 years and I have rlto say I have seen no problems yet.
I actually finished one this week.



...using some chainmail paint that is 30 years old and still going strong.

Paul.

 

[mick3272]

...using some chainmail paint that is 30 years old and still going strong.

Paul.

I bet you havn't got any biccies that are 30yrs old. or even 30 mins

 

[peedee]

I bet you havn't got any biccies that are 30yrs old. or even 30 mins

How much is this bet first Mick ?

Paul.

 

[Michael Mahoney]

I just read the disclaimer on the magazine's website, but it only confuses the issue. The article then details the problems confronted with Andy Warhol and other artists use of acrylic paints. The paints are now disintegrating into globs of plastic.
Anyway, I have never used the stuff, but thought it would be useful to those of you who do.
Good luck.
Michael Mahoney

 

[Kevin D.]

WOW...I am SOOOOOO glad I stuck with OILS!!!!!

 

[Tommi]

Oh Dear I have painted and sold over 200 pieces in acrylic over the years but no complaints yet

Tommi

 

[mick3272]

Oh Dear I have painted and sold over 200 pieces in acrylic over the years but no complaints yet

Tommi

Hope you didnt give them a warranty or guarantee
Mick

 

[Alex]

https://books.google.ca/books?id=AN...ylic paintings longevity conservation&f=false

Interesting article showing that acrylic paintings are indeed very stable and require minimum conservative measures. However here are a few key points to remember :

-acrylic paint film is less resistant to physical damage so our figures should be handled with care. In other terms, once installed on its base, leave it alone. However the acrylic paint film is much more elastic and flexible than an oil one so acrylic paint will not crack easily.
-protect your figures from harmful light
-dirt will become part of the acrylic paint film and can not be removed so keep you figures behind glass.
-do not contaminate the surface of your painting with your fingers. That grease will stay there and collect dirt.
-acrylic paint film will get easily damaged under 0C and over 60C so always store figures accordingly an be very careful when you ship or transport then in the cold winter.

If you follow those simple guidelines, I bet that your acrylic painted figures will still be in pristine shape in a century or two.

 

[chippy]

Michael back in the late sixty's I was knocking out abstract paintings in acrylics to sell to the tourists at inflated prices Ohoo Hippy Days, Ohoo Hippy Days . I can assure you the acrylics used then where a much different paint from what is on the market now , it was almost a plastic that you could peel off . I have every confident's in todays acrylics , and remember oils paints and oil paint based paints like Humbrol yellow with age so you got to expect some changes on your painted figures unless you keep them in an air sealed unit and out of natural daylight .
chippy

 

[Vermis]

I first read about this on James Gurney's blog:

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/are-acrylics-and-other-plastics-decaying.html

Thanks to that, and comments on it by Michael Golden (that Michael Golden) I'm in the not-very-worried-at-all camp.