Just Abstract Art blog

I am having a bit of a clear out of my studio to make more space for new works. Recently with my children taking up so much time I have found that although I have created lots of paintings I have not had enough time to also add them to my website or list them on ebay!

I keep thinking “I must photograph that painting today” but never get round to it and find myself painting something new.

I am now in danger of painting my self out of the studio and so have decided to have a sale from now until the end of August and I will try and get as many paintings on ebay as possible. Buy it now paintings will have the “Best Offer” option and all offers will be considered. If a painting does not have a buy it now or best offer option I can add one if you email me about it.

 Here is one of my recent paintings with a buy it now option.

Taking Care of Paintings on Canvas – a practical guide

Some buyers are afraid of buying original paintings on canvas. They fell that they will be difficult to care for and require lot of upkeep. This is not the case. An acrylic painting on canvas is easy to take care of, and should stay looking good as new for many many years. There are a few steps that can help keep you art work in tip top condition.

1.       Where to hang your painting.

Paints are created using a variety of pigments. Some of them are natural pigments that naturally are susceptible to change depending upon the environment that they ‘live’ in so it is best to try to hang your paintings in places where they will be exposed to the most stable environment possible. It is not ideal to hang a painting over a radiator, fireplace or other source of heat. Try not to hang a painting on a wall that received direct sunlight (the worst case is a wall where only half the picture sits in direct sunlight as half the painting will fade a to different rate to the other half!), Usually paintings (and most prints) will not show signs of fade for at least 70 years but it is bet to be on the safe side.

Of course everybody has walls that are above radiators, fireplaces and in sunlight and unless you want to look at a bare wall you will want to have some king of picture or painting hanging there. When hanging your collection you should bear the position in mind and hang your least valuable/favourite paintings in these locations. In reality any damage is likely to go unnoticed for many years and especially in the case of an inexpensive print the pleasure that looking at it gives you will be more than enough to compensate for the fact that in 70 years of so it may look a little stretched or faded!

2.       Humid Environments.

A bathroom of kitchen is not an idea environment for hanging paintings. The humid atmosphere and in a kitchen food and fat molecules caused by cooking can have a bad effect on canvas. Especially gallery wrapped canvas with no glass to protect it. Everybody likes to have art in their bathroom or kitchen so as with a wall with a radiator etc. it is best to hang ‘disposable’ works of art in these sorts of environments.

3.       Handling your Artwork.

Try not to touch your new painting too much. Touching something delicate like a pastel of watercolour artwork is never good – the natural grease on (even the best washed) fingers will transfer to the art surface and leave a print with may not show up at first but years later may start to become visible. An acrylic is more robust but even so should not really e touched if you can help it.
A stretched canvas should be handled and placed with care. Always try to place a canvas painting on a level surface with nothing poking the canvas from behind. Even left for 5 minutes something poking the canvas can leave a stretch mark that could be there for ever.

 I hope that this guide has been of some use – do not be afraid of original art. If you like a painting then buy it. If it is not too expensive hang it where you want (If your art is slightly more expensive just hang it in a place with a more stable environment. ) but most importantly of all enjoy it, look at it every day and be pleased you bought it after all, that is what the artist painted it for. To purchase original art please visit my website www.justabstract.co.uk

I have not listed anything new on eBay for a while now as I have been involved in an exhibition elsewhere. I have however written a new guide on what to look for when purchasing art on canvas on eBay………………..

 There are hundreds of artists selling their art work and paintings on eBay now. Most of the time you will purchase a real, hand painted, original work direct from the artist - these are usually a real bargain (direct from the artist with no gallery mark up), and usually high quality, beautiful works. Most artists selling on eBay are genuine artists, people who love to paint and genuinely make a living selling their work. However, as with all trades, there are those in it just to make a fast buck and leave you with inferior, poor quality art, not something you would want to hang on your walls.   Here are some things to look out for. SizeAlways check the size of a painting before buying. If you are not sure of sizes make sure you get a ruler an measure out the size of the painting. It is even worth making paper templates and checking the painting will look good and fit the wall where you hope to hang it. Checking the size is especially important if an artist uses a mocked up picture of a settee or room showing how their painting may look. Often these do not represent the real proportions (as usually stated in the auction) and you should make sure you know the real size before you place your bid. If it seems to good to be true it probably is….Beware of people claiming to be artists who sell their paintings in galleries yet they list their works on eBay for a few pounds - if they were selling for hundreds in galleries would they really regularly part with the same work for only a few pounds?  Check that a hand painted painting is all hand painted.If you are looking for an original, make sure you know the entire painting has been hand painted. Often images are printed on to canvases and then ‘artists’ will add a couple of brush strokes. The painting can then be said to be ‘hand painted’ but it may not be exactly what you had in mind. Stretched or Un-stretchedIf you are buying a canvas painting make sure you know if it is stretched or not.Most artists paint on stretched canvas and ship the paintings already framed. Make sure you know what you are  buying before you place your bid. An un stretched canvas may be easier and cheaper for the artist to post but you will need to get it stretched once you receive it. The cost of having a painting stretched can be huge - much more than the difference between shipping for a stretched verses an un stretched canvas. Before buying an un stretched painting it would be a good idea to contact a few picture framers in your area to find out how much a stretching service would be. That way you will know how much you will be looking to spend on top of the cost of the painting and the shipping. CommissionsIf you are buying a commission from an artist make sure you know how long the commission will take and the colours, design and size. Check if the artist will send you a photo to approve before sending your painting and if you want something in a different colour if the artist does not state that this is possible in the listing it is probably best to email the artist before you buy. Read Feedback

You should always check a users feedback before you buy on ebay - are people happy with the product they have bought? Take a look at the artists ‘about me’ page and see if they have a website - if so take a look. Have FunThe most important thing when buying an original piece of art is to have fun - enjoy it. Enjoy searching for that perfect piece. The expectation as you wait for it to arrive. Have fun unwrapping it (like a Christmas present) and enjoy the colour, the design and the texture of the paint and brushstrokes. If you choose something you really like hopefully you will have something you will really enjoy and love for years to come. There is a painting out there for every one - where will you find yours?