Can Put An Oil Painting in the Kitchen

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Last updated: March 25, 2023

Note: Welcome, Ged Quinn fans! More on Ged further down. 😉

Wall art is becoming very popular. I was surprised to find that the baby boomers, or Generation Xers, own this title through my research. Millennials have turned wall art into a cottage industry. No prior generation has embraced wall art like the millennial generation. Don’t believe me? Have a look at this 2017 Statista analysis on wall art purchases by generation in American households.

Wall art can be almost anything. Think about posters, photographs, sculptures, and paintings. In this article, I will focus on oil paintings in your kitchen.

Individualism is at an all-time high. Wall art adds color and beauty to a room, especially your kitchen. However, it’s also a statement, and many people are very open and expressive about their interests.

In the past, homeowners would not add oil paintings in their kitchen because they were enclosed, with poor ventilation. Moderns, apartments, and condos are more likely to be open concept, with fewer walls and other barriers, allowing better ventilation. New appliances with powerful vent hoods can also quickly remove smoke and heat, thereby eliminating a lot of heat, smoke, and humidity damage during a cooking session.

Your safest bet would be to place the oil painting next to your open concept kitchen.

Table of Contents

Oil Paintings Are Beneficial

Wall art is beneficial to both children and adults. It’s always the best way to improve mood, expression, and memory.

Did you know this? Children who live in homes with artwork tend to perform better academically, and adults who live in homes with art tend to feel happier and healthier.

Visual art helps students academically because it stimulates creativity and imagination. Students who create art can express themselves through their work, which leads to better academic performance. Art also helps students learn how to think critically about their work and communicate ideas effectively.
Studies have concluded that visual art helps improve concentration and memory, critical thinking, and decision-making. In addition, art influences and enhances listening and communication but even improves focus, discipline, self-esteem, and social skills.

Best Oil Painting Locations in Your Home

The most popular places for wall art in the home are the kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, and hallway. More than ever, we see homes with luxurious oil paintings in the kitchen. I’ll be honest, the first place to consider for oil paintings is the kitchen, as they’re generally dull. An oil painting makes a perfect kitchen statement piece that never fails to deliver for guests and family.

Below, I am going to ask some common questions about oil paintings and your kitchen. I’ve had many readers reach out for answers. I also hope to provide some inspiration. I will tell you a bit about the oil paintings of a famous UK artist.

Can I Put an Oil Painting in the Kitchen

You certainly can and definitely should. My reason is simple. If you want to style things up for your small kitchen in a condo or small apartment or your larger modern kitchen, you may want to make a statement with an oil painting.

I’ve seen too many kitchens with familiar accents that we’ve all loved and appreciated.

However, they can get a little boring.

I’m talking about the:

·  Woodcutting board signs near kitchen shelves

·  Metal letter kitchen signs

·  Hung rolling pins and framed recipe cards

·  Weekly menu recipe rustic-style board

·  Hanging herb garden with small pails

·  Hanging baskets for produce and wall sign

·  Framed silverware to give off that vintage look

·  A homemade do-it-yourself (DIY) wooden coffee and tea bar wall unit with hanging cups

·  Wooden D.I.Y. wine rack for the kitchen wall

·  Wooden display rack for plants with a rustic-styled clock

·  Farmhouse style kitchen utensils and letters for the wall

·  Framed boxes containing fake produce with glassed exterior

·  Wooden boards for hanging copper-based pots and pans for a rustic-style kitchen

·  And the list can go on and on….!

Ask yourself. How many oil paintings have you seen in a kitchen? You might find it in some modern, contemporary luxury homes and think only rich people do this. It’s not true.

Art and style are available to everyone. You just need to have a little courage and give it a go! Adding an oil painting in your kitchen helps adds color and character to your home. It would be a housekeeping mistake not to consider oil paintings in any room, including your kitchen.

Oh, if you were wondering. Most oil paints are a mix of color pigment and oil and are not toxic, but it is good to consider do-it-yourself oil painting projects with outside air or open windows. Some of the paints emit fumes that are known to cause dry skin or headaches.

Can my Oil Painting Lose Value in the Kitchen

An interesting question! Its placement or location does not determine value. Indeed, if your oil painting suffers from heat or physical damage, its value will decline rapidly.

You want to be careful where you add an oil painting.

However, we need a small education primer on value and art. Most homeowners aren’t buying valuable works of art. They’re buying something that resonates with them and is unique to their tastes and style. What’s essential for you? I’m a big fan of orange and orange-brown colors in my clothing and artwork. As my color favorite, my home styling is going to meet these tastes.

If you consider oil paintings for their value, this isn’t the recommended approach. Think about value, anyhow. Let’s say you purchased an oil painting from a local artist. Do you think it has perceived value in the marketplace?

What if the artwork has a very narrow focus or its style/subject matter is dated? It might not matter to future generations. Mid-century modern decor and architecture resonate through generations (even millennials love its clean look) but not all artwork is going to be “timeless” unless you’ve purchased from the great names. I’d then question your kitchen placement. 😀

Any dated artwork will decline in value. Don’t be surprised if inheritors donate your artwork to the trash bin or a thrift store because of its less than desired quality and conditional value four decades later.

If you buy from a local artist, you won’t know if their reputation is built on quality artwork or based on hype and promotion; keep in mind, when the hype goes away, so does the value and brand recognition for the painting or artist.

You might be able to get some direction from a paint store or even art collectors. They might point you in the direction of local, professional painters.

Some studies show that artwork declines with the death of lesser-known artists; there’s no active management of studio artwork, portfolios, or commissioned events at art galleries.

My research turned up some other exciting things:

Color does play a role in price! Anything with red in it appears to sell at a higher price.
Oil paintings with beautiful women sell for more than those with men, but obviously, it depends on some specific ones.
Oil paintings with bright experiences like a sunny beach or other landscape will win over dark and stormy ones.
Of course, the above means zilch if the painter/artist is famous.

Just Remember. Oil paintings are a deeply personal thing. It’s about you, what you stand for, and what you want to share with guests. I do want to warn you to avoid buying art as an investment first.

Can I Clean the Oil Painting in My Kitchen

If you did not spend a lot of money on your oil painting, it’s probably worth the risk to clean it do-it-yourself style. Yet, the risk is still high that you’ll damage it! Even an expensive or rare oil painting faces significant risk; you should consider professional conservators.

However, an oil painting in your kitchen is far less likely to get dirty unless it’s near your cooktop, where there is a greater chance. In the kitchen, oil paintings are at greater risk from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight.

If you have dust, it’s probably better to just leave it as it won’t get worse, says the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute.

Suggested Tips to Remove Dust (Use at Own Risk)

The best option is to use a damp cloth, tack cloth, or cotton swab with saliva or soapy clean water to remove dust, grime, or residue with light motions (Soap with olive oil is best because it is mild).
Consider a small vacuum cleaner to clean dust from both sides of your oil painting canvas; the front nozzle should never touch the painted portion of the canvas.
If you experience any dullness, consider Renaissance Wax to polish and conserve metal objects, wood, gemstone, and even an oil painting. It is made of microcrystalline wax and can be purchased from conservation suppliers because there is a massive demand for antique restoration and museum conservation.

Why is the Oil Painting in My Kitchen Stained

Oops, it looks like you’ve made a mess of the oil painting. Well, as per my instructions above, cleaning any oil painting is a risky business. If it is indeed stained or smudged due to the oil painting not drying thoroughly, you may be past the point of no return.

If it is a stain, like grime or some residue, you might be able to get away with doing this on your own. Do this at your own risk. If you’ve paid a lot, call in the specialists. You could fix a small amount of dust with a small handheld vacuum. For grime and residue, get a soft cloth and dish soap water and consider an olive oil base because it’s mild and has generally been effective.

Warning: There can’t be alcohol ingredients in anything, or you’ll be making mud pies with your oil painting!

Why is the Oil Painting in the Kitchen Cracking and Flaking

Temperature and humidity create extreme conditions which are unstable and are obviously, bad for any oil painting in your kitchen. It’s vital that your oil painting is noo where near direct sunlight or your stovetop oven.

I recommend you have air conditioning or large windows to allow fresh air and breeze to come into your kitchen space; if your kitchen is small and isn’t an open concept, you might need to re-consider oil paintings in this situation.

If your kitchen is constantly over 75 degrees Fahrenheit, any paint support will give way through expansion from this heat, resulting in painted layers cracking and flaking. Be mindful of humidity if you level in environments where it is terrible.

Humidity shouldn’t exceed 50 percent; otherwise, moisture builds mold and insects with it. Any varnish will have a hazy white look which is not at all desirable.

Humidity should not exceed 50 percent and should not go below 30%. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the ideal range for your home is between 30-50%.

There are many reasons why cracking may occur. If you added a faster drying layer on top of a slower drying layer, your oil painting is likely to crack. If you think about it, it makes logical sense. Paint may be stiff on top and dry, but the slower bottom layer is still drying, will move, and likely crack.

Painting specialists suggest that adding more oil to faster drying paint will slow things down, allowing the drying process to take effect and reducing the chance of cracking.

Why is the Oil Painting in my Kitchen Too Shiny

Oil paints contain pigment suspended in oil. The oil sinks into the canvas fibers when applying the paint, but the pigment remains on the surface. If you add another layer of paint over the top, the new layer will not sink into the previous layer. As a result, the new layer of color appears lighter than the original layer.

When you apply paint to a surface, the oil spreads out over the surface and creates a smooth, glossy finish. You can make this glossy finish is using damar varnish.

Damar Varnish is a water-based varnish popular with interior painting. It is the right varnish because it has a high gloss finish and is easy to apply. It dries quickly and provides excellent protection against moisture and stains. Since it is resin-based, it is mixed with oil paint mediums to help accelerate the drying process. A thoroughly dried process can be anywhere from three to six months, but it could be a lot longer if you’ve painted more than 6-7mm.

Used as a topcoat on the oil painting, it will help seal the paint and appears like a glossy finish. Too much gloss? Consider a liquid sander to help remove any gloss from your oil painting.

Why Does the Oil Painting in my Kitchen Look Muddy

You should use colors that are not too bright or dull. If you want to make your painting look more realistic, you should use colors close to the objects they represent.

Oil paints have tiny particles of pigment suspended in oil. When you mix these two ingredients altogether, they will stick to each other if there is enough surface area for them to bond. If you add too much water, the paint will not dry properly and may even run.

Also, if your color palette range is limited, with many brown and gray colors, you’re going to have a rather muddy, dull painting outcome! I didn’t know this, but any color is brightest while still in the painting tube. Avoid more than two earthy-style tones.

The trick is to start bright and then move towards the earth tones to blend things and make things fresher.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, make sure about these things, or it will ruin your kitchen oil painting.

Watch for mud risk factors like:

·  Dirty water (use fresh water)

·  Dirty paint thinner

·  Dirty bushes which make your palettes dirty (consider glass palettes)

·  Dirty towels

·  Over-mixing many colors and variants from the bright/warm and earthy/cool/dull will lead to a muddy outcome. Remember kindergarten? We’re not in kindergarten anymore. 😀

·  Gray colors have some black in them and will turn dull. Use of any color with “pale” in the name is another risk factor. Remember – spare and proper usage

Why Does the Oil Painting in my Kitchen Look Dull and Flat

As we mentioned above, Renaissance Wax is a microcrystalline wax polish available from conservation suppliers and even Amazon. It protects surfaces like wood, leather, bone, paper, pearl, gemstone, enamel, fiberglass, granite, metal, and photographic prints or canvas from dust, liquids, or fingerprints.

Heed my warnings in the section before this one to avoid that muddy and dull look.

I discovered that the wax was developed in Britain’s museum labs in the early ’50s to support art conservation. The wax is thinly applied on surfaces, resulting in a bright layer that improves shine without damage.

Again, do at your own risk. Hire a professional if you’re uncomfortable.

Why Does the Oil Painting in my Kitchen Smell

I will be honest; I had to do a little more research and clarify this for the reader. Many paints are not toxic, but I thought about the smells, which I think the reader is referring to.

Oil paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released through evaporation as the paint is drying. Remember which paints dry more slowly because that smell makes them stick around for a while.

When I was younger, I used to think this was the smell of toxic paints.

Paints are not as toxic today; some are, so double-check if you buy from Home Depot or any other supplier.

The toxic smell is turpentine. It is a well-known solvent used in oil painting projects to thin the oil paint or clean brushes. It’s very harmful, so ventilation is appropriate!

To neutralize any odor, consider the use of vanilla extract or peppermint oil. I did find that you only need to use a few drops (four or five) to a quart of paint. Peppermint, in itself, is a powerfully scented oil that should easily do the trick.

How Long Does it Take an Oil Painting to Dry in My Kitchen

Although prolonged heat can damage your oil painting, if you opt for a do-it-yourself oil painting for your kitchen, heat does help make things dry more quickly. Cool air will not help with the drying and will slow the process.

If you’ve applied a thin painting layer, like earth colors, to your oil painting, it could be thoroughly dried out in two months but depending on thickness, mediums and pigments used, and if cadmium was used (very slow).

You can dry some paintings within 18-24 hours, but if your oil painting has added thickness and layers, a complete dry-out process could last anywhere from six months to two years.

Some Detailed Information to Make Your Oil Painting Dry More Quickly

1.  If you use a painting medium for glazing, some will make drying take longer or more quickly. A Winsor & Newtons Liquin helps the glaze dry faster, but you could buy acrylic mediums that make the pigment dry more slowly, become thicker, or even change look/texture.

2.  Consider using alkyd medium with paint colors.

3.  Consider using alkyd white to mix with oil paints versus a regular white. Oil paintings are likely to dry within 24-48 hours versus an entire week.

4.  If you paint, do it in a well-ventilated area as it will help the drying process speed up, and natural light from most modern, open concept homes, condos, or apartments will help. You could also open windows to help with this drying process.

5.  Use a “clean” ventilation fan and consider the use of a dehumidifier.

6.  Place your painting near a large window on a warm (not hot) and sunny day.

7.  Raise your thermostat temperature for overnight drying.

8.  A heat gun – at a distance – could work as long as the setting is on a low setting. If you do this wrong, the oil painting could crack and turn yellow.

9.  Consider drying agents like Liquin (Windsor * Newton) or Galkyd (Gamblin), which help speed up the drying process for extra paint layers. They contain oil, so you must use them beyond the initial thin layer; otherwise, this will extend the drying process.

If you are acrylic painting or using latex paint, they are fast-drying and water-based. However, you should never use paint thinners like mineral spirits on water-based primers, latex paints, and shellac. They have petroleum and are only meant for oil-based paints to help remove paint from brushes, rollers, and rolling pads.

A quick word on brushes. If you are painting a do-it-yourself oil painting, a synthetic bristle brush is perfect for oil pigments, acrylic, and watercolor and is made well. If you’re looking to paint straight, clean lines on your painting, consider an angled brush for its slant.

Even though artists use acrylic and latex for paintings, oil-based paints are better for portrait paintings, wood, and metal elements. Oil paint dries more slowly, but it slows the drying process when printing multiple layers if you use linseed oil. Your first thin layer in a painting is generally more fast-driving, so it’s good practice to use this natural oil.

Alkyd paint is an oil-based paint that provides a high-gloss, heavy finish that can withstand dirty stains and dust. It has been used for cabinets, kitchen trims, and furniture but is used in oil paintings because it is quick-drying and beneficial when you or any artists need to build layers more quickly in an oil painting.

For any painting process, you need to consider color, color combinations, the piece of art under consideration, the surface of a painting (smooth, textured) if your oil painting will fit into high-traffic areas like your kitchen. The choice of quality paint is essential, as it will likely need a longer period of time to dry out. The type of paint and paint type used does matter.

Why is the Oil Painting Not Drying or Taking So Long to Dry

If you wonder why the oil painting takes so long to dry and is still wet, there are reasons for this.

If you have added many layers to the canvas, this will add to the drying time. Different pigments will dry at other times, and upon some research, I found that earthy pigments dry very quickly while cadmium is very slow. Just remember, paint thinned with oil doesn’t shorten the drying process. It’s increased.

If you want to make your oil paintings, try using acrylic paints instead. Acrylic paint is water-based, dries quickly, and is easy to clean up.

Why is the Oil Painting in my Kitchen Not Drying

Well, it is drying. Slow as it may seem. Either you didn’t paint your initial layer at the thinnest possible level, did not use an acrylic medium to speed things up, or are using pigments, like cadmium, which dry very slowly. Cadmium pigments fall in the family of red, orange, and yellow sulfides.

So yes, the kitchen oil painting is drying, but it could as much as 24-48 hours if your painting layers are reasonable. Remember that ventilation, thermostat heat, and some warm sun can help in a fair amount. If you painted some very thick layers with a lot more oil or cadmium or different pigments, your oil painting could fully dry within two to six months.

Remember, painting the first thin layer helps with the drying process and additional layers to come.

Can you put an Oil Painting in the Kitchen Oven

It sounds like this reader wanted to speed up the drying oil process with a painting they likely did independently.

I do recommend using the other approaches in the questions above, as they are the safest way. Yes, some have put oil paintings in the oven and warmed carefully at less than 180 Fahrenheit in five to fifteen-minute cycles. However, do this at your own risk.

As mentioned before, oil paints are not toxic; however, if you use solvents (turpentine) for paint mixing/thinning or heavy metals (cadmium), this could be a harmful risk. I strongly recommend speaking to art store paint experts about various paints and oven drying. A handheld hair dryer may sound like it could work, but because it’s hard to distribute the warmer airflow evenly, some of the paint may crack if parts are still wet while others have dried more quickly (such as the initial layer versus the top layer)

I recommend you adopt a more patient approach. Always consider the most affordable ways to do something with less risk, and the idea of using the oven or home heating appears costlier even if you feel your utility bill isn’t high.

Can Heat or High Humidity Damage Oil Paintings in My Kitchen

Yes, these conditions are terrible for your oil paintings, and they could be damaged. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the ideal home humidity range be between 30-50%.

I have personally seen high humidity (above 50%), which is dreadful. The moisture is so thick that mold builds up quickly, with insect growth, and is not only a threat to your oil painting but your health! If you live in climates where humidity tends to be a lot worse, you need to consider dehumidifiers.

Besides heat, a water stain on your oil painting could be severe. Oil paintings should never get wet, so be aware of this when considering your kitchen location. A kitchen is a high-traffic space and is the simplest way to damage an oil painting with access to the kitchen sink, tap, and refreshments. Any water damage will cause the back of the canvas to warp, buckle, get moldy, and even have oil paint flakes fall off the new paint.

Can My Oil Painting be Damaged by Exposure to Sunlight in My Kitchen

You should not expose your oil painting to sunlight. When you decide where to hang your framed oil painting in the kitchen, ensure it is not exposed to direct sunlight from large, open windows as it will get damaged over time.

Oil paintings get damaged from the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) exposure, as heat creates a chemical-like reaction that changes the oil paint’s colors! This discoloration affects the oil painting’s surface and will happen from direct sunlight because of the UV exposure and winter home heating and if it’s near a fireplace.

However, sunlight UV damage, heat, and humidity damage don’t happen instantly or even over a short time. I am talking about an extended period which most people won’t let happen.

How Can I Protect My Painting from Sun Damage?

Simple. Keep the oil painting away from windows and direct sunlight. Consider placing your oil painting next to your open concept kitchen.

For added safety, make sure your room kitchen temperature is between 60 – 79 Fahrenheit for that oil painting. Consider temperature and climate control if you have many oil paintings, as this helps avoid dampness and mold build-up, which will damage your artwork.

Consider UV (ultra-violet) proof glass, window blinds with UV filters, and a UV film to avoid discoloration, fading, or yellowing. Ultra-violet damage acts more quickly in combination with heat.

An excellent place to begin your research is on Amazon. One company called Rabitgoo developed a one-way mirror anti-UV film for windows. Of course, there are specialty sources beyond Amazon, so don’t limit your search.

Why is the Oil Painting in My Kitchen Sticky

This question is a bit of an overlap with some of my earlier responses. If you experience this, the oil painting likely had thick coats of paint layers applied. Remember to let the first paint layer dry before applying the next layer; otherwise, it will become sticky.

If it is still sticky, it means it hasn’t dried out thoroughly due to humidity or very extreme conditions from cold to hot. This same sticky situation can happen if you apply varnish too heavily. It’s too thick.

Should I Frame My Oil Painting in the Kitchen

Another good question! Absolutely, yes! Most homeowners think of the frame as nothing more than a decorative element. However, not surprisingly, it provides structural support.

What is considered a suitable frame? The frame should have the depth to hold the painting and the rectangular stretcher (usually wooden) used to mount a canvass. Many oil paintings use nails when added to their frames. Yes, it is a bit messy.

Ever see a mirror clip? Yep, those transparent plastic clips that you notice on frameless mirrors’ top, side, or bottom. I was surprised to find that this is a popular option to hold oil paintings. I’ve seen more plastic versions versus the metal ones added into the back of a solid frame. The mirror clips overlap across the oil painting’s back.

For added support:

·  Some art lovers have used balsa (standard on rafts or models) or cork between the mirror clip and oil painting’s back

·  You can add flexible wooden shims (usually balsa and cork) to the front of the frame (rebate). The oil painting then goes into the frame opening is more significant to allow for expansion/shifting.

How Do I Hang My Oil Painting in the Kitchen

The first thing you should consider is the size of the painting. If the artwork is too big for your wall, you may need to use a picture frame and a proper hanging kit.

Smart framing will avoid damage from exposure to heat, light, and even dust or mold if you live in an area with high humidity. There are unique glazes and filter layers that you can add to stop UV rays that cause damage through discoloration and fading.

Consider seals for your frame to protect your oil painting from humidity and temperature shifts.

Another important consideration is the location. Direct sunlight or hanging an oil painting over heater systems or radiators is asking for the bad news. Your work of art will eventually get damaged through melting. So avoid hanging near windows, direct sunlight, and mainly watercolors.

I know people who had their oil painting over a fireplace in this living room. Why, why, why.

Viewing artwork should be comfortable. In terms of hanging height, the center of your oil painting should be anywhere from 57 to 60 inches from the ground to match average eye level. Most modern museums place their contemporary artwork at 61 inches, while classic vintage paintings are 72 inches from the floor (measured from the painting’s top).

Martha Stewart’s team provides a formula. As oil painting will vary in size, divide the height of your frame by two, then subtract the distance from the frame’s top to the hanging hardware, and then add this number to 57, 58, 59, or 60 (inches) for hanging eye level.

Watch this instructional Youtube video on hanging a painting.

Martha Stewart: How to Hang a Painting

Can I Add a Glossy Oil Painting to My Kitchen

Yes, that beautiful, glossy shine works well if you don’t have your oil painting hung under direct kitchen lighting. You’ve probably seen how difficult it is to see particular antique or vintage art under direct lighting at art galleries.

If your kitchen is an open concept with bright colors and large open windows, it doesn’t need direct kitchen lighting. Some homeowners and artists today prefer unvarnished paintings to reduce gloss and glare.

Can I Add a Gray Oil Painting to My Kitchen

Of course. Gray walls make for an excellent color to help bridge different kitchen elements from the floor, appliances/hardware, and any wood cabinetry. A lighter gray might not make things too drab, dark, or depressing as long as you have a lot of natural light to support an oil painting with darker gray abstract elements. There are many visual examples on Pinterest to give you some ideas.

Can I Add a Green Oil painting to My Kitchen

Yes. Whether it is picturesque or abstract, a green oil painting can fit nicely in your kitchen environment if the walls are white, light gray, or light olive tone.

Have a look at this example on Wayfair. I love this Emerald print at Crate and Barrel. Simply beautiful for any modern, clean home style!

Can I Add a Pink Oil Painting to My Kitchen

A favorite go-to color for new ideas in my home! It inspires and freshens your living space in so many ways. A little pink can go a long way to brighten up kitchen spaces with neutral colors sage, light gray, beige or white-colored walls.

Remember, neutral paint colors for kitchen walls are trendy. White continues to be the most popular because it’s the classic kitchen, and in a farmhouse-style home, a pink oil painting is so natural, and it can’t be any other color.

There are many examples on Wayfair, Etsy, and Pinterest.

Do Oil Paintings Look Good on Gray Walls in My Kitchen

Absolutely. As mentioned previously, gray is an excellent neutral color that is very popular and works very well in the kitchen and any other room in the home. Color combination matching is more manageable, and you have many options.

If you ever decide to change kitchen wall colors, make sure you use a Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution before you begin repainting. With added water, it creates an alkaline solution. You would use TSP solution for cleaning, stain, and grease removal. The new paint won’t bond if grease is still on your walls, cabinets, or shelves.

Do Oil Painting Look Good with Chalk Paint in My Kitchen

First off, what is chalk paint, you may ask? Chalk paint is not the same as chalkboard paint (a surface that allows you to write on with chalk). British artist Annie Sloan invented Chalk Paint for furniture in 1990.

Why was it invented? To avoid using fine-grit sandpaper on furniture, nor do you need to use a good primer.

If you’re looking for a matte paint finish and look, chalk paint will do the trick for furniture elements, including walls, open shelving, wooden panels, kitchen cabinets, and cabinet doors. This paint does not require any paint stripping for any previous paint layers. For smoothness, a light sanding will do the trick before applying.

Chalk paint is decorative and can create a distressed look or rustic and vintage feel to your home. All this, thanks to its chalky and matte appearance.

The paint itself is thick, less drippy, and non-transparent, which means you might only need one coated paint layer because the paint itself can be pretty expensive compared to regular paint. Since it is water-based, clean your paint brushes easily with water and soap.

You can use chalk paint on walls or textured drywall, and if you’ve seen the texture, you’ll recognize the matte look. A large paintbrush is better for walls, uses less paint, and helps you create desired texture and depth with brush marks.

You can buy the original paint from Annie Sloan or other brands like Rust-Oleum or Behr’s at Home Depot, Valspar at Lowe’s, including their brand version, and Magnolia Home versions. Lowe also provides options for 40 different color variations.

The paint is adaptable and can stick to any surface, such as laminate and pine.

As long as your oil painting has a good color combination with the Chalk Paint variations available, you will have no issue using chalk paint on your kitchen walls with an oil painting.

I did a quick look, and Annie Sloan’s select colors such as Old White, Chicago Grey, Carpi Pink (wow, lush!), Antoinette, and Amsterdam Green are excellent kitchen wall backgrounds to hang a beautiful oil painting.

Annie Sloan has 45 color variations of Chalk Paint available with Old, White, Amsterdam Green, Carpi Pink, English Yellow (a beautiful, bright kitchen color!) selling fast. Please visit her online store for details.

Of course, if chalk paint is too expensive, there are affordable paint products to change up your kitchen walls.

Do Oil paintings in My Kitchen Look Good on White Walls

There are countless examples of how almost any oil painting works well with a white-colored kitchen. White is a neutral color, a timeless classic, that remains very popular for kitchen renovations when considering cabinets, hardware, and wall colors.

A beautiful statement piece like optical art can really wow your guests. If you have a modern, minimalist-style home, apartment, your kitchen will benefit from the simple, clean artwork. It could be an oil painting or one of the newer, emerging forms of art, like CGI Art, Virtual Escapism, or even surrealist art, and something as inviting as neon art.

For additional inspiration on emerging art styles, check out Dribbble.com.

Can I Add an Italian Oil Painting to My Kitchen

Italian oil paintings and art have consistently impressed people for their rich details. A great many will have picturesque qualities that help your mind escape to the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, olive gardens, or Venice. What’s not to like about beautiful Italy?

Etsy has an astounding number of beautiful Italian oil paintings. Take a look.

Does the Oil Painting in My Kitchen Look Good with Wall Tiles

There are some examples where an oil painting could work with kitchen wall tiles in backsplash locations behind the stovetop or the kitchen sink. Ceramic wall tiles, on their own, can make for some interesting wall art in your kitchen. You can aim for picturesque wall art instead of oil paintings in kitchens with tiles for walls and backsplashes. Here’s one example on Etsy.

You may be better off improving the look of your kitchen with wall tiles. They are so many varieties and styles. You may want to hire interior designers for your next kitchen renovation to plan out styles, color combinations, and oil paintings.

There are many wall tile patterns to consider. Like these:

·  Mosaic

·  Hexagons (marble)

·  Geometric patterns (optical illusion, bold)

·  Earthy brick tones

·  Chevron patterns (classic, subtle, contrast)

·  Penny style

·  Modern tones and colors with deep grout lines

·  Mirrored metro tiles (this one is kind of funky)

·  Two-tone styles (light beige with dark blue)

·  Ochre Tiles

·  Marble

·  Black Gloss

·  Terrazzo

·  Half-Wall Cladding

·  Large, slate-style

·  Kaleidoscope

·  Mediterranean

·  Herringbone patterns

·  Circle patterns

·  Slate and Marble

·  Fish Scale patterns

·  Engraved

A beige brick backsplash with beige cabinetry and wall color would work nicely with metal wall art that is copper. Look at this product on Etsy that is a perfect example of metal art mixed with a beautiful backsplash.

Where Should You Not Hang an Oil Painting

If your home or modern kitchen is not an open concept, has poor ventilation, too much direct sunlight, and small windows, it might not be a good idea to have an oil painting in the kitchen.

Extended heat and humidity will damage your oil painting over time. Humidity can accelerate the process, and unless you have an intelligent control thermostat system and dehumidifiers, it’s good to pass on this idea.

Keep in mind, any location that has a lot of moisture, like your bathroom, should not have an oil painting. Also, avoid walls with direct sunlight or living spaces that accumulate a lot of dust or moisture, which will accelerate mold build-up and insect growth.

Vintage oil paintings are a great way to bring an old-world charm into your kitchen. They are also a great way to add a little bit of history to your kitchen. They can be very affordable if you find some at thrift stores or antique shops.

Think about it this way. Ancestors used oil paints for centuries before the invention of photography. Any owner of a classic artwork tells me they’re real art lovers.

If you don’t believe this is a “thing,” let me point you in the right direction. How about some expensive vintage oil paintings available on Ebay from 1950-1969? One glance and I found a magnificent Italian oil canvas painting priced at USD 28,000! For other options, you can consider Etsy; it’s a personal favorite for so many beautiful things, including vintage oil paintings for your kitchen.

There are some emerging trends too. More millennials are getting into art collecting. A Hiscox Online Art Trade Report (2019) found that millennials buy online versus at a gallery, auction, or art fair. Seventy-nine percent of them purchased online more than one time over an entire year. Twenty-three percent never bought anywhere else before buying their art online.

What Are Some Valuable Oil Paintings for My Kitchen

If you have money to spend, you can look for “prints” from well-known artists. While you might be able to avoid auction prices, you might consider Ebay, Etsy, and a few other online shops for famous works at reasonable prices.

You can purchase some of the reproduced prints for less than USD 15,000. Yes, you can own Picasso, Hirst, Matisse, and many others. Christie’s provides a primer on how to go about getting selected prints. You can choose Artwise prints by famous artists too. As you can see, prints of original works can hold value and sell for premium prices if you’re planning to buy them as an investment. I am not a curator, so you will have to investigate this further on your own.

Limited edition and signed artwork and prints will constantly add more value. Authenticity is hard to determine by signature, so if you’re in a position to buy at the point of creation versus reseller channels, you’re better off. Of course, you can use approved websites for art commerce, but there will be a premium added to the transaction.

If you see printer dots in a pattern on the painting, it’s a reproduction print from a laser printer.

A genuine oil painting will have textured finishes that are very noticeable by touch. If only a few textured areas appear, it’s masquerading as an original oil painting but is only a reproduced forgery. As well, any canvas will usually have some rough edges.

If you choose to get into oil paintings and art for investment purposes, Worthpoint seems to have a business model that helps you verify the worth of your portfolio. It is like a search engine for portfolio valuations and goes beyond art to include antiques and other data sources from 350 data sources. Interesting.

For blue-chip artists and high-quality print reproductions, please check these out:

·  Crown Point Press, based in San Francisco, California

·  Counter Editions, based in the United Kingdom

·  GraphicStudio, based at the University of South Florida

·  Borch Editions, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Berlin, Germany

·  Poligrafa Obra Grafica, based in Barcelona, Spain

·  Parkett, based in Zurich, Switzerland, and New York City

·  Gemini, GEL, based in Los Angeles, California

How do I Select an Original Oil Painting for my Kitchen

If you are keen to find an original oil painting or work of art, some boutique auctioneers can provide you with guidance and upcoming auctions that suit your pocketbook. You will want to find inspiration through previously painted works, the artist’s philosophy, and story to find something that uniquely aligns with your views.

I have always attached art as a statement, either by the artist’s philosophy, the meaning of a particular painting, or a series of finished works. Once you’ve discovered this connection, it becomes easier to research and find artists with similar views and experiences at a lower price!

You can find a range of vintage oil paintings and other artwork at Gray’s Auctioneers, based in Cleveland, Ohio. They have an excellent write-up on Julian Stanczak, born in Poland in 1928, and provided significant influence to the movement called Optical Art (“Op Art”). I point this out because I am personally a huge fan of optical art. His work of art, called Figure, is listing between $15,000-20,000 USD at this writing.

Ged Quinn

I asked my British friends for some ideas and inspiration for this question. They introduced me to Ged Quinn, a Liverpool-born artist. What appeals to me about his work is his effort to layer and add significant complexity around art to histories or mythology. He feels like an old master of the dark arts. His art is surrealist in a subdued manner, referencing landscape and still-life.

Ged weaves heavy topical themes like religion, literature, film, and politics into dreamworld-inspired painting with multi-layer storylines. He draws reference from classical painters like Claude Lorrain (French), Jacob van Ruisdael (Dutch), and Caspar David Friedrich (German), each commonly known for their landscape art. Claude Lorrain is one of the masters of ideal landscape painting.

What is ideal landscape painting? I certainly didn’t know this. It’s an art form that aims to make nature more beautiful than its actual self. Simply wow. There’s your reasoning and story on how to choose oil paintings. Find meaning in the meaning that resonates with you.

That definition triggered an unrelated thought. I recall a TedX talk, or maybe a tech article, stating that venture capitalists were piling money into virtual reality because they wanted to make it better than reality itself. A lofty goal!

They may not be far off. High-performance computing, with quantum computing to follow, is at the early stages of growth, as silicon chips and graphical computing units, transition to the cloud, to deliver excellent experiences. Some predict that by 2030, humans will be able to enter digital environments that appear so natural, stimulating all five senses. It’s hard to believe, and maybe, the timing is off, but it should be possible well into the future.

In one of Mr. Quinn’s most symbolic works (for me), I refer you to Camp (2003-2004), an oil painting on canvas in the dimensions of 72 by 72 inches. It was sold by Christie’s in 2011, to Wilkinson Gallery in London, for the princely sum of 181 250 British pounds (Exchange June 28, 2011, 1 GBP = 1.6004 USD) or $250,605 US dollars (2011 dollars). It had an estimated price between 60,000 – 80,000 British pounds (or $96,024 – $128,032 US dollars – 2011 dollars)

What’s so striking? His mythology is profound and historical. His reference points to ‘Vanitas’ paintings, 17th-century artwork about Dutch flower paintings that demonstrate the shortness of youth and life. The flowers appear vibrant and robust, but petals and flower blossoms fall downward. A very dark artwork, and the vase has a white skeletal outline, representing a small map of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp. The connection between 17th-20th century history is surrealism in itself.

Yes, I do agree; this is very dark. Many people select paints based on color combinations, whereas I try to connect to a deeper storyline. Again, these are individual tastes, so I can’t expect you, my dear reader, to align to this type of artwork. However, it can work for anyone who has a solid bond for a historical event or another sentimental and unique event.

How do I Select a Reproduced Oil Painting for my Kitchen

I did some research and safely said this is a tricky subject! You need to check for intellectual property and copyright rules. I am not your lawyer, so don’t take this as legal advice.

General rules apply. Iconic artwork and photographs are likely copyrighted. Keep in mind that these rules vary by country, but check for disclaimers and legal language if you’re buying something reproduced.

Any creations after January 1, 1978, like an oil painting, go into the public domain from its creation to 70 years after the author/artist dies. If an artist made the artwork for a corporation, is anonymous, or created it under a fictitious name, there is protection for 95 years from its publication. For more details on this, check here.

I did find one company based in the US that seems to respect copyright and only reproduces oil paintings and other artwork where the artists have been dead for more than 70 years. Check out HandmadePiece. They did present me with a 10$ off discount coupon, which may not be valid by the time others read this but hey, give it a try. The 10% discount coupon code is HPMX10. They claim to make museum-quality reproductions.

When Should I Regret Adding an Oil Painting to my Kitchen

If you don’t listen to some of my tips in my article, you will regret adding your oil painting to the kitchen. For example, heat, humidity, and direct sunlight damage your artwork. I warned you. Oil paintings are beautiful and act as the perfect kitchen accent to spruce up your living space.

There should be no regrets unless you overpaid for an oil painting at your favorite stores.

What Kind of Wall Art (Besides Oil Paintings) Should I Hang in My Kitchen

I love surreal art. Eat your heart out, Salvador Dali. One of the newer, more popular trends with young homeowners is floral heads. (Yikes! Ged Guinn’s Camp artwork pops into my mind).

The wall art I have seen is beautiful, with a colorful bloom of flowers and plants sprouting from a human’s head.

Neon colors seem to be a timeless favorite. Your modern kitchen may already have some bright colors, and with the proper mix of black canvas, bright neon, and bright or goldish-yellow wall, you could have a striking accent worth a conversation! Bring back the Miami Vice and Spice.

Astronaut art seems to be making some time of a comeback. Should we thank H&M for their NASA shirts and jackets, or Elon Musk, for his SpaceX pursuits? I don’t know. Etsy has a great selection of astronaut artists. Have a look.

This one caught me off guard. Why would it? I don’t know since I have used CGI art on my computer desktop over the years. Well, CGI art is now a “thing” for wall art. Gamers and computer hackers are fans of CGI and fantasy art. A simple Google search uncovers a legacy of CGI art fans from the early days of the Internet. Millennials and cosplays fans are more likely to adopt this art and add it to their home, condo, or apartment kitchen. Once again, Etsy has a great sampling of some great art on this topic.

Digital painting is a new wall art trend and is not surprising as I’ve seen many executions in many settings. This emerging art applies traditional painter techniques with the use of computers and tablets. Apple has done a great job of expanding its ecosystem of software, Mac, and iPad tools with pen stylus to make the type of art more commonplace. What better way to differentiate your taste and values with some self-made digital art? For inspiration, visit Etsy’s diverse digital art and computer-generated art sections.

Digital/virtual escapism has been around since Dungeons and Dragons with guides and manuals. Once the personal computer revolution and widespread Internet access took off, this art form took off. Some of the art is simply wonderful. Websites like Behance will have many examples but have a look at this one. I will place my bets and suggest that the Cyan Worlds of Myst and Riven games might have something to do with this. Maybe even Second Life.

Other areas include Psychedelic Art and the timeless Pop Art style, popularized by Andy Warhol through his epic Marilyn Monroe creation.

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