Ghosting Problem...SCARY!

[Artistic Framer]

I have seen "salt" ghosting on glass, but this is a new one for me. We framed several pieces for an artist a couple of months ago, and they came back with a haze on the glass. The pieces are on a fibrous fabric with what appears to be an oil or solvent-based paint. They feel dry, and felt dry when we framed them...but something is amiss.

I scraped the haze from the inside of the glass with a matboard, and it was a liquid that beaded up. Being a curious pseudo-scientist, I put the liquid to the test with my taste buds. Slightly sweet with bitter overtones and a chemical finish.

She needs them for her next show, but I'm afraid they'll be coming back shortly for another cleaning. We'll be telling her to let new pieces cure in the open for awhile before framing, but does anyone out there think something else is up? Maybe the fiber paper is a moisture sponge? I have a funny feeling about this art. Anyone have a similar experience?

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Oil paints take 6 months or longer to fully cure. Find out what the material painted on is along with the paints. Sealing oils under glass will cause them to cure slower than if in the open air.

 

[Jim Miller]

It seems likely that the paint and/or the substrate are off-gassing a film onto the glass. If that is the issue, then the off-gassing and film deposits would probably continue until the paint is completely cured.

The fix is easy: clean the glass and refit. If you put deeper separation between the glazing and the art, that may reduce the film deposits. If you had the glass pressing against the painting, that would make the film deposits worse, and it could damage the painting.

As Jeff said, framing an oil painting with glazing slows the curing process, and that is good, as it makes the paint layers more durable. The glazing should be separated by at least 1/8", and 1/4" would be better.

 

[Mikbaja]

LOL! taste test? sounds like a bad wine!

 

[Framar]

Well I have done an awful lot of silly things in my career as a framer but I would never dream of tasting any artwork (or ghosting)! YIKES!!!!

 

[BILL WARD]

I'm betting they were 'stored' in sun shine &/or close to a source of heat. Either would aggravate this condition. Best to, after the show, pull them from the frames and put them into a black car sitting in the sun(small oven effect) for a week or 2 and get this dryout overwith soonest.

 

[Artistic Framer]

The artist picked up the work today. The "paint" she uses is a solution of 1 part glycerine, 1 part water, and 1 part rubbing alcohol. she then adds slip (ceramics stuff) with a water based "tinting" pigment (whatever happened to acrylic and a paint brush??). They weren't stored in a sunny spot, but they were under hot spots at her last show. She said they cured for 2 months before framing...but I recall having to rush the framing because she had to finish painting them. I'm still a little confused, but told her they should cure longer.

Anyone else familiar with this medium?