CARE OF WOODEN OBJECTS
Wooden carved objects require
care to insure their preservation. Although they are made of resilient woods like cedar
and alder they are subject to aging. UV light can fade paint over time and excessive
dryness can cause checking (cracking). This page will provide information to help your
prized wooden art objects grow old gracefully.
Direct
sunlight should be avoided. Modern materials have contributed greatly to the
longevity of contemporary pieces. Acrylic paints, the most widely used paint medium, is
very resistant to ultra violet light. But even this paint will fade slowly when subjected
to intense sunlight. Some artists prefer using paint mixtures similar to mixtures used on
traditional artifacts. These paints range from watercolors to paints mixed with natural
pigments and egg white. Many old pieces that were originally colorfully painted with these
kind of pigments now appear unpainted with their intricate designs barely visible. These
paints are very sensitive to light and moisture.
When deciding where you are going to place a mask or
sculpture consider how much direct light will hit the object. Of course you don't want to
hide your favorite art work in some dark corner of an unused room. Try to find a place
that is bright but does not have prolonged exposure to direct light. A moderate amount of
indirect light over time will give most wood objects a beautiful pitina. This gives the
object a very desirable aged effect.
Humidity
can be a problem. Cedar is a very water
resistant wood that also retains it's own inner moisture. It can take years for a large
piece like a totem pole to completely dry out. The wood dries faster on the surface of the
piece while the inside of the wood remains wet. The varying thickness of the sculpture
creates a tension in the grain of the wood that often results in checks (cracks) opening
on the surface of the object. The inner moisture is released through these checks allowing
the wood to close back up when it reaches an even dryness. Great care needs to be taken
when carving to ensure that these checks remain clear of sawdust so that when they close
no obstruction impedes them. With patience and proper care when carving, these checks
disappear.
If you live in an area that has very low humidity the
surface will dry out more, and checks may reopen in order to even out the dryness of the
object. Patience is needed as it can take some time for this to happen. Checks that open
dramatically can be slowed down by placing a damp cloth in the back of a mask. Some
moisture is absorbed in the surface of the wood there by slowing the cracking action. In
more extreme cases the piece can be put in a tied plastic garbage bag with the slightly
damp cloth. Over-night the moisture content will even out and stop the checking. Of course
as soon as the object is out of the bag it will begin drying out again. It is a delicate
balance to dry the piece out without letting the checks get any bigger.
Applying oil to wooden artifacts Sunlight and low humidity can make the wood look dry and
discolored. Periodically you should re-apply a finishing oil to your mask. You can use
boiled Linseed Oil, but this tends to fade quickly. A linseed based finishing oil lasts
much longer. Danish finishing oil contains linseed as well as resins that seal the surface
creating a long lasting rich finish. We use Watco Oil but any natural finishing oil will
work. Be sure that the oil does not contain stain that will affect the color of the wood.
Using a brush or a piece of cloth, apply the oil liberally to the
wooden piece. Apply the oil over the whole surface, including the painted parts. When the
piece is still wet with oil (do not wait for it to dry) take a clean, soft, lint-free
cloth (an old t-shirt works great) and wipe off all the excess oil. Be careful to get all
the undercuts. Any oil left on the surface will dry shinny and tacky so pay close
attention to wiping it off. After the first wiping, oil will continue to seep out of the
wood to the surface, Repeat the wiping every 15 minutes until the oil stops seeping,