Gallery Questions Answered
The questions visitors ask most often, answered as a curator would at the gallery door: briefly, honestly and with a pointer to the room that explains more.
Is linen better than cotton canvas for landscape painting?
Linen has longer, stronger fibres and a lively weave, and is traditional for fine oil work. Good cotton duck, well primed, is durable and more affordable. The ground and method matter more than fibre alone. See Technique.
Should I paint landscapes in oil or acrylic?
Oils stay workable longer, which helps soft skies and blending. Acrylics dry fast, suiting plein air layering and travel. Both are archival when good materials are used.
What is aerial perspective?
The way distant forms appear lighter, cooler, less saturated and softer-edged because of the atmosphere between viewer and object. Read more in Light.
Do oil paintings need varnish?
A removable picture varnish evens out gloss and protects the paint from dust and grime. It is usually applied once the paint is fully dry, often six months or more after completion, depending on thickness.
How can I tell an original painting from a giclée print on canvas?
Look at a raking angle: originals show varied paint thickness and brush ridges, while prints reveal a flat surface or uniform ink dots under magnification. Some prints are hand-embellished, so always ask for documentation.
How high should I hang a landscape painting?
A common gallery guide places the centre of the work around 145 to 152 cm from the floor, and about 15 to 25 cm above furniture. See Collecting.
How do I light a canvas without damaging it?
Use low-UV LED lights with a warm colour temperature, angled at about 30 degrees, and avoid direct sunlight.
Where can I see great landscape paintings in person?
The National Gallery and Tate Britain in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa hold major collections. See Masters.
How do I clean a dusty landscape painting?
Dust lightly with a soft, dry brush. Never use water or cleaning products; for anything more, consult an accredited conservator.
Still curious? Ask the curators.