Artist oil paints in Thailand

Abstract

The deterioration of artist paints and paintings in Thailand’s tropical climate is unique. This paper outlines the research and production of Pradit oil paints by Thailand’s Silpakorn University, which are manufactured in collaboration with artists, researchers, scientists and conservators. Following eight years of natural ageing in Thailand and three years in Melbourne, Australia, the paint films were technically and analytically examined to identify the oil paints more susceptible to the effects of climate. Lightfastness, solubility, crack patterns, contact angle and the real time response of oil paint films to moisture identified the more susceptible paints. Fourier transform infrared (FT..