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Conservator’s CornerAlum Sizing and the Art of W.J. PhillipsThis watercolour titled Docks, Alert Bay came tome in very sad condition, covered with a mottleddark brown discoloration. This type of damage isquite typical of certain alum-sized papers and isalso commonly found on the margins of Phillip’swoodblock prints. The question explored in thisarticle is “Why?”Alum has been used as an ingredient in papersizing for at least five hundred years in Europe,and even longer in the Orient. Very early on,papermakers discovered that adding alum totraditional gelatin sizing reduced problems withmold (alum is a biocide) and increased thefinished paper’s resistance to abrasion and water.The latter quality is especially important forthe watercolour artist. Without sufficient sizing,washes cannot flow over the paper, but sinkdirectly into the sheet, and the slightestreworking will rough up and mar a soft-sizedpaper’s surface. Watercolour papers are madewith these special needs in mind, but it was wellknownby artists that soft-sized papers not madefor painting could be brushed with additionalcoats of alum-water to improve their workingproperties.Phillips was very interested in the technicalaspects of his profession and would almostBY REBECCA PAVITTWWW.FINEARTCONSERVE.COMcertainly have been familiar with the practice of sizing papers with alum. He was alsointroduced to the Japanese tradition of sizing woodblock printing papers with dosa – alum andgelatin solution – by the printer Yoshijiro Urushibara and he describes the method in detail inhis book, The Technique of the Color Woodblock, published in 1926.Docks was probably painted in 1927, when Phillips visited his sister in Alert Bay, with alumsizing fresh in his mind. It seems likely that Phillips alum-sized the paper to prevent rippling oruneven paint distribution, but why did the sizing undergo such extreme discoloration? Onepossibility is that these darker than normal discolorations are caused by the particular type ofalum used.True alum, aluminium potassium sulfate, was largely replaced by the much cheaper (andhighly acidic) aluminum sulphate or papermakers alum over the course of the 19th century.True alum can be highly refined and purified, removing contaminants such as iron.Papermakers alum cannot be purified to the same extent, and is often contaminated with ironand sulfuric acid, both highly detrimental to the health of paper. My guess is that artists likePhillips and some Japanese woodblock printers were working at the end of that change-over,and substituted papermakers alum for true alum, not realizing the difference it would make.Fortunately, it was possible in this case to safely remove most of the discolouration withchelating agents and a mild bleaching solution and with thorough rinsing by float washing andlocally applied water mist on a suction table.Conservator’s Corner articles are archived on-line at: www.preview-art.com.NEXT ISSUE: Conservator as art historian.Before treatmentAfter treatment64 PREVIEW
Dales Gallery537 Fisgard St ✆(250)383-1552www.dalesgallery.camon-sat 10am-5pm Featuring recentoils on canvas by Stephanie Harding;On-site conservation picture framing.Deluge Contemporary Art636 Yates St ✆/fax: (250)385-3327www.antimatter.wswed-sun 12-5pm Sep 21-Oct 6 CliveHolden, “You Are Being Remembered”,media diptych, live cinema,surveillance as memory, the suspensionof violence; AT FIFTY FIFTY ARTSCOLLECTIVE, 2516 Douglas Street:“Aqui No Pasa Nada”: Demián Flores,Antonio Turok, Ana Santos,Bruno Varela, Carlos Franco, CorrugatedFilms, Gabriela León, HéctorBallesteros, Juan Robles, LuceroGonzález, Luna Maran, Mal de ojoTV, Nadja Massun, Radio Plantón,multimedia installation from the battlegroundof Oaxaca; Mexico Oct 19-Nov 17 Bob Preston, “Box Camera”,photography and hand-made cameras.Gallery at the MacMcPherson Playhouse Lobby,#3 Centennial Sq ✆(250)361-0800www.rmts.bc.caView during performances or by apptThru Oct 25 UPPER SPACE ElfridaSchragen, “Portraits for Our Place”,oil on board; LOWER SPACE SuzannePolinsky, “Art of Suzanne Polinsky”,oil and acrylics.Gallery in theOak Bay Village2223A Oak Bay Ave ✆(250)598-9890mon-fri 10am-5pm sat 10am-3pmwww.preview-art.comFeaturing original art work by leadinglocal artists Kathryn Amisson,Andres Bohaker, Janice Bridgman,Ardath Davis, Tom Dickson, EileenFong, Robert Genn, Caren Heine,Harry Heine, Shawn A. Jackson, BrianR. Johnson, David Ladmore, JackLivesey, Dorothy McKay, Bill McKibbin,Ernst Marza, Hal Moldstad,Joane Moran, Allan Myndzak,Natasha Perks, Judith Saunders andLinda Wagner.Maltwood Art Museumand Gallery andMcPherson LibraryGalleryUniversity of VictoriaUniversity Centre Bldg, Rm B115Vineyard Vagabond, one of many enchantingPaw Prints Collectables. Visit our website:www.ArtofJohnSalsnek.com or visit PawPrints Studio & Gallery – The Art of JohnSalsnek in the heart of Okanagan Wine Country,148 Carr Crescent, Willowbrook.Late summer and fall hours 10 -7 most days.Call 1-888-256-3600, 250-498-4732✆(250)721-6562www.maltwood.uvic.caMALTWOOD ART MUSEUM AND GALLERY:mon-fri 10am-4pm Also open in conjunctionwith selected auditoriumevents, MCPHERSON LIBRARY GALLERY:mon-thurs 8am-11pm fri 8am-6pmsat 10am-6pm sun 10am-11pmMALTWOOD GALLERY Aug 31–Nov 15“The Hold of our Hands”, art from theRobin and Linda Skelton collection;MCPHERSON LIBRARY GALLERY Aug25–Sep 30 “The Mac,” a tribute to Dr.D.L. MacLaurinMartin Batchelor Gallery712 Cormorant St ✆(250)385-7919mon-sat 10am-5pm Opening Sep 8Gretchen Markle, “Scapes” newpaintings including “A Year of Morning”A Celebration of Sunrise; OpeningSep 29 Suzanne Bessette, recentpaintings.On Canvas538 B Yates St ✆(250)385-8090www.oncanvasartgallery.comtues-sun 12-5pm Sep 22-Oct 14Michelle Miller, “Projections of anInterior”, solo show; Oct 20-Nov 20Karen Cooper, Blu Smith, KarinHoldegaard, Karel Doruyter, KyraCrouzat, Donna Hall, “Intersections”,group show.Royal British ColumbiaMuseum675 Belleville St ✆(250)356-7226www.royalbcmuseum.bc.caJun-Sep: daily 9am-5pm open lateron fri, sat until Oct 14 Admission untilOct 14: $25.50 adults, $19.50seniors, 17.50 students and youthaged 6-18, children 5 and younger arePREVIEW 65
Page 1 and 2:
GALLERY INDEX - PG 82CALENDAR OF OP
Page 4 and 5:
WIM BLOMPAINTINGS2004 - 2007AUGUST
Page 6 and 7:
BRITISHCOLUMBIAFORT ST. JOHNALBERTA
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ALBERTABANFFSummit Gallery of Fine
Page 12:
LESLEY FINLAYSONUdell Contemporary7
Page 16 and 17: previewwww.bellevuearts.orgA Tapest
Page 18: ELLIOTT LOUIS GALLERY, VANCOUVER BC
Page 21 and 22: “At the Cove, Hornby Island, BC
Page 24 and 25: Shannon Belkin: Second NatureSeptem
Page 26 and 27: GALLERY VIEWSBY ANN ROSENBERGAn Ame
Page 28 and 29: Peter AspellGALLERY JONES, VANCOUVE
Page 30 and 31: previewwww.portlandart.orgAili Schm
Page 32 and 33: Paw Prints Studio & Gallery148 Carr
Page 34 and 35: CoalHarbourWESTINBAYSHOREDenman StB
Page 36 and 37: Blazing Bush, oil on canvas, 30 ×
Page 38 and 39: september 29 to october 20opening s
Page 40 and 41: La Belle EpoqueVANCOUVER MUSEUM, VA
Page 42 and 43: Rick Rivet: Paintings 2000-2005KELO
Page 44 and 45: Lisa Klapstock, Picture 2 - Toronto
Page 47 and 48: VICTORIA GALLERIESGEORGE LITTLECHIL
Page 49 and 50: Gray's Dock, photogravure etching,
Page 51 and 52: F i n e A r t S e r v i c e slocal
Page 53 and 54: Inuit Gallery of Vancouver206 Cambi
Page 55 and 56: long-time collector, Monny, has a p
Page 57 and 58: Robinson; The gallery is also avail
Page 59 and 60: Carl Forup, Ole Ring, Janus La Cour
Page 61 and 62: experienced in Ucluelet and Tofino
Page 63: and work from the past several year
Page 67 and 68: FIRST ANNUAL FINE ART SALEPresented
Page 69 and 70: White Rock Gallery1247 Johnston Rd
Page 71 and 72: nature; Eric Rue, Back Room show;Oc
Page 73 and 74: pattern in post-WWII art; To Nov 4
Page 75 and 76: gallery featuring original artwork
Page 77 and 78: ★ Frye Art Museum704 Terry Ave✆
Page 79 and 80: THOMASWOODVeneziaSept. 6 - 29, 2007
Page 81 and 82: Exhibition Catalogues of InterestRE
Page 83 and 84: Barbara Boldt Original Art Studio 2
Page 85 and 86: ART SERVICES & MATERIALSBasic Inqui
Page 87 and 88: GALLERY OPENINGS + EVENTSSeptember
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