How to paint permanent pictures

This practical guide tackles a problem that haunts artists and collectors alike: the slow decay of paintings as pigments fade, darken, or peel over time. Drawing on decades of experience in pigment production, the author explains in plain language which colors, binders, and supports are truly stable and how to choose them wisely. Readers learn to assemble both simple and more elaborate palettes, avoid hazardous or unstable materials, and understand the chemistry that keeps a work intact for generations.

Beyond the basics of oil, watercolor, tempera, and encaustic techniques, the book offers step‑by‑step advice on preparing canvases, wood panels, and metal surfaces, as well as tips for varnishing, framing, and basic conservation. Illustrated throughout, it serves both the seasoned professional and the eager student who wants confidence that their art will endure without the constant worry of deterioration.