Are Sound Waves Able To Penetrate Canvas Painting?

Thanks for the thought Reubent. I've thought of all options, and only quilts and canvas art fit my applications. Art on canvas look nicer than on quilts although the latter are a more suitable material. I suppose it is not feasible to place absorption panels behind canvas after all. But canvas may have a slight absorption qualities "in comparison" with bare wall. I do not need massive amount of absorption for my front wall (since I already have them at the side walls), so a nice canvas art may still do the trick if I cannot find an equally nice design on quilts.

A painting no - except in low frequencies - a porous fabric - yes.

The change in absorption from canvas paint is going to be frequency dependent. Higher frequencies may be reflected where they were previously absorbed. However, painted canvas is not near as stiff as drywall, plaster or paneling. To the extent that soundwaves strike the surface and pass through or physically vibrate the canvas there will be some deadening action at lower frequencies, though it may not be the same amount as before.

In short any change is likely to be a fairly complex model that will not be given to yes/no answers. You might try temporarily hanging some painted canvas in the various areas you were thinking of painting and just listen. Who knows, you might prefer the results.

You might want to look at the Gershman site, they have some panels called Acoustic Art ...I use them for 1st refelections and back wall....nice.

A layer of painted canvas isn't soundproof, so there will be some effect to have panels behind painting VS not. It won't be the same response the panel was designed for, but it should be better than the painting on a bare wall.

You could also size the panel bigger than the paintin to sort of highlight it, or use some sort of standoff to space the painting off of the panel slightly.

John C.