Tips to care and protect your works of art
Caring for your fine art ensures you are protecting and preserving your art for generations to come. Poorly caring for your art can result in damaging conditions which can negatively impact their value. When purchasing a new work of art and before getting ready to install it, you should always ask the gallery or the artist if there are any special instructions required for maintaining it.
In general, here are the most common and critical recommendations when caring for works of art.
Documenting your collection
A properly inventoried collection gives you peace of mind – whether for insuring fine art, estate planning or general asset management. Should anything happen to your art having a paper trail of proof and documentation is essential. Make sure you store your documentation somewhere safe. Pertinent documents to hold on to and file include the following, if available:
Invoices and receipts
Condition reports
Provenance and bibliographic information
Photographs (front and back) and descriptions (artist, date, title, medium and dimensions)
Current and past appraisals and insurance policies
Understand how to care for different types of materials
Special considerations must be taken into account for various media, such as:
Paintings on panel can be particularly fragile due to the fact that wood can crack or warp as a result of temperature and humidity changes.
Paint layers on canvas are vulnerable to environmental damage through cracking and cleavage, as well as deformation of the canvas support.
Artwork on paper is particularly vulnerable to the acidic elements present in the paper itself. When exposed to humidity, the minute metal shavings used during the paper production process can also corrode, resulting in dark rust spots known as foxing.
Even though stone, metal, or glass are stable materials, they are still susceptible to accidental breakage, scratches, cracks, corrosion, or reaction to environmental pollutants.
Framing and storing your art
To ensure the long-term preservation of artwork, museum framing made of conservation materials is essential. Artworks on paper and textiles are particularly prone to improper framing and should only be mounted and backed with acid-free materials. Ensure that adhesives are archival and reversible.
If you are thinking of investing in nonreflective museum glass, you may want to consider UV plexiglass, which is not only transparent but is also lighter and less likely to break than normal museum glass. Regardless of the type of surface you choose, be careful when cleaning it. Use a product that won't streak or damage the finish by applying it with a soft microfiber cloth instead of a paper towel (paper towels can leave scratches). Any cleaner should not be sprayed directly onto the glass as it might drip or seep onto the artwork.
Store your art in a location that provides good air circulation, high humidity, and constant temperature, and avoid basements or attics that have poor air circulation, high humidity, and fluctuating temperatures (risks for mildew and mold growth). Furthermore, basements are frequently located near electrical and water outlets, which may cause damage if an accident occurs. Store work in a dry, covered location, ideally on shelves high off the ground. Avoid stacking works of art. Ideally, keep your artworks separate from each other and always avoid laying them next to or on top of each other. If paintings must be stored for a longer period of time, they should be placed on acid-free paper or board and laid on a flat surface.
If you cannot avoid stacking them side by side make sure they are not tightly crammed and place them either back-to-back or front-to-front, in a way that safeguards them from getting scratched or leaving traces on facing surfaces. Separate them with clean plastic or acid-free board. WEven though many people consider bubble-wrapping to be a good idea, it is important to be aware that any weight or impact on the bubbles could leave imprints on the artwork.
Displaying your art
Be sure to consider the weight of the work and take its frame, if applicable, into account. Additionally, ensure that the wall you choose will be strong enough to support the weight of your artwork. Get professional installers to hang large or heavy pieces where extra reinforcement, if necessary.
When it comes to protecting your artwork, you should keep it away from moisture and direct sunlight. Moisture can significantly damage works of art, but people rarely consider the harmful UV rays that cause pigments to change color. When placed in direct sunlight, watercolors and other works on paper are particularly susceptible to colour bleaching or surface degradation, but even harder pigments in oils or acrylics will fade over time.
When hanging your artwork opt for a shadier spot and, if you cannot avoid it, ask a professional framer to place artworks behind UV-resistant glass or plexi.
While tempting, focal points such as fireplaces expose any artwork that is hung over them to heat, soot, and fluctuations in humidity. We recommend that art not be hung close to heating and air conditioning vents, in bathrooms, below pipes that are prone to leaks or condensation, or near any exposed water sources. The placement of artwork in high-traffic areas must be carefully considered to avoid accidental injury. Also, the artwork should be hung high enough to prevent damage caused by handbags, chair backs, and doors.
General cleaning and maintenance
When dusting and cleaning art, be careful and consider the material. Always avoid chemicals. Many cleaning products can cause permanent damage to artwork. Even water can do a great deal of damage to an artwork. Many chemical products are abrasive, and some are even capable of changing color and causing wear on surfaces. We recommend using a soft brush for light dusting.
In spite of this, each medium has its own visual characteristics, which also means that each medium has its own set of instructions in regard to how to maintain it. The surface of acrylics tends to be more glossy and low-maintenance compared to that of oils, which is subject to dust accumulation. Metal sculptures may require periodic polishing, while wooden sculptures may require no significant maintenance for many years at a time.
As for the frames, depending on the type of material the frame is made of, one can use a damp cloth or whatever is used with furniture. A professional art conservator is best suited to perform more substantial and abrasive cleanings as they understand which solutions can best be used for certain mediums.
Handling and moving your art
When handling works art wear a clean pair of lightweight gloves. Even though your hands may appear clean to the naked eye, oils from your skin may transfer to your artwork, causing stains and damage.
Speak to professional art handlers when it comes to storing high value art works for long periods of time or moving works of art. Professional art handlers offer white glove services that can include custom built crates or foam boxes to safely transport your art. Be aware, most accidents and damages to works of art occur during moves.