Are you new to the world of buying original art? Now sure how to care for it? Scroll down for simple tips to care for your original pieces and reduce the cost of maintenance.
Have you just bought your first piece of original art–or are you about to? Congrats! Now that you’re here, you may be wondering how to protect your investment for the long haul.
While the majority of my post will focus on paintings, much of it will apply to 3D art also, and to a wide spectrum of mediums.
Avoid the Sun
The enemy of nearly all forms of art is always the sun.
If you are artist creating an outdoor installation, you already know to choose paint that is specific to outdoor use. If you’ve bought art not specifically intended to be kept outside, assume that light will damage it. That means to care for you art, you will need to choose a display space for it accordingly.
My mixed media art includes acrylics which has plasticizers in the paint. While I always buy high quality paint with a higher tolerance for lightfastness, that does not mean that your painting will be forgiving of direct light. This is true of all pigmented paint-based art. Some artists also use resins, and other particularly light-sensitive elements. Choosing a location to hang your art is more challenging that simply finding a blank spot on the wall. Pick a spot you think will work, and then keep an eye on that location over the few days, especially on bright days. Does sunlight cross that wall at any time? If so, it’s likely not a good choice for your artwork.
Keep in mind as well that over the course of the year, light patterns will shift with the ever evolving course of the sun. So even if you find a nice location for your favorite painting, you may have to relocate it should you find light striking it six months from now.
Avoid Dust
Any home with original art benefits from a near dust-free environment.
Now am I telling you that my home closely resembles an industrial clean room? Nope! But it is important to regularly vacuum and dust your home to keep the dust bunnies at bay. That includes surfaces, fan blades, window sills, under furniture, and baseboards because all of that dust will circulate in the air.
Another important factor is the state of your air conditioning system. We have mini splits and vacuum the filters every month. We also use compressed air to give the inside of each of the heads a more thorough cleaning every six months. The heads also need to be professionally cleaned about every three years. If you have a traditional air handler, there are also filters to be cleaned or replaced there too. Don’t let this important task slip by, because it’s not only helpful to reduce allergy symptoms, but it protects your art from long term damage at the same time.
If plan to examine a piece of artwork for dust, first don a pair of white cotton gloves before you touch your painting. This will help you avoid leaving fingerprint oils on the surface. Cotton gloves can be purchased for very little cost on Amazon and are handy to have around when you are an art enthusiast.
If you do find a few dust particulates on a painting, never ever brush your art with anything to clean it. If your painting is not fragile (no loose, hanging, or moveable elements) you can attempt to very gently “lift” light dust particulates away from the surface with a vacuum from several inches away. Never let the device touch the painting. Do not use compressed air as it could damage the surface of your artwork. If you have especially fragile or delicate art, even gentle vacuuming could cause damage, so tread with caution. If in doubt, reach out to a professional.
For art with solid surfaces, such as wood or glass, reach out to the artist to ask the appropriate method for keeping your artwork clean. They are always the best choice to guide you on the appropriate method of caring for your art.
If you are already in a situation where the dust bunnies have landed on your painting, it needs to be professionally cleaned. This is also true if you have found an old painting in a dirty environment, and even more so in humid environments. Reach out to a local professional painting conservator for help.
Humid Environments
If you live in a humid location, proper care for your at includes controlling humidity levels. General internet wisdom recommends relative humidity levels of roughly 40% – 60% as ideal for your art. This range also aligns with the optimal humidity for people health as well.
High humidity can cause damage to wood surfaces, such as stretched canvas supports, causing the canvas to come loose. Unless your art is an outdoor installation that includes water, your art should never come into direct contact with water. Water can cause panels to mold, peel and split, creating severe damage. In addition, humidity combined with dust will trap dust on paintings and sculptural pieces. A high humidity environment can increase your chance of needing your art professionally cleaned.
If it is humid in your home, you need to get the humidity down to the recommended range. This may require a dehumidifier. Running your air condition will help, but in humid areas (such as the south in the United States) it may not be enough. An inexpensive hygrometer can help you monitor the relative humidity level in your home and determine if you would benefit from a dehumidifier.
Final Thoughts
Most of what is needed to care for your art involves keeping your home clean and dry. Remember that the sun is a silent threat to your precious artwork. You will need to be vigilant when placing new artwork to ensure you are keeping it safe for decades to come.
Thanks for reading!
