Art Guide: How to Care for Your Original Paintings

Purchasing original art isn’t only a financial investment. It holds a value that extends to future generations, not just the present viewers. Acrylic works are known to outlast oil paintings, showing greater resilience to the effects of time. If you are an art enthusiast or beginner looking to purchase your first piece, consider my article: A Creative Guide to Finding Artwork for Your Home.

The canvases for my original paintings are made with archival-quality natural cotton. The frame is professionally constructed, with medium-weight cotton duck stretched around 1.5” profile kiln-dried stretcher bars and held in place with a flexible spline for support.

The canvas is usually pre-treated with a base layer of gesso before the application of the paint layers. To safeguard the artwork from dust, a protective layer of varnish is typically applied once the painting is complete. 

Handling and Care Instructions: 

Wear Gloves:

To avoid transferring natural oils, moisture and dirt from your hands onto the painting or it’s frame, wear clean, well-fitting, lightweight cotton or latex gloves.

Moving and Storing:

When transferring or storing your painting, handle with care, being sure to not to touch the painted surface or the rear of the canvas. Be vigilant in shielding the canvas from impacts or pressure. Do not allow any hard items to press against either side of the stretched canvas, as this can cause irreparable indentation damage. Refrain from exerting any pressure, including with fingers, on the back of the canvas, as this can eventually lead to cracking in the paint.

If your canvas painting does get slightly stretched or dented in an area, sometimes spraying water on the back side (the unpainted side) of the canvas can shrink the stretch/dent. It depends on how severe the indentation is, always seek out the advice of a professional.

Heat and Moisture: 

Positioning the artwork above a heat source like a fireplace is not recommended. The radiating heat, along with dirt carried by rising heat, can cause damage. Similarly, hanging paintings in moist or humid areas, such as rooms with baths or showers, is unadvised due to the detrimental effects of rapid environmental changes on the painting.

Lighting: 

The best type of light for your painting is indirect sunlight, recessed lighting, and halogen lights. It’s important to avoid ultraviolet light, as the fugitive dyes and colorants in the paints can discolor with exposure to this type of light. This exposure leads to fading of pigments and dyes, altering the artwork’s original color. 

Cleaning:

Do not, in any case, attempt to clean your painting’s surface with any cleaning products or solvents. These products can drive the dirt deeper into the painting and leave liquid lines and lasting marks. Even water is not recommended for cleaning the surface of an acrylic painting. Avoid using dust cloths, either dry or moist, stiff-bristled brushes, or feather dusters for cleaning, as they can damage the painting’s surface. Also, steer clear of spraying air fresheners, polish, or similar substances directly onto the painting.

Compressed air in a can may be used to blow away surface dust, but it is most recommended to leave any original art cleaning projects to a professional.

Hanging:

If you need assistance in properly hanging your artwork, check out my guide: How to Hang Artwork Like a Pro In Your Home.