Your doorbell has just gone and your new artwork is now hovering in your entrance-way. What now? We’ve put together this handy guide to help you display and care for your art and make sure it remains in great condition.
Have you been thinking about where this piece was going to go from the moment you clicked ‘buy’? Did you buy this piece with a space in mind? Or are you only now thinking about where it should make its new home?
It’s worth thinking about the following when placing your picture, but if in doubt, speak to the artist and ask them for their recommendations to make sure to keep your artwork safe and looking great for years to come.
Sunlight
While we all love a bit of natural light, when it comes to paintings and prints you'll want to keep them away from it as much as possible — UV exposure can fade pigments and bleach artworks over time. We would recommend indirect sunlight, halogen bulbs, or shady spots in the room to best protect your artwork from losing its vitality.
UV can fade any exposed canvas or artworks on paper. Whilst acrylic and oil paints are quite durable, too much direct sunlight can still affect the colour and the heat may also disrupt the chemicals in the paint. If you have the perfect spot or really want it in the sunlight do consider framing with UV protected glass if possible.
Moisture and temperature
As with sunlight, it's a good idea to keep your artwork away from damp, humidity and big temperature changes (we're talking radiators, bathrooms, conservatories and kitchens). Both heat and damp can warp and discolour paper and canvas, and we're sure you’ll agree there are few sadder sights than a mouldy artwork!
For any glass pieces, moisture can make it go cloudy or stain it, and extreme hot or cold temperatures can make it crack.
Art and bathrooms
We all love the idea of sprucing up the bathroom or downstairs loo with artworks, but bear in mind which pictures you place in these rooms — think; how much do I love this? Would I be really upset if it slowly degraded over the next few years? If you do decide to go ahead and hang artwork in your bathroom, make sure it’s well ventilated (leave the fan on a little longer than usual or regularly open the windows).
If your artwork is framable, you can always visit your local framer to discuss how to best seal the frames to prevent moisture reaching your artwork — this is not a silver bullet, but may prevent some damage.
How to care for your art
Once you have decided where to hang your work, the question moves to how to look after it?
Dust your artwork as often as you would your mirrors, aim for once a week if you can and build it into your cleaning routine. If it is a piece on canvas, framed print, sculpture, use a dry, very soft paintbrush or soft white cloth if possible to gently brush off the dust. If using a paintbrush, use it for this purpose only, and make sure to wash it with a tiny amount of dishwashing liquid, then rinse it clean and dry completely before use.
Please never use chemicals or even natural cleaning products or water to clean your artworks. If it really needs a clean, call your local framer who can recommend a good conservator.
Health check
Every now and again it’s a good idea to check for any signs of damp — discolouration of the inks and paper, and little brown dots on the paper (this is called foxing) are early signs of a damp problem. They will often first appear on the back of the works. If you think you have a problem, call your local framer who can advise on if you need to re-frame to prevent further damage.
How to store your artwork
Thoughtful storage protects your artwork, and lets you rotate and freshen up the art you display on your walls.
If you have to store or transport artwork, you cannot be too cautious. Canvases are surprisingly easy to dent or rip, glass and ceramic chipped, metal dinged, paper torn, fabrics stained, wood scratched. Wrap it, box it, do what you have to do to protect it. The best way to store prints is either in a sleeve, or framed.
If you are going to be storing artwork for a prolonged period, don’t use plastic as moisture can be trapped and cause mould. Keep artworks in an area with good airflow and stable temperatures. Avoid basements or other areas where excessive heat or mould can warp, discolour and eat the artwork. In general, it's best not to leave your artwork in storage for too long or you could risk damage or changes to the piece; for example, if prints are left rolled up for a long time, it can be hard to flatten them for framing. Chunky paint on canvas that has been left rolled up for a long time could lead to cracking.
Make sure all packaging and framing is acid free, particularly where it directly touches the artwork.
When in doubt
Nobody knows your artwork better than the artist themselves, so if you’re unsure about the best way to care for the work and keep it in prime condition, make sure to reach out to them for advice. They may be able to tell you what they’ve already done to protect the piece, including varnishing and UV protection.
Remember, you can message artists directly from within your Artfinder account! You’ll find a red ‘Contact Me’ button at the top of their artist shop.
Cover image by Alex Senchenko
