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Dec 26, 2009, 2:03am

Catherine Corfield Art

Artists and Art Lovers Forum :: Art Lovers :: Buying Art :: Care of Original paintings

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Topic: Care of Original paintings (Read 29 times)

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Care of Original paintings
« Thread Started on Mar 12, 2009, 4:41pm »

Care Instructions for your Acrylic Painting

Most acrylic paintings are painted on a cotton canvas that is secured to a wooden stretcher frame (or strainer) or to a paperboard, or a fibreboard panel support. (acrylic on board) The support material normally has one or more “preparation” layers applied to its surface before the various paint layers are applied.

Here are a few things you can do to avoid or reduce some types of damage in a painting.

* The best type of light for your painting is indirect sunlight, recessed lighting, and halogen lights (not ultraviolet)
* Try to display your paintings in a place where the relative humidity and temperature levels are fairly constant, not very high (above 60%) or low (below 40%),
* Keep the artwork away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause fading of certain pigments, increasing yellowing of varnish and excessive heat on the painting surface.
* It is not advisable to place the artwork above a heat source such as fireplaces. In addition to the damage caused by radiating heat, dirt that rises with the heat may cause damage.
* Ultraviolet light should be kept away from the paintings as fugitive dyes and colorants used in paints will eventually discolour under exposure to this type of light. The fading of pigments and dyes will affect the colour balance of the artwork.
* It is unadvisable to hang paintings in a moist environment such as a room which has a bath or shower. Rapid environmental fluctuations will be harmful to the paintings
* A painting can be safely dusted using a clean, soft natural artists brush. The painting should be held in an upright forward angle so the dust falls away from the painting.
* Never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes or feather dusters to clean a painting as threads can catch on areas of raised paint and dusters can scratch the painting.
* Never use a liquid or commercial cleaner on a painting. Avoid spraying any fresheners, polish etc directly onto a painting
* It is advisable to remove paintings off the wall when steam cleaning carpets, plastering or any other DIY near the artwork.

Handling and Moving

Handling is a major cause of damage to artworks. Before handling a painting, check it can be moved safely, without damage. Each handling increases the chance of accident, and moving a painting to a new location can have detrimental effects due to a change in environment. Paintings are especially susceptible to cracking when they are in a dry environment (for example, in a dry attic or in a heated household in a northern winter) or when exposed to cool-to-cold air. Do not transport a painting in an unheated vehicle in cold weather. It is best to transport a painting when the temperature and relative humidity are likely to be more moderate, which, in a northern climate, is usually in spring or autumn.

When it becomes necessary to handle or move a painting, avoid touching the paint surface or the back of the canvas. Do not apply any kind of pressure (even finger pressure) to the back of a canvas -- cracks in the paint will likely develop after a time. Regardless of when or by whom a painting is transported, the painting’s wrapping or package should be:

* moisture and water resistant;
* wrapped and sealed in such a way to guard against changes in relative humidity; puncture and dent resistant, both front and back;
* cushioned against possible shock from bumps or drops during handling and transport; and insulated against cold or extreme heat and against quick changes in temperature.

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