Decorating
10 Tips to Help You Care for Your Artworks
Follow these expert tips to give the artworks on display in your home the respect it deserves
As an art gallery director, I often get asked how to best care for artworks to keep them looking good. People buy art because they love it, so it makes sense to give it a long life (not to mention honouring the time, effort and thought the artist has put in to create it). Here are 10 simple tips for handling your artwork, showing it off and keeping it clean so you – and future generations – can keep on enjoying it.
2. Give your art a stable environment
Art needs a stable climate. Avoid hanging paintings directly above heat sources, which can cause paintings to warp. Also avoid hanging art in rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens, which can be damp or humid and cause mould to grow. If you live somewhere humid, leave tubs of damp-rid out to help reduce extra moisture (it’ll help your furniture too). Moisture and heat are the enemy of an artwork’s longevity.
Cosy nooks, like the one pictured above, are too beautiful to leave empty. Often the fireplace is ornamental so there’s no cause for concern, but if you light a fire, check the temperature at painting height (remove if hot to touch) and make sure the painting is not exposed to smoke.
Art needs a stable climate. Avoid hanging paintings directly above heat sources, which can cause paintings to warp. Also avoid hanging art in rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens, which can be damp or humid and cause mould to grow. If you live somewhere humid, leave tubs of damp-rid out to help reduce extra moisture (it’ll help your furniture too). Moisture and heat are the enemy of an artwork’s longevity.
Cosy nooks, like the one pictured above, are too beautiful to leave empty. Often the fireplace is ornamental so there’s no cause for concern, but if you light a fire, check the temperature at painting height (remove if hot to touch) and make sure the painting is not exposed to smoke.
3. Hang it securely
Screws in the wall are the only way to go. I know what you’re thinking. Why drill a hole in my wall when I can just get a double-sided adhesive hook from the local supermarket … or two hooks for good measure? Well, ever been woken up by the sound of a painting crashing on the floor in the middle of the night? I have.
As a gallery director, I should not be guilty of such stupidity, let alone admit to it, but I’d just moved into a new home and it was only meant to be temporary. Duly chastened, and luckily with no damage to painting or partner, all my art at home is now properly hung. Inevitably all adhesive hooks lose their grip and fall. Ask any picture framer and they will tell you that it’s the number one culprit for smashed frames.
HANGING TIP: Aim to have the centre of the painting at eye level. This photo taken at my home contradicts this rule. Why? Well, I have two children under the age of four and the longer it’s out of their reach the better!
Tips for hanging (almost) anything
Screws in the wall are the only way to go. I know what you’re thinking. Why drill a hole in my wall when I can just get a double-sided adhesive hook from the local supermarket … or two hooks for good measure? Well, ever been woken up by the sound of a painting crashing on the floor in the middle of the night? I have.
As a gallery director, I should not be guilty of such stupidity, let alone admit to it, but I’d just moved into a new home and it was only meant to be temporary. Duly chastened, and luckily with no damage to painting or partner, all my art at home is now properly hung. Inevitably all adhesive hooks lose their grip and fall. Ask any picture framer and they will tell you that it’s the number one culprit for smashed frames.
HANGING TIP: Aim to have the centre of the painting at eye level. This photo taken at my home contradicts this rule. Why? Well, I have two children under the age of four and the longer it’s out of their reach the better!
Tips for hanging (almost) anything
4. Stress-free transport
At some point we all move house but there are ways to make this process painless. All art we transport is bubble wrapped first, then placed in a cardboard box. The cardboard box edges should be sturdy and provide structural support. External frames are fragile, so don’t carry them by the top only. Make sure you support the base with your hand. It’s very easy to pop the glass or crack the frame.
Never leave art in a hot car, especially the boot where it can warp or the varnish bubble. Try not to touch the surface of the painting. While most artists coat their oil paintings with isolation layers and varnish for protection, some artists don’t or can’t because of the medium, and fingerprints can be left behind.
At some point we all move house but there are ways to make this process painless. All art we transport is bubble wrapped first, then placed in a cardboard box. The cardboard box edges should be sturdy and provide structural support. External frames are fragile, so don’t carry them by the top only. Make sure you support the base with your hand. It’s very easy to pop the glass or crack the frame.
Never leave art in a hot car, especially the boot where it can warp or the varnish bubble. Try not to touch the surface of the painting. While most artists coat their oil paintings with isolation layers and varnish for protection, some artists don’t or can’t because of the medium, and fingerprints can be left behind.
5. Know your medium
Painting care varies significantly according to the medium used. Historically, oil paints were the choice of professional artists, and while still popular, many professional artists now use acrylics. Oil paintings have been proven to stand the test of time, and with careful storing they require minimal cleaning. Great masters such as Da Vinci used oil on linen. After 500 years, the Mona Lisa‘s still perfect.
Artist Llael McDonald prefers oil on linen too. “Paintings done on linen are preferable for longevity, as linen has less movement and stretch, putting the oil paint under less stress and reducing the risk of the paint cracking and flaking over time,” she says.
Abstract painter Clair Bremner chooses acrylic paints. “I prefer to use acrylic due to its fast drying time, easy clean-up and vibrancy of colours. I always coat my finished paintings with a layer of oil-based varnish, which helps enhance the colours and protect the surface of the painting,” she says.
Australian artist Loui Jover’s signature style is ink over vintage book pages. For a long life, the finished artworks are sprayed with an acid-free fixative and then protected with UV glass.
Painting care varies significantly according to the medium used. Historically, oil paints were the choice of professional artists, and while still popular, many professional artists now use acrylics. Oil paintings have been proven to stand the test of time, and with careful storing they require minimal cleaning. Great masters such as Da Vinci used oil on linen. After 500 years, the Mona Lisa‘s still perfect.
Artist Llael McDonald prefers oil on linen too. “Paintings done on linen are preferable for longevity, as linen has less movement and stretch, putting the oil paint under less stress and reducing the risk of the paint cracking and flaking over time,” she says.
Abstract painter Clair Bremner chooses acrylic paints. “I prefer to use acrylic due to its fast drying time, easy clean-up and vibrancy of colours. I always coat my finished paintings with a layer of oil-based varnish, which helps enhance the colours and protect the surface of the painting,” she says.
Australian artist Loui Jover’s signature style is ink over vintage book pages. For a long life, the finished artworks are sprayed with an acid-free fixative and then protected with UV glass.
6. Smart storage
Don’t feel guilty. We all do it. In fact many collectors and curators quickly run out of wall space and will cycle their art through the house over the course of a year for their enjoyment. This means storing it. If you follow these simple rules you should have no problems.
Keep art off floors and away from areas such as external walls that may contain moisture. Place it where it has airflow, and cover it with cotton sheets, not polythene, so it can breathe. We’re trying to avoid mould here.
Place cardboard or ply dividers between paintings and be careful when stacking them so there’s no pressure on the canvas. Checking them periodically is advisable. So is giving them a quick dust and changing the protective covers.
Don’t feel guilty. We all do it. In fact many collectors and curators quickly run out of wall space and will cycle their art through the house over the course of a year for their enjoyment. This means storing it. If you follow these simple rules you should have no problems.
Keep art off floors and away from areas such as external walls that may contain moisture. Place it where it has airflow, and cover it with cotton sheets, not polythene, so it can breathe. We’re trying to avoid mould here.
Place cardboard or ply dividers between paintings and be careful when stacking them so there’s no pressure on the canvas. Checking them periodically is advisable. So is giving them a quick dust and changing the protective covers.
7. Cleaning your art
Cleaning art is pretty simple. Dust it. Keep it dry. Avoid putting water on the surface of any painting, unless you know the medium and finish.
Microfibre cloths or feather dusters are great at removing dust and dirt. When cleaning a glass-covered picture, don’t spray directly onto the glass, spray the dust cloth and then clean the glass.
Bremner says, “If the painting has been sealed with varnish you are able to gently brush off dust and marks with a damp cloth when necessary, without damaging the acrylic.”
If the painting is not too fragile, you can carefully take it off the wall and turn it upside down to dislodge dust built up on the back of the frame.
Unsung spring-cleaning jobs
8. Accidents happen
Just damaged a favourite painting? Rest assured, you aren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last. Casino mogul Steve Wynn stuck his elbow through a Picasso, creating a sizeable tear. It wasn’t just any Picasso, but ‘Le Reve’ (pictured, courtesy of Wikipedia), a portrait of Pablo’s 22-year-old lover, Marie-Therese Walter, which Wynn had just agreed to sell for US$139 million. Naturally he withdrew it from the market.
If you damage a piece of art, the first step is to reach out for a little help. Chances are it’s not a multi-million dollar painting, so the best bet is to contact the gallery you bought it from. Send them photos of the damage and ask their advice. Canvas tears can be repaired, damaged frames can be replaced. If you bought it directly from the artist, rest assured they love the painting as much as you do and will want to help. They may be able to fix it or recommend someone who can.
Oh, and Steve managed to sell his repaired Picasso a year later in 2007 for a heady US$155 million. And it was to the same buyer he’d agreed to sell it to previously. He also received an insurance payout of over $40 million as well. See? It’s not all doom and gloom. For the record, we don’t recommend trying this with your art.
Cleaning art is pretty simple. Dust it. Keep it dry. Avoid putting water on the surface of any painting, unless you know the medium and finish.
Microfibre cloths or feather dusters are great at removing dust and dirt. When cleaning a glass-covered picture, don’t spray directly onto the glass, spray the dust cloth and then clean the glass.
Bremner says, “If the painting has been sealed with varnish you are able to gently brush off dust and marks with a damp cloth when necessary, without damaging the acrylic.”
If the painting is not too fragile, you can carefully take it off the wall and turn it upside down to dislodge dust built up on the back of the frame.
Unsung spring-cleaning jobs
8. Accidents happen
Just damaged a favourite painting? Rest assured, you aren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last. Casino mogul Steve Wynn stuck his elbow through a Picasso, creating a sizeable tear. It wasn’t just any Picasso, but ‘Le Reve’ (pictured, courtesy of Wikipedia), a portrait of Pablo’s 22-year-old lover, Marie-Therese Walter, which Wynn had just agreed to sell for US$139 million. Naturally he withdrew it from the market.
If you damage a piece of art, the first step is to reach out for a little help. Chances are it’s not a multi-million dollar painting, so the best bet is to contact the gallery you bought it from. Send them photos of the damage and ask their advice. Canvas tears can be repaired, damaged frames can be replaced. If you bought it directly from the artist, rest assured they love the painting as much as you do and will want to help. They may be able to fix it or recommend someone who can.
Oh, and Steve managed to sell his repaired Picasso a year later in 2007 for a heady US$155 million. And it was to the same buyer he’d agreed to sell it to previously. He also received an insurance payout of over $40 million as well. See? It’s not all doom and gloom. For the record, we don’t recommend trying this with your art.
9. Art is a labour of love
Art is the result of failed experiments, long nights, weeks or months of frustrations, and eventually, moments of pleasure. However, some galleries (even those in Australia) sell reproductions painted in sweatshops overseas. Aside from the ethical dilemma, don’t be surprised if you receive an inferior quality product that warps, stretches or discolours prematurely.
With so many talented emerging artists in Australia, who may be selling their painting simply to pay for the next canvas, quality original art is often very affordable. Sometimes original art from emerging artists is less expensive than sweatshop fakes, so there’s no excuse not to buy quality.
Art is the result of failed experiments, long nights, weeks or months of frustrations, and eventually, moments of pleasure. However, some galleries (even those in Australia) sell reproductions painted in sweatshops overseas. Aside from the ethical dilemma, don’t be surprised if you receive an inferior quality product that warps, stretches or discolours prematurely.
With so many talented emerging artists in Australia, who may be selling their painting simply to pay for the next canvas, quality original art is often very affordable. Sometimes original art from emerging artists is less expensive than sweatshop fakes, so there’s no excuse not to buy quality.
10. Art is there to be loved
Art makes a home. Each piece tells a story, so hang it somewhere prominent. Let it be seen and give you pleasure because above all else, art is there to make you feel.
TELL US
Does art make an impact at your house? Tell us all about your favourite pieces, or share a photo or two in the Comments.
MORE
Stylish Ways to Display Your Children’s Art
9 Everyday Items You’d Never Think to Frame
How to Use Artwork to Make Buyers Fall in Love With Your Home
Art makes a home. Each piece tells a story, so hang it somewhere prominent. Let it be seen and give you pleasure because above all else, art is there to make you feel.
TELL US
Does art make an impact at your house? Tell us all about your favourite pieces, or share a photo or two in the Comments.
MORE
Stylish Ways to Display Your Children’s Art
9 Everyday Items You’d Never Think to Frame
How to Use Artwork to Make Buyers Fall in Love With Your Home
Get the light right and your art will stay beautiful for many decades, perhaps centuries. It’s important to hang art where it looks arresting but without direct sunlight, as UV rays cause serious deterioration – place paintings next to a window instead of directly in front.
Artist Llael McDonald says, “The ideal lighting is a diffused natural or artificial lighting. The worst is intense, direct sunlight and heat. Exposing an oil painting to this over a long period will dull the hue, disturb the balance of colours and cause the paint to become brittle and crack and sometimes even flake off.”
Ideas for a brighter living room