Caring artwork art display fine guide handling oil original painting pastels

R Young Art

In order that your artwork will retain its beauty for many years to come, and potentially increase in value over time, this should be a brief but helpful guide to caring for your fine art within your home.

Insurance: Always specifically insure artwork against theft and accidental damage. A small investment now could be invaluable in the future.

Handling: Unframed artwork should be handled as little as possible, and where artwork must be handled, ensure that your hands are thoroughly washed immediately beforehand and are free of grease, lotions or moisturizers. Never lift unframed artwork (not on a stretcher frame) with bare fingers by the edges or corners, or touch the surface. Either wear photography gloves, use tissue paper, or lift from beneath using cardboard to support as appropriate, and hold the cardboard, not the artwork. Artwork should always be adequately protected during storage and transportation. Most art and craft stores stock suitable protective materials and can offer advice.

Framing: Framing should be done to the highest quality affordable, using acid free materials that will not interact with the artwork, and to enable it to be proudly displayed for optimum visual effect. Good quality framing needn't be expensive and is well worth the investment.

Hanging: Artwork should be hung using high quality multi strand, braided picture wire, attached to the frame (or artwork stretcher frame) via swivel jointed eyes, and suspended from heavy duty wall hooks, securely fixed. Heavy and framed / glazed artwork should always be hung from two hooks, each easily capable of supporting at least double the weight of the artwork for safety reasons. Whilst the height and location with respect to a surrounding artwork collection and other wall mounted objects is entirely a personal choice, consider locating unglazed artwork out of reach of children, and on a wall above an item of furniture, so that enthusiastic adult admirers cannot easily reach across and touch the surface!

Lighting: Avoid locating artwork in direct sunlight. Fading due to UV sunlight rays is cumulative and irreversible. If possible, display in a room with blinds or curtains that can be closed during the day.

Climate: Avoid locating artwork in an area prone to large or sudden temperature changes from hot to cold. The room temperature and relative humidity should also remain reasonably constant, as large temperature changes cause expansion and contraction of both the artwork and framing materials, which can lead to structural damage in paper or canvas, weaken the attachment of artwork, and cause a small rippling affect. Ideally, the temperature should remain between 10 and 25�C and between 40% and 60% relative humidity. Do not locate directly in the field of any forced ventilation. If you are located in a humid or coastal area, consider the use of a de-humidifier.

Pollution: To protect from airborne dust, grime and pollution, especially in urban areas, ensure that artwork is routinely cleaned. Glazed artwork should be gently wiped with a damp soft cloth. Unglazed artwork should only be gently dusted and should anything ever stick to the artwork, have it professionally cleaned. However, the safest way to keep artwork clean is to locate it in a clean environment. If you are located in a dusty or dirty area, consider the use of a de-ionizer.

Accidents: Even a small amount of water from a leaky roof or pipe or can do significant damage to artwork. If objects get wet, seek repair advice from a professional immediately. However, in general, it is important to dry paper right away before mould starts. Wet objects in frames must be removed from their frames. If you are hesitant to handle the damp paper, expose the object by removing the backing from the frame. Your insurance should cover such accidents, but it is a good idea to check with them at the time of policy arrangement.

Glazing: All my pastels and oil paintings, sketches & studies produced on loose canvas are provided double mounted and framed behind non / anti reflective glass by default, unless specifically requested otherwise. This provides protection for the pastels especially, which although sealed with a light fixative, are still delicate. Also the loose canvas needs careful mounting to avoid creases. The non / anti reflective glass has an etched surface which diffuses the reflection and although it very slightly dulls the appearance of the artwork, it allows the artwork to be better viewed from all angles without distracting reflections and is less prone to visible scratches from cleaning and handling. Plain glass is available as an alternative upon request, and conservation UV filtered non / anti reflective glass is also available at an additional cost upon request. Perspex is both prone to scratching and the attraction of dust due to static electricity following wiping, so I don't recommend it.

Varnishing: All original oils are provided unvarnished by default. Varnishing is not essential, however, can be undertaken by an experienced buyer, or a specialist restorer, in order to protect the artwork for display, in order to give it a desired matt, semi-gloss, or gloss surface finish, or simply to enhance the surface lustre after a period of time. Varnishing also gives a uniform surface appearance to oil paintings, as different oil paint types and colours can harden with a slightly different surface 'sheen', especially at areas of overlapping between painting sessions. However, only specific mediums must be used and in strict accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and not for at least 6 months following painting of the original to allow sufficient hardening. Please note that oil paint usually takes around 40 years to thoroughly dry!

Materials: All materials that I use are the highest quality available to me, irrespective of cost. I use Artist's oil paints manufactured by Windsor & Newton, Rowney, Grumbacher, Pebeo and Holbein and canvas manufactured by Fredrix and occasionally Pebeo. Specific information regarding the exact oil paint and canvas used in the production of any individual artwork is available upon request, though please tell me why you wish to know in order that I can offer the right advice.

If you have any other questions about care, storage or restoration of artwork, please contact me and I'll try to help.