The most important thing to do is to keep it clean. Dust, dirt and grime can damage the surface of a painting, causing irreversible damage. Storing paintings in a cool, dry place helps prevent mildew and mold growth that can cause damage to the artwork. Light exposure may fade colors and cause artwork to yellow. However, if you intend on displaying your artwork often, it’s best to remove dust with a soft brush or feather duster rather than vacuuming.
Treat every painting as if it were a priceless work of art. Each painting is unique and irreplaceable. Any damage done cannot be undone.
If you’re not sure how to properly display or care for your artworks, contact an art conservator or restorer for advice.”
The best way to care for your art is to keep it in its original frame. But if you have to take the piece out of its frame, or if it is not in one, follow these guidelines:
1. Discontinue any cleaning or restoration work until a conservator has had an opportunity to inspect the painting.
2. Do not clean dirt and grime from the painting surface itself; this could damage the paint layers and cause discoloration.
3. Handle the picture carefully when moving it so as not to dislodge any adhesives holding the canvas to the stretcher bars and not to bend any metal hangers (sometimes called “s-hooks”) that may be present; these could tear through the canvas.
4. Remove loose dirt and grime with a soft brush or lintless cloth, being careful not to rub vigorously enough to cause damage. Avoid using vacuum cleaners, which can cause both physical damage and changes in air quality that can damage works of art.
5. Store paintings flat, on their back, in a dry place that does not get too hot and does not fluctuate in temperature radically from day to day (such as near an air vent or heating duct). If you have reason to believe that
To help keep your artwork in the best possible condition, we recommend the following:
1) Avoid direct sunlight. Even fluorescent light can fade some types of art. If you have no choice but to display your painting near a window, make sure it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
2) Avoid high humidity. The higher the temperature and humidity, the faster mold will grow on art.
3) Be careful with temperature changes. Paintings are sensitive to heat and cold and can crack if exposed to large temperature changes.
Types of frames
There are four different types of frames:
* Solid wood is the most expensive and best quality. However, it tends to be heavier than other materials and can not be used with all types of paintings.
* Moulding is made from lightweight wood and is often used for decorative purposes. The edges may be turned or carved, or moulding may be flat-topped.
* Metal is a good choice for displaying paintings in high moisture environments, like bathrooms or kitchens, as it resists corrosion better than wood.
* Plastic, while not as elegant as the other choices available, is a cheaper alternative that is ideal for lightweight pieces and children’s art.
** Storage**
The most important thing to remember when storing your artwork is that you should keep it away from heat, humidity and light. These will affect the appearance of your pictures over a period of time. Therefore, try to store your artwork in rooms that are well ventilated and cool but not damp (65 degrees Fahrenheit). Avoid basements or garages because they tend to contain high levels of moisture. If you must store your art in less-than-ideal conditions, use lacquered cedar cabinets or move it between rooms every few months to ensure even distribution
Artwork is a type of property and must be protected. There are many people who like to take advantage of the fact that artwork can be easily moved and concealed.
When you are not at home, your artwork should be stored in a manner that prevents it from being damaged or stolen. It is recommended that you limit access to this area by storing it in a closet, behind a locked door. If you do not have a locked closet, use a sophisticated alarm system or attach an alarm to your artwork.
Treat your artwork as an investment. Proper care of your paintings will preserve their value and prevent deterioration due to excessive light, air, temperature and humidity changes. The following precautions should always be taken:
Cover the surface of your paintings with protective glass or Plexiglas, especially when they hang in areas exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light;
Always remove paintings from the wall when working in the vicinity;
Control temperature and humidity levels in your home by using air conditioning or dehumidifiers;
Avoid using paints and solvents around artworks;
Avoid placing any objects on the back of a painting;
Keep framed pictures away from sources of heat (e.g., radiators, heat registers);
Store rolled works without stretching them for long
Art Appreciation is the appreciation of art. This can be done in a number of ways. There are many different types of art that people like to display. Art has been around for thousands of years and it will continue to be popular through the ages.
Appreciation is often confused with evaluation, which is the process of determining the worth or quality of something. Evaluation is what we do when we ask ourselves if something is good or bad, right or wrong, valuable or worthless. Appreciation and evaluation are very different in nature and should not be confused with each other.
A piece of art should not be evaluated until it is fully appreciated first; without appreciation there can be no true evaluation. It’s best to appreciate a piece by itself first, then with others, and last with other pieces.
Art is a relatively new human invention. It’s a way to express yourself strongly and clearly, but it takes practice to learn how.
To develop your art skills, the best thing you can do is try to make art. That’s what artists do. They make things, then they look at them and think about them. The more you make, the better you’ll be able to understand what works and what doesn’t. It also gives you practice in being objective about your own work; otherwise it’s too easy to fool yourself.
Trying to duplicate someone else’s work just leads you into a dead end of imitation—you learn nothing that way. Instead, try making something that does the same thing in a different way. You will almost certainly fail, but so what? That’s how you learn. And every time you fail, you’re that much closer to succeeding.
