Clueless about how to protect the beautiful acrylic painting you received as
a birthday gift? Wondering how to mat and frame your new watercolor? Here’s a
handy guide on how to care for your precious artwork, no matter what media it
was created in.
. Handling
. Storage
. Transporting
.
Matting
. Framing
. Laminating
. Display
.
Cleaning
Special care for different types of media
. Acrylics
. Oils
. Watercolors
. Pastels
.
Charcoal, Pencil, Colored pencil, Crayon drawings
. Ink drawings
.
Digital art
Handling
Always use great care in handling artwork. Never touch the surface of the art
with your bare fingers as the natural oils, acids and salts on your skin can
transfer to the artwork and cause permanent damage. If you must touch the art,
wear cotton gloves.
Storage
Artwork not displayed should be stored in a clean, dry, dark and
well-ventilated area in moderate temperatures and humidity levels that do not
fluctuate a great deal. Avoid storage in basements, attics or garages as extreme
temperatures and moisture can damage the artwork.
Store unframed art flat with acid-free paper between each item, or store
individual items in archival-quality envelopes.
Avoid storing art between cardboard, as it is highly acidic and can damage
artwork over time.
Store art created with charcoal, pastels, pencil or crayon between glass to
avoid rubbing and damaging the delicate artwork. Preferably mat the item first
with an acid-free mat and then cover it with glass to protect the artwork from
any kind of contact with its surface.
Never store unframed art in shipping tubes for any length of time. Remove the
art as soon as possible and lay it flat until you are ready to frame it. If a
painting has been stored in a tube for a long time, consult a professional who
will use the utmost care and expertise in unrolling and relaxing the artwork to
avoid possible cracking and damage.
Never store framed art directly on the floor. Instead, rest the artwork on
blocks or on shelves.
Transporting
Never leave artwork in your car for extended periods of time. Carry framed
artwork by the sides and avoid resting canvas against any items that may damage
the surface.
Roll prints carefully and insert into heavy duty shipping tubes. Remove the
artwork and unroll as soon as possible after transport to avoid permanent
damage.
Matting
Have your artwork matted with an acid-free mat board. Poor quality mats may
damage art over time due to the chemicals in the board that can transfer to the
artwork. The same is true for backing your art with cardboard which also has
chemicals that may cause discoloration.
Never use rubber cement or white glue to adhere the art to a surface as it
can cause damage to your precious artwork.
Framing
Art created with ink, pencil, pastels or charcoal should be framed under
glass. You may use Plexiglas only for pencil or ink drawings as any pastel or
charcoal artwork may be damaged by the build-up of electrostatic charge emitted
from Plexiglas and similar plastics.
Make sure to completely seal the back seams of the frame and backing with
acid-free tape.
To further protect your print from harmful UV rays you can ask your framer to
use glare-free glass with a UV protective coating to cover the artwork in the
frame.
The frame you choose should be slightly larger than your artwork. Humidity
may cause the paper to contract or expand and the extra space between the frame
and artwork will allow for these changes without damaging the art.
Never frame artwork without also using a mat board between the art and frame.
Wood may hold humidity that can transfer to the artwork. You can use acid-free
frame spacing instead of matting, if you prefer. Ask your art store to see what
is available.
Also, if you have a glass insert to protect the artwork, make sure you add a
mat to prevent the art from sticking to the glass over time.
Laminating
Since nearly all laminating materials have UV inhibitors in them it makes
sense to consider this option for protecting your prints, photos and digital art
as well as other artwork such as delicate pastels and charcoals.
Consult a photo store to ensure that this process will not damage the artwork
you’re thinking of laminating.
Either bring your print or photo to a photo shop to have it professionally
laminated to a base, or use a laminating machine if you would rather use a
frame.
A laminating machine that uses a heat process will protect the print more
than a machine using cold lamination. Be careful of low-end laminators with
fluctuating temperatures that can result in bubbles between the print and the
plastic, incomplete lamination or variations in thickness of the plastic.
As an added protection, laminating pouches are also available with
UV-resistance to protect against color-fade.
If you use low quality photo paper for your digital prints, make sure to test
a sample print in your laminator as smearing of the photo may result.
Display
Careful planning of where you’ll hang your artwork should lengthen its
lifespan considerably.
Humidity, extreme fluctuating temperatures, direct sunlight, bright light,
heating vents and fireplaces can damage your previous art. Avoid contact with
fluorescent lighting that emits harmful high-energy rays that can deteriorate
the artwork.
Hanging art on exterior walls may subject the art to temperature fluctuations
and dampness in climates where temperatures vary greatly with the seasons. Avoid
hanging artwork in kitchens or bathrooms for this same reason.
Attach small cork pieces to the back of the frame to prevent mold from
forming, by allowing air to circulate behind your framed art.
Never use clip-on lights on frames. The area of artwork exposed to this “hot
spot” will cause drying and damage over time.
Canvas stretcher bars may expand and contract with temperature fluctuations.
This may make the canvas sag and/or crack the paint. A professional can correct
this problem and save the artwork.
Cleaning
Dust frames regularly and inspect for signs of mold or insects. Make sure
that all hangers and items used to secure the frame are still in good
condition.
Never use commercial products to clean your bare artwork. Use a feather
duster to dislodge dust particles from the surface. Cloth material may leave
lint.
To clean the picture glass that protects your artwork, never spray cleaner
directly onto the glass. Instead, spray your cleaning cloth and then wipe the
glass to avoid cleaner from running gown and seeping between the glass and frame
and damaging the art. Avoid using a cleaner with ammonia.
Use a cleaner specifically designed for Plexiglas or similar materials such
as acrylic, or use a soft damp cloth and spot clean gently to avoid
scratching.
A professional may be needed to clean your artwork if you notice color
changes and dullness from contact with smoke, whether it was from cigarettes,
heavy use of candles, or if the artwork was subject to smoke damage from a fire.
See your professional if you notice any signs of mold or insects.
Special Care for different types of media
Acrylic Paintings
Not to be framed under glass, acrylics are fairly sturdy and can survive in
various lighting conditions. Dusting the surface lightly will prevent any
build-up. Be careful when shipping acrylics in the winter as extremely cold
temperatures may cause cracking. You’ll have the same problem when storing your
acrylics in unheated attics, basements or sheds if you live in areas that
experience very cold winters.
Oil Paintings
Also not for framing under glass as these have to “breath”. Direct sunlight
will fade oils over time. Choose its location with this in mind.
Make sure to dust frequently as build up may crack and peel the paint. Never
spray commercial cleaners on your painting. Should the colors appear dull after
awhile, you can have your painting varnished at your art store to renew the
colors and protect the surface from possible cracking.
Transport your painting carefully wrapped in cardboard and protected with
bubble wrap. Avoid leaving the artwork too long in the packaging as moisture may
form and damage your painting.
Watercolors
Frame watercolors behind glass. Colors may fade if fragile watercolors are
exposed to strong lighting conditions.
Oil Pastels and Chalk Pastels
Pastels are very delicate and must be handled with extreme care. Framing
under glass as soon as possible is a necessity to protect the easily damaged
surface. Full sun can fade the colors but they can survive strong light or
indirect sunlight. Never touch the surface of the art or place anything on its
surface to avoid smearing.
Charcoal, pencil, colored pencil, crayon drawings
These are just as fragile as pastels; therefore they must be handled and
protected in the same manner. Do not touch the delicate surface of these
drawings.
Ink Drawings
Also very light sensitive, fades quickly in direct sunlight. Frame under
UV-protected glass.
Digital Art
Avoid touching the surface of your digital art. Mount your artwork behind
UV-protected glass to reduce fading. Make sure that the artwork is dry before
doing this. An acid free mat inserted between the artwork and frame will prevent
the art from sticking to the glass. Aluminum frames should be considered as
humidity does not affect them and will not transfer to your prints. Make sure to
keep your digital prints away from excessive heat for long periods of time, high
humidity, direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Taking extra care of your precious artwork today will ensure many years of
enjoyment later on.
Home Page