Caring For Your New Artwork
| Some Thoughts About Original Artwork |
| Because original artwork is not only a valuable investment, but also valuable for sentimental reasons, it needs to last a long time. For this very reason, I use only quality materials when creating my artwork, taking special care to ensure that my processes include considerations about lightfastness, UV protection, and other environmental effects that can harm a work of art. Although we cannot prevent every aspect of natural aging processes, (but it sure would be nice!), you'll be happy to know there's a fair amount you can do to slow and inhibit such things. Proper care will ensure that your new artwork remains an important work of art for you, and for future generations to come. |
| Humidity and Temperature |
| If humidity and temperatures are high, they may damage your painting. Where possible, try to keep the temperature in the room where your painting is to be hung (or kept) constant. In rooms where humidity exceeds 70%, bumps may occur that could seriously weaken or damage a painting, making it more vulnerable to future damage. Keep in mind too, that fluctuations in both temperature and humidity, for example, air conditioning being turned on and off with great frequency, can also damage paintings. Depending on the paint medium and binder, climate cycling of this nature can cause certain paints to lose their elasticity over time. Temperature and humidity differences can produce cracks and paint adherence problems, due to uncontrolled shrinkage and expansion of paint materials. |
| Direct Sunlight and the Effects of Ultraviolet Light |
| Even though I take special care to protectively seal all my work against UV light, the best advice is to simply keep your painting away from direct sunlight. UV radiation can fade and even crack paint over time, despite the application of UV protection, and where glazes and varnishes have been applied, direct sunlight can color, discolor, and even darken a work of art in unexpected places. Preventing problems before they start is the best approach. |
| Cleaning Recommendations |
| For obvious reasons - artwork should be protected from unwanted exposure to moisture, smoke, fumes and other dirt and grime-producing sources whenever possible. However, just as with everything else in the home, it's next to nearly impossible to prevent the accumulation of dust, and other generally deposited grunge and grime. So here are a few tips to keep your art work looking good as new! Never use an cleaning agent on any painting surface, as these can cause irreparable damage - even those describing themselves as "green", "all natural", and environmentally friendly. (They aren't to paintings). Even the use of a damp cloth can cause unintentional damage to a painting's surface, due to the chemical properties of materials used, and the chemical reactions that can result from even sparing contact with water; an unpleasant moment, discovering an unwanted shade layer has been produced that now requires a specialist to remove.... The best practice (and my standard recommendation) - always use a soft brush to gently remove dust from the painting surface. If your artwork is framed, the method for cleaning the framework should be based on the material the framework is made of. Therefore, always follow instructions supplied by the frame manufacturer. |
| Repairs |
| If your artwork is unexpectedly damaged, don't try to repair it yourself. Please contact me for help instead. Depending on the nature of the damage, repair can sometimes require a specialist, someone schooled in restoration practices and knowledgeable about chemistry and art material properties. Most problems don't ordinarily require such measures and are easily remedied however, so feel free to contact me at any time if you have concerns. |