Painting on canvas are the most sensitive articles and damages are very common. Inappropriate workmanship, temperature changes, lighting changes, improper fixing and improper storage can cause a number of damage to the paintwork.
Caring for Your Paintings
A traditional painting is constructed, in order from bottom to top, of the support, ground, paint, and coating. The majority of paintings are on either fabric or a wooden panel. Fabric supports are stretched over stretchers with keys (flat triangular wedges, traditionally wooden) in the corners to adjust the tension of the fabric and to prevent bulges and creases. The ground provides a smooth surface for the paint and serves as a “sponge” to absorb excess binding media of the paint. The paint on top of the ground can be a very thin single layer or multiple layers. On top of the paint, there is generally a coating. The coating, synthetic or natural resins, is used to provide saturation and to protect the paint underneath from dirt, abrasion and moisture.
Great care needs to be taken when handling paintings. Only one painting should be handled at a time. Large panels and canvases should be moved by two or more persons. Be careful to keep dirt and finger prints from paintings, especially when dealing with exposed, unprimed canvases often seen in twentieth-century painting. Make sure that your hands are clean. You can minimize contact with the painting by wearing cotton gloves. Any accessories such as watches or jewelry should be removed before handling paintings because they can snag or scratch the paint surface. Carry the painting with two hands from the sides of the frame or stretcher. Do not carry a painting by the top of the frame or stretcher. Finally, only handle paintings that have an intact paint surface and a stable frame and stretcher.
Improper framing and loose keys should be corrected before handling. Keys, small triangular wedges, traditionally wooden but also now available in plastic, fit into slots where the strips of the wooden stretcher join each other. These keys regulate the outer dimensions of the stretcher frame. Sometimes a painting may be missing some keys, having dropped out during the painting’s lifetime. New keys can be purchased at an art supply store and inserted into the slots prepared for them.
How to Hang Paintings
Appropriate sized, sturdy hardware should be used when hanging any painting. Wall hooks should be driven into the wall studs for maximum stability. Large, heavy paintings should also have the proper wall anchor. Also consider mounting a bracket under the painting to help bear its weight.
Paintings may be suspended on a metal hook secured to the frame or from the appropriate weight painting (or picture) wire. Painting (or picture) wire should be looped through eye screws, secured in the right and left sides of the frame, so that the painting hangs from a double strand of wire. The end of the wire should be secured so that it does not poke into the back of the canvas or the panel. The aging process makes the canvas fabric drier and weaker and any loose wire will push its way forward denting into the back of the canvas until eventually a bulge forms on the surface. Very few people ever connect this with the unfortunate hanging method hidden from view.
All the mechanical items – moulding hangers, picture hooks, screw-eyes, cords and wires – all the metal and fabric devices whereby you painting is held in place, even if they are the best quality, should be periodically checked. Hooks come out of plaster, screws come out of wood, wire wears out and cord rots. Just because it hasn’t fallen out yet, doesn’t mean that your painting is perfectly safe.
What to do about Displaying Paintings
- Things to Consider
The common place to hang a painting is on a wall. However, there are places on the wall which are bad for hanging paintings and ones which are better in terms of preservation. The best place to hang a painting is on a wall which has a wall stud where you can securely anchor the wall hooks, away from any heat source, in a place of relatively stable and reasonable humidity and not in direct sunlight.
- Dirt and Heat
Heat dries out the material of the painting, speeding up the process of natural aging. Also, as hot air rises it carries dirt with it. Thus, a painting above a heat source will experience far more grime than is normal for the rest of the room. Heat sources can also soften paint. Dirt and debris are easily trapped in the softened paint and varnish.
It is not advised to hang paintings over fireplaces. In addition to the damage caused by the radiating heat, soot and smoke damage will permanently darken and alter the tone of the paintings, especially those paintings that are unprimed and unvarnished.
- Water
Moisture will weaken the adhesion of the paint layers and eventually cause paint loss. The support and ground are the most sensitive components of the painting to water damage. If damage to the support and ground are pervasive, further damage to the paint and varnish may occur.
- Humidity
Low or high relative humidity as well as rapid changes in relative humidity are not good for paintings. Low relative humidity tends to minimize chemical change. However, it also tends to make the paint brittle and prone to mechanical damage. High relative humidity tends to minimize mechanical damage. However, it tends to promote the growth of biological organisms. Mold growth in the form of black spots has been seen in canvas paintings, especially acrylic paintings.
Too much change in relative humidity is especially bad for wooden panel paintings. In response to fluctuations of humidity and the shielding effect of the paint layer on top, the wooden panel has a tendency to slowly form a concave shape. Historically, restorers have flattened the wood panel; however, in time, this procedure has caused the paint layer on the other side to flake off. Conservators have since recommended that one should avoid applying excess pressure to constrain the natural tendency of wood to curve.
- Light
As a rule of thumb, ultraviolet light should be kept away from paintings, especially in display and storage. Fugitive dyes and colorants used in the paints will eventually discolor under exposure to ultraviolet light. The fading of pigments and dyes in paintings will affect the color balance of the image. The intensity and wavelengths of light used in displaying graphic art is generally safe for paintings.
Provided that there are no signs of loose or flaking paint, a painting may be safely dusted using a clean, soft, natural-hair artists’ brush (3.5cm to 5cm tip). The painting should be positioned on a clean padded surface and held upright at a forward angle so the dust falls away from the face of the painting. Brushing is carried out slowly and gently in one direction across or down the painting followed by a second brushing in the opposite direction.
Brushing painting having a matte surface (lean in binder or loaded with pigments) may burnish the painting and leave an undesirable glossy, permanent imprint. In this case, brushing should be avoided.
Never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes, or feather dusters to dust a painting. Threads from dust cloths may catch on areas of raised paint, moisture may cause subsequent loss of paint, and both bristle-haired brushes and feather dusters can scratch the surface of a painting.
If you are ever in doubt about how to handle your painting of it you just want to know more about its care, paintings conservators are your best source of information. Paintings conservators have years of education and experience working with all kinds of paintings in all sorts of conditions. They will be able to guide you in the preservation and care of your painting so it will appear its best for the longest time.
Carr, Dawson W. and Leonard, Mark, Looking at Paintings: a Guide to Technical Terms, Malibu, CA: The John Paul Getty Museum, 1992.
Gettens, Rutherford J. and Stout, George L., Paintings Materials, New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1966.
Gottsegen, Mark David, The Painter’s Handbook, New York, NY: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1993.
Keck, Caroline K., A Handbook on the Care of Paintings, The American Association for State and Local History, 1965.
Keck, Caroline K., How to Take Care of Your Pictures, The Museum of Modern Art and The Brooklyn Museum, 1954.
Stout, George L., The Care of Pictures, New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1948.
Thomson, Garry, The Museum Environment, 2nd edition, Boston, MA: Butterworths, 1986.
Art conservation & preservation: How to clean a painting
Our clients often ask us advice on the best ways to protect and preserve the art they purchase from our website. Artalistic unveils the best was to clean a painting, shares tips for optimal storage conditions and ways to safely display your art while protecting it.
Art preservation – how to store paintings without damaging them
In order to protect a work of art – in particular paintings – the question of storage should not be taken lightly.
Handle with care
Top Tip: if you are going to handle a work of art, it is imperative that you keep your hands clean so as not to leave any marks on the work. Washing your hands with soap is important even if you plan on wearing archival quality protective cotton gloves. Be sure to pick up the piece with both hands at all times so that you don’t accidentally drop it.
Art conservation tips for pieces you wish to display
Making sure that the space you display your artwork in meets optimal preservation requirements is essential for preserving art. There is a certain Goldilocks zone of heat and humidity that is best for art conservation. The temperature of the room should ideally be between 64°F and 68°F (18°C – 20°C). The humidity level should be between 50% and 60%. Paintings begin to deteriorate when the humidity level of the room goes over 60%. Paintings hate hot weather. It is a good rule of thumb to keep the work of art in a room that is controlled by a thermostat to ensure the room stays within the suggested temperature range. If the room’s natural humidity level is not optimal, you should try to invest in a humidifier/dehumidifier or add a few decorative plants.
Protecting a painting from light
Paintings are especially susceptible to damage from UV light, which causes irreparable damage. The sun’s rays can penetrate deep into the different layers of the painting and may cause irreversible damage. Watercolors, engravings and drawings are particularly sensitive to light.
If you would like to display your piece under lights opt for indirect lighting and use incandescent or tungsten lights. Avoid shining the light directly on the work of art. You can bounce a light off of a nearby wall or ceiling to achieve softer lighting that will also preserve your art.
There is a reason museums don’t allow flash photography – it is very harmful to paintings. So if you are going to take a photograph of your work of art be sure to turn off your flash.
Storing artwork
If you do not want to put your art on display you can store it using an art rack like those used in museums. This is the best way to preserve art when in storage and many of these racks have wheels so they can be easily moved.
If you do not want to invest in a storage rack be sure to lay paintings flat in a place that will not collect dust. Drawings and photographs can be stored in a cardboard box or a box that is not airtight so that air can circulate around the piece and prevent mold from growing. For optimal protection you can place archival grade paper between each piece. Photographs can also be stored in protective plastic sleeves then stacked in a box.
Cleaning a painting
Can I clean a painting myself?
Quick Tip: If your painting is old, valuable or has great sentimental value to you – don’t try and clean it yourself!
Don’t take any risks, you will be happier in the long run if you entrust it to a painting specialist or restorer.
If your piece does not meet the above criteria and you feel confident about trying to clean it yourself, here are a few tips to help you clean your painting depending on the media used to create it.
Cleaning an oil painting
You can carefully dust off the back of the painting with a brush or a paintbrush. A small vacuum cleaner set at low speed can also help remove dust from the frame. Never use water as this may cause the canvas to come off the frame!
For the front of the painting, a cotton or microfiber cloth lightly soaked in distilled water or mineral water mixed with basic household soap (Marseille soap) works well. Use slow delicate circular motions. The painting will immediately appear less dull.
Cleaning acrylic paintings
Acrylic paintings are generally not varnished. Proceed with caution and find a professional well versed in cleaning acrylic paintings.
How NOT to clean a painting!
Never use solvents or alcohol-based products to clean your paintings as this will lead to disaster! Don’t attempt any old wives’ tale methods like rubbing the painting with an onion or potato, as this will slowly remove the paint over time.
We hope that our advice on how to preserve art and clean paintings was helpful. You now have all of the tools to keep the piece you purchased from our carefully curated gallery of paintings , sculptures , photographs , drawings and limited edition prints in mint condition! Feel free to contact our team of experts if you are an artist looking to create an online portfolio or are looking for advice about investing in fine art. Thank you, stay safe and see you soon for the latest news from the art world!
Some tips for conserving your painting on canvas are:
- Keep the work away from all sources of heat such as lamps, fireplace, etc.
- Avoid direct or excessive lighting of the sun or artificial light, as both can cause pigment discoloration
- Remove dust from the frames on both the front and back at least once a week to prevent the appearance of fungi and moths.
- Avoid moisture directly or indirectly, and may cause fungi to appear.
- Using dry cotton cloth is one of the tips to clean the work of art without damaging it (Never use a damp cloth for this purpose).
- Carefully pack the work to be transported (use tissue paper, nylon foam or bubble wrap) to avoid vibration, shock, etc.
What if you are storing?
How to Store painting on canvas
- Choose a location to store the screen that has the least amount of human traffic.
- Wrap the painting on canvas with a blanket or bubble wrap. Use masking tape to seal them.
- Put on the front and back of the painting a hard cardboard or cardboard, to avoid risks of contact with the piece.
- Avoid storing in hot places. The heat makes the paint soft and peels.
- Do not touch objects on the work, thus avoiding the risk of damaging them.
- To store frameless paintings, wrap it in parchment paper and then place it in a paper or plastic tube.
The Brazilian Artist Lobo, works with the best that exists in the market in artistic materials
The material used is acrylic paint and screen panel, from the Trident Gallery line, stapled from behind that dispenses frame.
Artistic canvas in natural cotton with protection against deterioration by acidity. With primer based on titanium and acrylic. Fabric imported from the United States, with wood of reforestation of great quality, ensuring the canvas always stretched.
