Caring for Original Artwork
You’ve received your custom commission or original art piece, now what? What are the best practices to care for your artwork to insure it holds up for a lifetime?
Keep artwork (and even prints) out of direct sunlight. UV rays cause colors to fade. I take care to use the most lightfast pigments available and my artwork is finished with UV varnish, but even still direct sunlight will cause fading and other damage.
Be careful about extreme temperatures/humidity. Artwork should be kept at comfortable room temperature. Acrylic paintings in particular can become brittle or damaged at temps below 50F while works on paper can become warped when exposed to high levels of humidity.
I recommend framing drawings on paper behind glass or plexiglass that has been treated to block UV rays. Typically acrylic paintings do not need to be behind glass. Paintings on canvas in particular need to be able to “breathe” and shift around over through the years. Take care not to lean anything against the canvas of a painting as this could cause a permanent stretch mark.
Always use acid-free mat board and tape when framing artwork. You can always take your artwork to a professional frame shop, but when DIY-ing it, make sure to use acid-free mounting materials. My favorite places to shop for picture frames are thrift stores! You can always get plexiglass cut to fit your frame at a hardware store.
All of my artworks (drawings and paintings) can be gently dusted to remove surface dirt/dust. Use a feather duster or very soft makeup brush.
If necessary, a damp cloth can be used to wipe the surface of an acrylic painting very gently. Never use moisture to clean an artwork on paper! Never scrub an artwork! Try to hang original artwork in places where they are less likely to get spilled on or bumped.
Don’t hang artwork near the stove or in areas where oils/other cooking fumes could come into contact with it. At the very least, artwork in the kitchen should be protected behind glass/plexiglass. The bathroom is also a dangerous place for original artwork do to temp and humidity fluctuations!
Never store artwork in plastic, this can cause it to mold! If you need to store a painting for an extended length of time, wrap it in a cotton sheet and place in a closet or other dark, temperature controlled area. Works on paper can be stored the same way in their frame.
I always use high quality, professional level materials for all my art- many of which are expected to last tens or even hundreds of years with little change. However, even high quality artwork can fade or get damaged over time if handled improperly- or even if handled properly! Because of this, I want to extend a lifetime restoration policy to all my clients. If you purchase an art work from me and feel it has faded or lost luster after a few years, I will perform a free restoration of the artwork to bring it back to it’s former glory- you just pay shipping and handling fees. You can reach out to me at any time to request a restoration!
Art by Eilee 