Maintaining Art: A Helpful Guide To Care For Your Artwork

If you’ve created or bought a wonderful piece of valuable artwork and want to know how to care for it then you’re in the right place! We have a step-by-step guide for how to care for your artwork. Follow the simple steps below and your artwork will be perfectly maintained so you can enjoy it for years to come.

Keep Out of Direct Sunlight

Artwork does not thrive in direct sunlight. It could discolour the piece and even make it fade in certain areas depending on how exposed it is. Ensure your artwork is well positioned away from direct sunlight to maintain the overall appearance of the art. 

Watercolour in particular is prone to discolouration and colour bleaching, therefore it’s important to research what medium your artwork is made with so you can take appropriate precautions.

Ensure There’s No Moisture

Another important consideration is humidity. It’s important to keep your artwork in a dry environment to protect the artwork against moisture. The ideal humidity level for a gallery is 55%, and although we’re not expecting everyone to be so specific with their humidity levels, it’s important to be aware of this as a potential issue. This will ensure you can keep your work in a well-ventilated location to protect against any damp conditions which may affect the piece as damp can affect any medium.

Keep it Clean

Finally, we would recommend that your artwork is kept clean to ensure there isn’t a build-up of dust which can cause the artwork to degenerate. We would recommend that you do not use water, but to use a dry soft cloth to gently dust the artwork. Avoid using anything containing alcohol as this could remove some of the paint work. If your artwork needs deep cleaning, we would always recommend contacting a professional art restorer to ensure the correct products are used depending on the medium. 

If you would like more information about maintaining your artwork, then please contact us!