You’ve been working hard at this art thing, and you’ve really been building up a collection of pieces that look pretty good.
How do you store the surplus masterpieces that you’ve created?
There’s quite a few good ways to store your artwork and lots of bad ideas that are guaranteed to spell disaster for your paintings.
Here are some tips and tricks that will keep your paintings safe and free of any damage.
Tips and Tricks
Hanging artwork on a wall is, obviously, a safe way to store a painting. Plus, everyone who stops by has a chance to see your lovely work. However, wall space is limited and unless you want your house to resemble an art gallery, you’ll have only a small percentage of your work on display.
It’s a good idea to rotate your pieces, so no one painting is over-exposed to light and dust. Direct sunlight and the UV rays can fade pigment. Halogen and fluorescent bulbs also emit UV rays. However, standard incandescent bulbs are considered safe.
It’s also not a wise idea to hang a painting near extremes of heat or cold. A painting displayed over an active fireplace is a dirt and soot magnet. It’s also hot and dry. Excessive heat can soften paints.
Moisture Damage
Hanging paintings on uninsulated walls is not wise. Condensation can build up and cause moisture damage. If a painting must be hung on an uninsulated wall, use little rubber or cork feet attached to the corners of the frame to hold the painting away from direct contact with the wall. This provides air circulation so moisture can’t be trapped between the wall and frame.
Bathrooms and kitchens can also be dangerous places for paintings. Bathrooms are often steamy and kitchens in which there is actual cooking can have a lot of grease particles swirling about in the air.
Basements are damp and attics are dry and subject to extremes of temperature. Neither of these locations are ideal storage facilities. However, if you must use these areas to store your paintings, make sure they are climate controlled and have a functioning dehumidifier.
Concrete Wicks Moisture
Concrete wicks moisture, so it’s important to never lay or hang a painting on a concrete floor or wall. If you are hanging a painting on an uninsulated concrete wall, use rubber standoffs to keep moisture from leaching through and moisture building up behind the frame.
Paintings are best kept at a humidity level around 55 percent and at approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius. Extreme fluctuations in temperature cause loosening and tightening of canvas paintings. This can eventually cause cracking or flaking paint.
Store Vertically
Paintings should be stored vertically whenever possible. If you have a padded rack, that is the ideal storage system. If that’s not feasible, standing them up against each other is a second solution. However, make sure to place a piece of acid free paper or cardboard between each piece.
Don’t wrap paintings tightly. Air needs to circulate to prevent mildew from forming. Also, the paper or cloth used to wrap the piece can damage the paint surface.
To minimize dust, you can throw a clean cloth over your stack of paintings, but you should remove it periodically to check for any signs of insect or furry infestations.
