Art Tips: Taking Care of Your Art

Heat and Humidity

Fluctuations in relative heat and temperature are considered the most ravaging factors to art. Under unfavourable conditions, wear and aging are accelerated. Associated problems like shrinking, swelling, drying and chemical deterioration will inevitably occur.

Relative humidity is the measurement of the amount of moisture present in air in relation to the maximum amount that can exist at a certain temperature. The warmer the air, the more capable it is of locking moisture.

Humid environment will promote fungus and mold growth. While dehydrations will cause cracking, splitting in the process of desiccation. It’s all about maintaining a delicate balance!

How do I measure humidity?

There’s an inexpensive and reliable method of using humidity indicator cards. They are color coded to reflect humidity levels too.

Are there any ideal temperature and humidity levels for art?

Yes, it’s best to store art at 70 F or 21 Degress Celsius and humidity should be between 30% and 70%. Be mindful of radiators, direct sunlight and artificial lighting, all these could alter temperatures. A combination of low humidity and high temperatures can cause yellowing and embrittlement.

Is it difficult to prevent my art from heat and humidity damages?

Not at all. There are humidifiers and dehumidifiers to reduce the hazards.

They typically cost no more than $200. You can also ditch your expensive air conditioning for a modest ceiling fan to enhance ventilation (that’s assuming that surrounding air pollution is minimal).

Do frames protect my art from humidity?

No matter how good or expensive your frames are, humidity will definitely warp and damage your art.

Light

Light is essential to life but not so much for paintings. It reacts with oxygen, moisture and pollutants in the air to break up cellulose molecules, leading to embrittlement and discoloration in organic supports. Let’s not dig too deep into the science behind it. We’re artists, not scientists.

Here’s the bad news, all light is damaging, but damage varies according to intensity and duration of exposure.

Daylight which is filtered through windows contains UV radiation, the primary culprit for damages. UV radiation is responsible for fading pigments rapidly.
Fluorescent light emits UV too, albeit to a lesser degree. Incandescent light contains fewer UV but radiates more heat which can damage art too.

Which art is most vulnerable to light?

Art done on paper is least able to hold its defenses against light. Extra caution is required to keep them away from direct light. That explains why museums often regulate light in exhibitions of works on paper to a level that leaves us squinting to view them properly.

How can I control light levels effectively?

Be conscious and be earth-friendly by switching off the lights whenever possible. Install shutters or blinds to reduce direct light. Another useful tip will be to turn paintings against the walls when not being worked on. You can also avoid placing works on wall directly opposite windows where there’s bound to be direct light.

If you have cash to spare, invest in customized roll-down binds made from UV treated acrylic sheets that are more superior to usual curtains.

Does it mean that total darkness for art is good?

Oil paintings are different. In unbroken darkness, oil paintings are prone to discoloration and mold growth. Therefore they should remain partially exposed to controlled light.

However, focus more on stabilizing the climate. Haphazard climate is far more fatal for art works than darkness.

Pollution

For art lovers in cities that have relatively higher levels of pollution, this section is important given the damaging effects pollution has on your art.

Sulphur dioxide, a primary air pollutant, can cause structure degradation on all organic material. Soot and dust are also hazardous. Apart from dirtying your art, their presence encourages growth of mold and invites insects too.

How can I limit the harmful effects of pollution?

Maintain a closed and air-conditioned area coupled with air purifiers is a solution. Beware not only of opened windows, but also air vents. Fit filters on air vents to remove impurities too.

If all else fails, maybe it’s wiser to relocate yourself. Anyway air pollution is harmful to our health too.

Handling Art

Everyone can be an expert at handling art if you’re careful. Here’s a couple of tips I’ve stolen from curators.

Glove on

Seen those white gloves magicians always have? Art handling gloves look similar but are usually 100% cotton, not linen. Do not attempt to touch the surface of a painting with your clean bare hands. As much as you think your hands are clean, they aren’t. That’s why museums never allow people to touch any art works.

Fit paddings

Use paddings like bubble wrap when resting art on hard surfaces. It’s also useful to pad fragile corners of the art with cardboard when transporting.

Use only archival materials

Remember, anything that comes into direct contact with the art needs to be free of any damaging chemicals.

When packing or storing art, stick with pH neutral archival materials. Acidic based materials will cause art to turn yellow and eventually crumble. Do not cut corners on quality archival materials on your treasured piece. When in doubt, contact your local art supplier.

Move it carefully

When moving your large works of art, do not do it alone. Have someone beside to assist or catch you if you fall. Be sure to empty your pockets of any protruding items like keys or phones so that it does not obstruct your movement or damage the art when moving.

Framing art

In most cases, it’s recommended that you frame it up. Framing provides protection (prevents unnecessary contact with surface) and reinforcement.

A frame can also present a better finishing, making the art look more expensive than it really is.

Not all art need frames

This applies mostly to oil or acrylic on canvas. Sometimes an artist would continue coloring over edge of each work. Therefore, sides of the wooden stretcher become part of the complete art too.

For a typical oil painting, the stretchers can be unsightly, studded with staples or paint dribbles. Keeping it unframed is fine too as it presents a raw look.

How to select a suitable frame?

This is akin to asking what I should wear for dinner tonight. There’s no hard and fast rule to both. Nevertheless, here’s the golden rule, let the frame be a background. Select a simple molding with subdue finish. This can divert and accentuate the spotlight onto the art.

The more a frame draws attention to itself, the more is distances the viewer from art. Of course, if you think that an elaborate frame is complementary, go ahead. But do ask for opinions before you dive!