How to Protect Paintings

The most important role of an art collector or art gallery curator is to persevere and protect the paintings in their art collections. External factors like dampness or sunlight can significantly affect an artwork and undermine its artistic value, which is not a good thing in terms of art investment. Learn about art conservation.

It is vital to take appropriate measures to protect your art to ensure a long lifespan. Several different painting mediums like oil, watercolors, and acrylics have additional cleaning requirements, and it is essential to read up on them before you start cleaning them. Follow these tips to ensure your artworks look pristine for generations to come. How to Light Artwork at Home

How to Protect Your Oil Painting

Oil paint is an extremely common medium choice amongst fine artists. However, oil paint tends to get quite sticky, making it easy for dust to stick on it. It’s essential to keep varnishing your oil paintings to protect your artwork from any dust particles or dirt. These techniques will improve the overall appearance of the artwork.  Varnish increases the lifespan of your oil paintings and can be done by using a simple flat varnishing brush. Always start from the top of your painting, gradually covering all the spaces in a criss-cross pattern. Read more about what an oil painting is.

How to Protect Oil Paintings on Canvas

Another effective varnishing technique for oil paintings that are on canvas is to use a Chamois. This technique has been used for centuries by well-known painters to protect their art, is by using Chamois or Microfiber cloth and gently rubbing it on the surface. 

Along with this, a tried and tested alternative technique is by using white bread to remove the dust and dirt from oil paintings. It is a highly effective method that guarantees authentic results and protects your painting from getting any scratches along the way. Many experts even recommended using adhesive tape to remove the dirt.

How to Protect Your Watercolor Painting

Watercolor paintings usually have a dry, easy-to-clean texture making them hassle-free for individuals to preserve and protect for centuries. The cleaning techniques for watercolors include using a dry cloth rubbed gently all around the painting. For areas that are hard to clean with a cloth, painters advise using a soft-bristled paintbrush in those areas. 

Smooth surfaces make the cleaning process much more effective on watercolors. Direct sunlight, however, must be avoided, and the painting should be placed and hung in cool, dry spaces.

How to Protect Watercolor Painting Without Glass Sub

If you prefer a cleaner look that can be achieved without the glass sub, then there are several ways to protect your watercolors. You have to apply a fixative to your watercolors to prevent the colors from smearing after the topcoat is applied.  An added measure is to mount your artwork before putting an additional coat to seal the work. These steps will leave your artwork safeguarded from damage.

How to Protect Paintings From Dust

Dust is one of the most dangerous elements that can damage your painting and decrease its value and lifespan. Using a varnish over your artwork can have a substantial benefit because it protects the art from dust, dirt, or debris.  Varnishing involves painting a protective layer over your painting, creating a clear and transparent film over the surface. Varnish comes in gloss satin or matte finish, depending on the surface you want to apply it to.  The varnish not only protects the painting from dust but also prevents fading due to UV exposure and damage due to exposure to moisture. The Strong UV exposure caused by direct sunlight leads to fading and yellowing of your paintings. It is advisable to place a specialized glass called a UV filtering acrylic plexiglass for framed original art. A less costly way to protect your paintings from dust would be to cover your art with curtains. The curtain material has to be extensively researched so that the texture does not damage or scrape your precious paintings. Curtains can prove to be a worthwhile long-term investment because they can easily be washed and dusted. To further preserve the aesthetic appeal and exquisite detailing of your artwork, you have to regularly remove dust with a feather duster or stable brush. It is not advisable to use rough mediums to brush off the dust because this could cause scratches.

How to Protect Paintings When Moving

The most heartbreaking thing for a fine artist or art collector to see is a painting that gets destroyed or damaged during the moving process. This loss may be unpleasant because all artwork is unique and irreplaceable. There are different memories and stories attached to each painting, and it is essential to keep them protected during local or long-distance moving.

It is vital to protect the glass and frame in your painting from cracking by covering it with painter’s tape all around. This tape will effortlessly come off the surface when you remove it – without any marks or stickiness.  Before the shipping process, you can use different kinds of craft paper to wrap around your painting. These come in various options, like a thick layer of glassine or acid-free tissue paper.  Along with this paper, you can also cover your paintings with either a palette wrap or bubble wrap. This will protect your art from water, oil, grease fluid, scratches, or moisture damage. Bubble wrap is an ideal insulator and prevents any damage from fluctuating weather or bumps on the road. However, bubble wrap should only be used for dry storage, as it can become humid.  Mirror boxes or flat picture boxes are strongly recommended for storing your paintings.  Ideally, you should use boxes that are bigger than the size of your painting. These larger, padded boxes will minimize the damage.  You should secure the paintings in these boxes with packing tape and add warning signs like “fragile items” to make people movers aware the boxes contain delicate items, so they will take extra care.  Never forget to add newspapers at the bottom of all your boxes. But don’t put newspaper directly on your painting, as the ink can smudge. Seal the box shut with an additional bubble wrap layer and label it accordingly to ensure secure transportation. The amount of effort and hard work put into each painting makes it essential that the carrier take extra preventive measures to keep it secure from any harmful elements. Passing these artworks down to generations to come is essential for the preservation of art. We must share these creations with others to pass down and share the magic and hidden stories.

Buying & Collecting Paintings

Fine art paintings are a great investment that can be enjoyed, displayed, and curated today – if they are properly protected. Original paintings for sale, sculptures, and photography art for sale can be found in Eden Gallery and private collections worldwide.