Care of original Paintings and prints
ORIGINAL ART:
When you buy an original drawing or painting, it is very unique and one of a kind. Original art is hand made by the artist. The artist's hands, passion, "blood, sweat, and tears" is all over the work. To the artist, their art is an extension of themselves, like birthing a baby! It's a unique creation and impossible to duplicate again exactly like the original. Original art uses all sorts of materials to express what is going on in the heart of the artist, using anything from found objects, to expensive art supplies.
ART PRINTS are copies taken from the original drawing or painting. They can be duplicated over and over. The materials needed for printing can be quite expensive itself, requiring a good camera, learning how to take high quality photos, editing, camera set up, lighting, using high quality printing machines, high quality papers, packaging the prints, mats, frames. etc. If an artist does it themselves, the initial cost for making art quality prints can be very costly. It requires a whole new set of skills. If they have someone else do it, it costs even more. So making prints sounds simple, but, it takes time to learn, and expensive equipment to do it.
CARE:
Original artwork and wall prints are completely different, however their care is basically the same. Most people just hang them on a wall and leave them alone. HOWEVER...
They are affected by the environment they "live" in.
temperature extremes
moisture & mold
lighting and sunlight
dust and insects
air quality and smoking
handling and dirty fingers
Extreme temperatures are not good for paintings and prints. Paints can crack or lift off the canvas.
Moisture can cause mold in a humid room. Over time, moisture can get between the glass and the print, causing the printing ink to stick to the glass, so prints should always be matted under glass. Hanging artwork over a fireplace or aquarium is NOT a good idea.
Use glass or acrylic protection for all drawings on paper, watercolor, pastels, colored pencil, etc. Glass or acrylic helps keep art clean and free of dust on the front, and a dust cover helps protect the back from dust and insects laying eggs on the back of the painting or print. When you clean the glass, spray the cleaner on a cloth, instead of the art, so moisture does not seep into the cracks of the frame. Never use water on acrylic or plexiglass. They have special cleaners for that.
Bright lights and sunlight directly on the art can cause fading and color shifts.
Keep it clean. Dust, pet dander, smoke from fireplaces or cigarettes, cigars, etc. can put a film on the artwork. The oils from your hands can leave smudges on the artwork. Wear gloves or have clean hands before touching your artwork.
WALL ART doesn't ask for much. Art work doesn't like extremes in heat and cold. They don't like too much moisture, which can cause mold. Paper prints, anything made with paper, such as pastels, colored pencil, watercolor, inks, markers, etc. need protected under glass. Anything under glass needs a mat barrier to separate the glass from the artwork. The mat makes the artwork look better, and it also created an air space between the art and the glass, so the inks, or paint doesn't stick to the glass. Moisture can cause the paper to stick to the glass and ruin your art.
A dust cover added to the back of your print or original art can protect the back from dust and insects laying eggs behind your art. Bugs and dust are not nice! You can use a dry micro cloth and clean the front and back of your art a few times a year, Your art work will thank you.
Original paintings should be dusted off with a dry micro cloth periodically. Check the back of the artwork for dust and insects.
Bright lights or sun from the window can fade art over time. Artwork can be protected by moving them to a darker area of the room, or using UV protected glass or plexiglass. Smoking can put a film on the artwork. Use gloves or very clean hands before handling artwork.
Hang your art where you can see it well, preferable at eye level. If you hang it above a couch, be careful people's heads don't bump it, but, not so high that it looks ridiculous. Two hooks on the wall at the same level for one painting, will keep it level, assuming it has a wire hanger on the back.
Care of Acrylic Paintings
here is an excellent link from the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute
When you buy an original drawing or painting, it is very unique and one of a kind. Original art is hand made by the artist. The artist's hands, passion, "blood, sweat, and tears" is all over the work. To the artist, their art is an extension of themselves, like birthing a baby! It's a unique creation and impossible to duplicate again exactly like the original. Original art uses all sorts of materials to express what is going on in the heart of the artist, using anything from found objects, to expensive art supplies.
ART PRINTS are copies taken from the original drawing or painting. They can be duplicated over and over. The materials needed for printing can be quite expensive itself, requiring a good camera, learning how to take high quality photos, editing, camera set up, lighting, using high quality printing machines, high quality papers, packaging the prints, mats, frames. etc. If an artist does it themselves, the initial cost for making art quality prints can be very costly. It requires a whole new set of skills. If they have someone else do it, it costs even more. So making prints sounds simple, but, it takes time to learn, and expensive equipment to do it.
CARE:
Original artwork and wall prints are completely different, however their care is basically the same. Most people just hang them on a wall and leave them alone. HOWEVER...
They are affected by the environment they "live" in.
temperature extremes
moisture & mold
lighting and sunlight
dust and insects
air quality and smoking
handling and dirty fingers
Extreme temperatures are not good for paintings and prints. Paints can crack or lift off the canvas.
Moisture can cause mold in a humid room. Over time, moisture can get between the glass and the print, causing the printing ink to stick to the glass, so prints should always be matted under glass. Hanging artwork over a fireplace or aquarium is NOT a good idea.
Use glass or acrylic protection for all drawings on paper, watercolor, pastels, colored pencil, etc. Glass or acrylic helps keep art clean and free of dust on the front, and a dust cover helps protect the back from dust and insects laying eggs on the back of the painting or print. When you clean the glass, spray the cleaner on a cloth, instead of the art, so moisture does not seep into the cracks of the frame. Never use water on acrylic or plexiglass. They have special cleaners for that.
Bright lights and sunlight directly on the art can cause fading and color shifts.
Keep it clean. Dust, pet dander, smoke from fireplaces or cigarettes, cigars, etc. can put a film on the artwork. The oils from your hands can leave smudges on the artwork. Wear gloves or have clean hands before touching your artwork.
WALL ART doesn't ask for much. Art work doesn't like extremes in heat and cold. They don't like too much moisture, which can cause mold. Paper prints, anything made with paper, such as pastels, colored pencil, watercolor, inks, markers, etc. need protected under glass. Anything under glass needs a mat barrier to separate the glass from the artwork. The mat makes the artwork look better, and it also created an air space between the art and the glass, so the inks, or paint doesn't stick to the glass. Moisture can cause the paper to stick to the glass and ruin your art.
A dust cover added to the back of your print or original art can protect the back from dust and insects laying eggs behind your art. Bugs and dust are not nice! You can use a dry micro cloth and clean the front and back of your art a few times a year, Your art work will thank you.
Original paintings should be dusted off with a dry micro cloth periodically. Check the back of the artwork for dust and insects.
Bright lights or sun from the window can fade art over time. Artwork can be protected by moving them to a darker area of the room, or using UV protected glass or plexiglass. Smoking can put a film on the artwork. Use gloves or very clean hands before handling artwork.
Hang your art where you can see it well, preferable at eye level. If you hang it above a couch, be careful people's heads don't bump it, but, not so high that it looks ridiculous. Two hooks on the wall at the same level for one painting, will keep it level, assuming it has a wire hanger on the back.
Care of Acrylic Paintings
here is an excellent link from the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute
I put a dust cover on the back of my canvas paintings now
The dust cover protects the back of the painting from dust, debris, and insects.