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Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-with-blue-hand-gloves-standing-near-painting-on-steel-easel-7849190/
Buying and displaying art can be a good creative outlet to show friends or guests. As the Internet helps make art more accessible, the online art sales industry in the US has grown by an average of 17.2% annually between 2018 and 2023. Additionally, the convenience and accessibility of online art dealers are expected to drive consumer spending on art purchases, offering consumers different kinds and mediums of art.
If you're not sure what kind of art you want, you could consider art posters — a rising trend in interior design. Art posters can be displayed at home, in your office, and even in commercial spaces such as bars and restaurants and may be easier to handle and maintain than traditional paintings. With so many different types of art pieces you can get, you'll want to learn how to protect your art from damage. Below, we'll share some tips to prevent or limit art damage:
Maintain temperature with an air conditioner
Humidity and temperature can damage your artwork over time. Sudden temperature changes can affect canvas material, causing slackening or stretching, and paint can also crack at higher temperatures. To prevent damage, consider using an air conditioner to regulate the temperature of the room your art is stored in.
Of course, cleaning your aircon is essential, and most experts recommend these appliances be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. Ideally, however, you can gently clean out the air filter every one or two months to prevent dust buildup and reduce strain on your machine, thus keeping your art free from damaging debris and bacteria. A well-maintained aircon will also provide cooler temperatures, helping maintain the colors and textures of your artworks and paintings, preventing long-term damage.
Wear cotton gloves when handling art
Have cotton gloves on if you have to move or take down your artwork for cleaning. Art handlers worldwide use white cotton gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints on the artwork. Our fingers also naturally produce grease and may be dirty, so the cotton gloves will protect the artwork from potential marks and smudges on more sensitive mediums, such as oil paintings.
However, it's important to note that cotton gloves may not be the best safety option for all kinds of artwork. Cotton, as a material, absorbs sweat, oil, and any moisture from the skin and may transfer these substances onto the artwork. If you can get your hands on powder-free nitrile gloves, they are just as effective as cotton gloves without the absorbent qualities of cotton. Their texture is much like latex, making them great for super smooth art pieces like ceramics.
Be wary about light exposure
Finally, be careful about the lighting of the room or space your artworks are located. Light can cause damage when absorbed by sensitive works like oil paintings, affecting the color quality of an artwork. UV radiation from both natural and artificial light sources can trigger fading or photochemical reactions that can cause irreversible damage.
In a study on light intensity and multi-primary LEDs in museums, researchers highlighted the long-time challenge for curators, conservators, and lighting designers to identify optimal light sources that would prevent or minimize damage to artworks. The study found multi-primary LEDs to provide great flexibility in maintaining color quality, damage reduction, and energy efficiency for lighting artworks.
These are only some of the important things to remember when handling and keeping your artwork for display. Like all other valuable items, you should also be careful about letting moisture near your artwork — whether posters or paintings to prevent material damage.
Article written by Resse Justine
Exclusively for
