Pay a visit to an art museum and you will find painted works of art that are centuries old. They have been well cared for through proper cleaning, appropriate lighting levels, and temperature and humidity control. You do not have to live in a museum to own fine works of art that will remain in superb condition and last for years. Paintings naturally change in time, but the following easy steps will help you care for your paintings and keep them looking like new for many years to come.

Install a backing board to stretch canvas paintings. Stretch canvas paintings are usually open in the back, and the opening can cause works of art to be affected by the environment, crack, flake, and age more quickly. Care for a painted work of art by having a backing board professionally attached to the frame. Dirt, dust, air and debris are all kept from infiltrating the painting by the backing board. The back of a painting does not require ventilation, and it is best protected if it is completely sealed.

Hang the painting securely to prevent destruction. One of the most common ways in which painted works of art are damaged is through improper hanging. A hanger or nail in a wall can give way, and a painting that is not properly outfitted with a wire hanger can fall to the floor. Care for paintings before they are ever hung by always using double-braided wire instead of other types of hangers. In addition, securely attach the braided wire to the frame around the painting rather than the frame the canvas is stretched around. Instead of ordinary nails, hang painted works of art on mounting hooks that are anchored into the wall and can hold more than the weight of the framed painting. When properly equipped with hardware and hung on secure hooks, painted and framed artwork will never fall off walls and become destroyed.

Take care by maintaining proper humidity. Humidity fluctuations can damage paintings and wood frames. Appropriate care is essential, and it is important to maintain low humidity. Fifty percent humidity is ideal for displaying and storing paintings. Most of all, avoid suddenly changing the level of humidity. Surprisingly, great fluctuations in humidity are far more damaging than storing paintings in less than ideal humid locations.

Control all kinds of lighting. Natural as well as artificial lighting can be hot and can damage painted works of art and frames. Maintain care by keeping paintings away from sunny windows or bright sources of artificial light. Also, do not use wall-mounted lights typically used for displaying and highlighting paintings. The bulbs become hot, and when placed too close to works of art or even the frames, paintings can become extremely dry and eventually damaged. Instead of using potentially dangerous lighting, take care by opting for recessed lighting, adjustable lighting, indirect natural light, or tungsten lamps.

Regulate temperature. When striving to maintain proper care through humidity and light control, it is also important to maintain temperatures that are ideal for storing or displaying paintings. As a rule, if the temperature is comfortable for people, it is ideal for displaying and storing painted works of art.

Avoid smoking and spray products. Smoke will fade paintings and leave them coated in a layer of fine soot. Fireplaces and other sources of smoke can also damage and soil paintings. Prohibit smoking in the home or building, and do not hang paintings near a fireplace or another source of smoke that can coat and discolor works of art. In addition, do not spray air freshener or other products around or near paintings.

Care for works of art by preventing dust build-up. Just like other works of art, paintings require occasional dusting, but take care not to use items that can inadvertently scratch or flake away paint. Use a microfiber cloth or a brush with very soft bristles. A natural sable brush is ideal to care for and clean dust from the surface of paintings as well as the nooks and crannies of delicate frames.

Clean dirty paintings with the utmost care. If paintings at least six months old become soiled and a light dusting is insufficient, use a microfiber cloth dampened with a mixture of distilled water and a small amount of very mild detergent to clean the surface. Using a clean microfiber cloth or fabric that is equally as soft, take care by ringing out the cloth after dipping it in clean distilled water, and gently remove the detergent and dirt. Allow the surface to air-dry to avoid putting undue pressure on the canvas. This type of maintenance should only be utilized if a painted work of art is truly dirty.

With proper care, the colors in paintings will remain true. In addition, when stored in an ideal environment, paintings will remain in excellent condition. With the proper care museum quality painted works of art can become heirloom treasures that are passed down from generation to generation while still looking as fabulous as they did they day they were created.

Author Bio: Article by Brenda Walker of “Wall Decor and Home Accents”, check out our wide selection of tropical metal wall art and grapes wall decor online.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: art,museums,paintings,works of art,maintance,guide