Care Instructions

 

ARTWORKS

Protecting and Cleaning Paper Art

  1. If stacking paper artworks for storage, add a layer of glassine paper in between each artwork. This will protect the painted surface from abrasion.
  2. If work is likely to be put on display, then framing it behind glass will always offer a greater level of protection from dirt and humidity changes, even if you have also varnished or fixed your work. UV resistant glass will help to minimise the risk of colours fading. However, unless you use non-reflective glass, framing behind glass will also introduce reflections. A mount should be used to prevent the glass from touching the surface of the work because condensation and temperature changes can cause the paper to wrinkle or stick to the glass. 
  3. If you don't have the room to lay the artworks flat and want to store it in a tube, add a piece of glassine paper to the face of the artwork and roll the artwork.  Be careful to not create creases or dog ear the corners. Ensure there are caps on the end of your tube and store them standing upright. Do not roll your artwork and leave it laying horizontally.  This will create creases in the artwork over time. 

Protecting and Cleaning Canvas Wall Art

  1. Try not to touch the artwork. This may be difficult given the location of the artwork, the size, the tactile nature of the artwork and small hands that will be in the vicinity. It would be advisable to add a sign that asks the public not to touch.
  2. Do not lean anything against the surface of a canvas. Do not apply any kind of pressure (even finger pressure) to the back of a canvas -- cracks in the paint may develop over time if this is done constantly.
  3. Dust the artwork with a clean, dry, soft rag occasionally to prevent dust build up. Don't use cleaning products or water. Never use stiff bristle brushes or feather dusters to clean a painting as threads can catch on areas of raised paint and dusters can scratch the painting.
  4. Avoid spraying any fresheners, polish etc. directly onto a painting.
  5. Try to avoid subjecting the artwork to excessive dryness, humidity, heat or cold. All of these conditions can affect the state of the artwork in a negative way (canvas puckering, paint cracking, etc.).
  6. Canvases needs to breathe. Even though it may be tempting to have glass fitted in a few years, if it is framed under glass you may trap moisture inside the frame. Canvases experience small, subtle shifts over time due to mild atmospheric changes, so it is best to leave them without glass to allow them to flow with these slight changes.
  7. If framing a paper artwork, ensure there is space between the glazing and the artwork, by using matting.
  8. Inspect the condition of the artworks periodically to ensure it is kept in the best condition possible.
  9. The artwork should be kept out of direct sunlight. The location of this artwork should be ok as the light will be diffused and is not in direct line of the sun. The artwork does have a protective layer of matt sealer, but it is still possible for it to crack or fade if subjected to bright sunlight for long periods of time.
  10. Do not attempt to clean the surface by using solvents or cleaning products of any kind.  Cleaning liquids may actually embed the dirt into the painting and cause permanent liquid lines over the surface. It is discouraged to use any liquid, to clean the surface of the acrylic painting. The simplest way to clean an acrylic painting on canvas is to use a damp, white cotton cloth soaked in a gentle soapy water. Be gentle though, as you don’t want to break hardened paint. Ensure there are no water drips on the painting.
  11. If storing the artwork, do not to lean other artworks against it. Separate them with pieces of cardboard to avoid damage.
  12. Do not cover artworks with plastic for long periods of time. If there is humidity in the air, they may start to grow mould. Cotton sheets are best for keeping dust away.
  13. Over time, canvases can become loosened on the stretcher bars. To retighten the canvas, a simple method is to is to gently spray water on the back of the canvas, ensuring it gets into the fibres of the canvas and leave the piece to dry for a couple of hours. Canvases are made of fabric, and with time the weave can become loose.
  14. Clean the frame in the same manner as the artwork itself – with a damp white cotton cloth.