How to care for your art

It’s the best feeling in the world when you purchase a piece of art, but how do you care for it once you get it home?

Well, we’ve put together a complete guide on how to display and look after your collection to make sure it remains in perfect nick for years to come.

Positioning your artwork

First things first, you need to decide where your artwork is going to take up residence in your home.

Whether you’ve already got a spot in mind, or you’re weighing up the options, it’s worth giving some thought to the following.

1. Direct sunlight

Artworks don’t fare well when placed in bright sunlight. Watercolours and other works on paper are particularly prone to colour bleaching or surface degradation when placed in direct sunlight, but even hardier pigments in oils or acrylics will fade over time.

Where possible, try to hang your artworks in shadier spots (or if you really can’t avoid hanging your pieces in a sunny corner, chat to a specialist framer about placing your artworks behind UV-protected glass).

2. Temperature changes

Frequent or large changes in temperature can be damaging to artworks, as can high levels of humidity or damp. When selecting where to hang your new artworks, consider how the requirements of the medium match up with the room in which you’re placing it.

Likewise, in kitchens or rooms with open fires or radiators, bear in mind that strong sources of heat can cause warping or discolouration to some mediums.

3. Moisture

We love the idea of having art in the bathroom, but bear in mind that works on paper or those with delicate surfaces may not fare well. Good ventilation is a must to avoid mildew and surface damage, and we’d recommend chatting to a framer about how best to protect your artworks by properly sealing the frames to prevent moisture getting in.

4. Accidental bumps

It may sound obvious, but make sure fragile sculptures or ceramic works are displayed in secure, safe spaces out of the way of household traffic. If you have small children or lively pets, consider a display cabinet for intricate items to offer an extra level of protection and peace of mind.

5. Create an atmosphere

It’s so much fun curating your own home, thinking about the way an artwork interacts with the room and experimenting with layout and colour.

Luckily we’ve got some handy tips and tricks for curating at home, check out our blog on How To: Curate at Home.

Hanging your artwork

Now that you’ve earmarked the perfect spot for your new artwork, it’s time to dust off the tool box and get it up on the wall.

1. Check the provided fixtures

Examine the fixing on the back of the artwork to determine the best way to attach it to the wall. Most framed pieces will have a picture wire secured to the back, whereas paintings on box canvases may just have a cross bar to hang from.

If you’re unsure about the best way to hang your piece, chat to a framer or your gallerist for some suggestions.

2. Weigh it up

Consider the weight of the work and the strength of the wall on which it will be hung. Most moderately sized pieces can be hung from two nails or screws, or a traditional picture hook. However particularly large or heavy works (or pieces going on to particularly weak or crumbly walls) may need more substantial fixings.

Again, it’s better to be safe than sorry – chat to your framer if you’re unsure, or for particularly tricky pieces consider hiring a handyman to assist you.

3. Hanging several pieces

If you’re hanging a collection of artworks together, try drawing out the shape of your pieces on paper and using these to decide whereabouts to place them on the wall. Once you’ve modelled the hang with your paper shapes, it’s just a matter of fixing the pieces to the wall.

Caring for your artwork

Once your artwork is safely up on the wall the hard work is over. You can sit back and admire it to your heart’s content.

But just to be sure, there are a couple of simple things you do to ensure it looks its best for years to come.

1. Dust regularly

Dust your artworks regularly. For framed works or pieces with hardier surfaces use a dry, soft white cloth and for paintings with heavy texture or fragile surfaces a soft white brush is better. A new, unused make up brush would do the trick.

2. Never use chemicals

Never use chemical cleaning products or water to clean your artworks.

If your collection needs more thorough cleaning, it’s best to book an appointment with a specialist to avoid causing any damage which can be hard, or even impossible, to reverse.

3. Check for damp

You should periodically check your artworks for signs of damp. These signs – discolouration and distinctive brown marks (sometimes called foxing) – are most likely to appear on the back of artworks initially.

It’s a good idea to remove pieces from the wall a couple of times a year to check everything is still shipshape.

And that’s it! Congratulations on collecting the perfect piece of art for your home and for taking the time to care for it to make sure it shines for years to come.

Looking for more art to add to your collection?

Get the dates of your next Affordable Art Fair locked in your diary and put your new art aftercare skills into practice.

Main image: Affordable Art Fair Battersea Spring 2023, image credit: Shaun James Cox