Laura Reid Nix – Laura Reid Nix

Whether you’ve recently inherited a family portrait or landscape, looking to add a new piece of art to your collection, or simply wanting to care for the art that you already have, there are a number of preventative measures you can take to prolong the life of your art.

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artist Works (AIC) details how to care for your different types of treasures. I highly recommend you read and download their printer friendly PDF(s) for your own records: https://www.conservation-us.org/about-conservation/caring-for-your-treasures

To get the most out of the life of your paintings and to prevent or reduce exposure to harm there are several key ‘golden rules’ to follow around environmental conditions, display, handling, storage, routine maintenance, and record keeping.

Environmental Conditions & Exposures

Maintain small temperature and humidity windows that are typically comfortable for people. Aim for temperatures in the mid/upper 60’s to low 70’s (F) and humidity between 40 and 60% RH.
Avoid frequent and extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations. Bathrooms with showers/baths and often kitchens have significant and rapid temperature and humidity fluctuations and art hung in these areas is susceptible to damaged.
Avoid direct sunlight and direct artificial light. Before you hang a piece of art, pay attention to where sunlight enters your windows. Localized heat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight and some light bulbs will often cause fading, discoloration, and can even cause distortion or warping. Indirect light from low to no UV transmitting bulbs is recommended for lighting your artwork.
Avoid direct exposure to sources of heat, cold, moisture. Fireplaces, heating and cooling vents or fans, lamps and spotlights emit concentrated amounts of hot/cold or moist/dry air. Be aware of the concentrated output areas and keep those areas free of art.

Display

Avoid high traffic areas, moveable seating, or other hazards when selecting a location for display.
Use appropriate and sufficient hanging hardware. Use picture hooks rated for the appropriate weight of your artwork (see an example here) – artworks can be easily knocked from a nail or screw, or a nail or screw can be dislodged from the wall. Large and heavier works will require multiple hooks.
Display using indirect lighting. Paintings on display and in storage should be kept away from ultraviolet light and high temperature lights. Exposure to ultraviolet light and heat can cause fading, discoloration, and progress degradation processes.

Handling

Limit possible accidents by not handling or moving your paintings unless absolutely necessary. Do not handle or hang an artwork with insecure or damaged components.
Use cotton gloves or freshly cleaned and dried hands when handling a painting. Carry one artwork at a time by using both hands – one on each side of the frame or canvas taking care not touch the surface of the artwork.

Storage

The best place for a painting is on a wall (well framed and on secure hanging hardware).
A good storage place is a closet with stiff boards protecting both the image side and back of the artwork.
Avoid storage in basements, garages, and attics where artworks are often forgotten and exposed to extreme temperatures, moisture, corrosive materials, and pests.

Routine Care

Examine your paintings regularly. Carefully check for loose or flaking paint, check that the frame and hardware are secure, and note any changes. Take photographs and make notes of what, where, and when changes are notice. This is best record keeping practices to monitor and compare changes.
If there are no signs of flaking or damage, you can delicately dust your painting with a very soft, natural-hair artists’ brush every 6 months. Clothes, feather dusters, and stiff bristled brushes can scratch, snag, and damage your painting. The best brushes for dusting are soft white-hair Japanese brushes (an example here), sable brushes (typical makeup brush) or badger-hair brushes also know as “blenders” used for faux finishes and can be purchased at most art and craft stores. Please note that smooth, very glossy surfaces and smooth matte surfaces may scratch easily, even with a very soft brush. If you have any concerns about dusting your painting send me a message first.
Never try to clean a painting yourself. If you think your painting requires cleaning, document the area and consult a painting conservator. Liquids and commercial products can cause irreversible damage to art including staining or discoloration that may not appear until much later.
Do not spray pesticides, air fresheners, or cleaning products near artworks. Safely store paintings in another room before plastering, painting, or steam-cleaning and rehang only when everything has completely dried.
Never try to repair a damaged painting. If your painting is damaged, document and photograph the damage and consult a painting conservator. Do not attempt to apply tape, glue, or readjust damaged areas. Conservators stabilize damaged areas prior to beginning treatment and any adjustment or application of tape/glue only causes further damage. Carefully save any fragments or losses in a rigid container to prevent further fragmentation of the losses and provide to a conservator with the painting for treatment – sometimes paint flakes and other materials can be re-secured at their original location.

Documentation

Documentation is another very important responsibility of caring for your art. Keep thorough, archival records of your art including photographs and artist/artwork documents and reports. This is also a good place to keep the records of your observations and notes.
Smithsonian American Art Museum has a list of recommended documents and information to have in your collection records: https://americanart.si.edu/research/my-art/care
Add artworks to you Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance Policy or research options for Fine Art Insurance Coverage. There are a few companies that offer fine art insurance which also insures your art when it is traveling or in the care of art professionals such as framers or conservators.

Help & Questions: Conservators

If you have questions or concerns about your artwork, click here to send me a message. Conservators are trained to answer your questions, assess the condition of your artwork, or point you in the direction of someone who is better to suited to answer your questions and assess your artwork.
AIC also has a Find a Conservator search feature to assist you with finding qualified professional conservators with peer-reviewed distinction in your area who specialize in certain materials/areas of conservation.
Quality over quantity. Conservation is a highly specialized profession that entails time intensive and detail oriented work. It is incredibly important to have an appropriately trained and qualified conservator assess and treat your artwork. The cost of service should reflect the professional expertise as well as the specific requirements and expected hours of treatment work. If you have concerns about your assessment, proposal, or estimate seek a second opinion.