Introduction
If you have just painted some artwork, you must know that UV rays could damage your artwork. Yes, you heard it correctly. Paintings do get damaged by ultraviolet rays from the sun. Suppose you are a professional artist or even a budding artist. In that case, it is essential to know and understand why this damage happens and how to protect it from damaging your precious artwork.
Artwork damage is a thing that is known to very few artists. First, you need to understand why and how this whole process happens. When you first hear this, you might think this is some internet rumor, but no, it is authentic. Your priority should always be protecting artwork. In the upcoming sections, you will find everything regarding artwork safety measures.
Source: Google
The Value of Artwork Protection
Art is one of our culture's most important forms of creativity. You must learn how you can protect your artwork. If it's museum art, there is a high chance that direct UV rays from museum glass damage the art, so it needs extra safety. You created a piece of art you must nurture to remain in this world after many ages.
Because the great Leonardo da Vinci's Monalisa was also protected and nurtured for a long time, we can still go to the museum and watch it. In the following parts, you will learn everything about artwork protection. To preserve and make a painting as vintage as Monalisa, read the upcoming sections. You can find vintage photo ideas from How to Make Photos Look Vintage: A Guide to Achieving That Classic Vibe.
Common Threats to Artwork
Let's dive deep into the deep-rooted causes of how artworks can get damaged.
1. UV rays
The most common threats to artworks are UV light and direct sunlight. UV rays can damage and fade away the shine and brightness of your artwork. Artists like natural light because it initially enhances the newly made artwork. If your watercolor artwork gets exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged time, the color will fade quickly. However, acrylic and oil painting are more durable and can cause immense harmful effects on those art pieces. You have to make a protective barrier beforehand to protect them.
Source: Google
2. Temperature & humidity
Continuously fluctuating temperatures may cause serious harm to your paintings. When a room is too warm or cold, it may cause the melting of paints from the painting or running part or moisture and mold growth. Humidity, like temperature, can cause moisture and mold growth on your artwork.
The Importance of UV Protection
Ultraviolet rays have threatened humans for a long time; be it skin or artwork, the threat remains the same. You need to understand the importance of protecting your precious artwork as they can damage it significantly.
It can harm the paper as well. Initially, it is hard to find any significant change with human eyes, but it will cause a permanent effect on your artwork if you don't protect them.
You must have invested emotionally and financially in the artwork. By preserving the painting, you will maintain a valuable and memorable piece.
II. Protecting Canvas Paintings
Canvas paintings also face severe threats from UV rays damage. It would help if you learned how to protect your canvas paintings. You can make paintings with markers on canvas and oil and acrylic painting. In the upcoming sections, you will find a few ways to protect all these paintings -
A. Handling and Storage
First, you must understand how to handle and store your canvas paintings. Canvas paintings can be acrylic paint, oil painting, and both. Keeping your art collection in a cold and dry environment would be best. Moisture can damage and weaken the painting on the canvas. Images can get distorted by that. It would be best to wrap your canvas in a thin layer of fabric or cloth to prevent it from getting damaged by direct UV rays. Cover the corners with acid-free foam. Always avoid handling the painting where it can come directly before sun rays.
Source: Google
B. Framing Techniques
You can protect paintings from direct sunlight with the help of various framing techniques. Canvas paintings are always susceptible to UV damage because of water-based or oil-based color usage, so you need to learn a few framing techniques for your canvas paintings. There are lots of acrylic framing services available in the market. Here, you will find some of the best acrylic framing surfaces to preserve your artwork from ultraviolet rays.
1. UV-Blocking Frames
These UV films will be your best investment to protect your artwork from direct sunlight. These are a type of film coating to paste on your window so that direct sun rays can not interfere with your paintings. The translucent vinyl or polyester strips can be pasted on the window glass, blocking up to 99% of the ultraviolet rays. Installing such frames in the museum is highly advisable; this way, museum glass will become completely UV-blocked.
2. Spacer Bars and Mats
Spacer bars can create a gap between the painting surface and the acrylic or glass. This gap can protect the painting from getting harmed. You can also use acid-free mats to guard your paintings.
C. Sealing and Varnishing
Sealing and varnishing are other best ways to secure your paintings from harmful ultraviolet rays. Always ensure your artwork is thoroughly dried before applying varnish to it. Otherwise, it can ruin the whole painting. Some varnishes contain UV filters, and you can use those specific varnishes if you have to protect your artwork outside or in any open museum. By sealing it with varnishes, you put polymer varnish to make it more protective. Always consider applying varnish after completely drying your painting. You can consider spray varnish as well.
Source: Google
1. Acrylic Varnishes
As you read in the upper section, consider adding acrylic varnishes with UV filters for acrylic paintings. Though acrylic paints are more durable than watercolors, they lose their shine after a few days if you do not add acrylic resin varnish to protect them.
2. Drying and Curing
Consider drying and curing the painting after your acrylic painting on a canvas. Drying and curing coatings, such as paints, inks, and adhesives, require an arid, fixed surface. You can do this using various available varnishes.
D. Cleaning and Maintenance
Before you protect your artwork, you must know several cleaning and maintenance processes and tips. In the below section, you can find such ideas and suggestions -
1. Dusting and Cleaning Tips
First, do not use any chemical cleaner to clean your paintings, as they have harsh chemicals that may cause other damage to them. You can use a soft-bristled paint brush to clean your picture. Always make sure there is no moisture or dust in the brush itself. Use light strokes using the brush over the painting.
2. Restoration Considerations
Unfortunately, for some reason, your painting may be damaged. It would be best if you restored that. It would help if you considered some restoration techniques. If your painting was on a smooth surface, try adding texture to that painting. You can rework the item as mixed media. You can increase color vibrance.
III. Safeguarding Art Prints
A. Proper Storage
You can store your art prints in a moisture-free environment; the humidity should be between 40% and 70%. Keep them away from direct sunlight. Make sure to store it in an acid-free material, preferably metal. Use a proper window shield to protect it from encountering direct sunlight. Acid-free print boxes are also great for preserving the inadequate storage space of your painting.
B. Framing Options
You can frame your unframed painting. You have two framing options to safeguard your painting: acrylic face mounting and glass framing. Archival adhesive and acrylic layers are sealed in the acrylic face, mounting the painting. The art print is sandwiched between glass, mat board, filler board, and backing paper in glass framing.
Source: Google
C. Lamination for Protection
Lamination can protect the color and contrast of prints from direct harmful Ultraviolet rays. This process can be done by hot or cold process. You can choose the type of lamination you prefer, from glossy to matte. Lamination provides an aesthetic finish while protecting your art prints. Lamination will form a protective layer for your paintings.
D. Display Considerations
You have to choose a place to display your art print wisely. It would help to avoid places where direct sunlight can damage the art print. Consider an area with appropriate humidity in which to place your art prints. You can use a humidifier to keep the humidity level around 55%. Also you can read Prints vs Paintings: Unveiling Differences & Making Informed Choices, Price comparison, which one to buy, etc. It would help if you sell your pictures, too, but you have to be more cautious with safeguarding your drawings to sell them.
IV. Protection from Sunlight
A. Ideal Display Locations
You can choose where direct sunlight isn't coming to place your painting. You can frame them with glass blocking up to 75% of the Ultraviolet rays. You can use blackout shades or shutters to block sunlight.
B. Window Treatments
1. UV-Blocking Window Films
You can paste UV-blocking films over your window screen. These can block UV rays up to 90%. But these films give complete visibility of the outside and are perfect to use as museum films.
2. Curtains and Blinds
You can use blackout curtains, which can reduce UV exposure by their thick fabric material. Thicker and darker colored curtains and blinds are advisable to use.
Source: Amazon
3. Rotation and Periodic Inspection
While using curtains and UV-blocking window films, you can rotate the placement of your art pieces in the room. This can help prevent damage and long-term pressure over certain areas.
V. Protecting Artwork from Damage
A. Handling Guidelines
After completing a painting, if you are handling the painting from one place to another, consider wearing gloves to hold the painting. Because with bare hands, there is the possibility that you may damage the painting. Always be mindful while taking care of your painting.
B. Transportation and Shipping
If you have sold any of your paintings and need to deliver it to someplace, you need to know how to transport and ship them without damaging your painting. It would help if you used bubble wrap as a wrapper to wrap your painting. Tightly wrap your painting with packing tape and cut a small piece in that wrap so that air can pass. Temperature fluctuations and humidity can cause damage, so avoid that altogether. Oil Portraits from a Photo can be made and delivered if you want to sell it.
C. Insurance for Artwork
You can always make insurance for painting. Insurance helps the painting to provide a safety net with coverage of risks, including loss due to theft, physical damage, and a wide range of natural disasters.
D. Pest and Environmental Protection
It helps keep the places clean wherever you put your painting. You should use IPM (Integrated Pest Management) if there are pests. Try to frame your painting.
VI. Canvas Painting Protection
Always paint on a canvas made of acid-free paper; it makes the painting less susceptible to damage and protects your art.
A. Acrylic vs. Oil Paint Protection
Acrylic paints and oil paints last longer, but slight differences exist between how these paints are protected.
Oil paintings can be protected using tissue paper, breathable sheets, or foam.
Acrylic paintings are less durable than oil paintings. So try to use uv UV filtering acrylic plexiglass.
Also Read: Unveiling the Best Oil Paint Brushes for Artists. It would help if you considered using the best quality oil paint brushes to make a high-quality painting less susceptible to harm.
Source: Whataportrait
VII. Preserving Artwork
A. Conservation Techniques
There are several conservation techniques available to protect your artwork. Such conservation techniques include adhering to a lining to the canvas with wax resin to the opposite side and varnishing the painting. You can contact conservation suppliers also.
B. Climate Control and Humidity
The ideal temperature for storing your painting is 70 to 75 degrees F during summer and 65 to 70 degrees F in winter. Excessive humidity is also harmful. Keep the humidity level around 40 to 60%. Try to use a humidifier or AC so that ideal moisture remains in the storage room of your painting.
C. Professional Preservation Services
You can hire professional preservation services to preserve your painting. They will examine the painting to analyze the painting situation. They will check how much damage is done or how the painting might get damaged. After that, they will make a report about it. They will also clean the entire surface of your surroundings.
VIII. Conclusion
Art is the reflection of the inner self. The amount of emotion each painting has is unmatched. Every artist should know all these ways by which they can preserve their precious creations. Always remember bright sunlight is harmful for both humans and artworks. However, one should always be extra careful about how they treat their painting.
Try always to store your painting in the right environment in a clean and dark place. You can use a feather duster if dust is somehow on your painting. Because dust can also hurt your painting, try to decrease the exposure to the sun. Avoid moist and humid places and make a super dry place to store your precious creations because extreme temperatures will destroy your paintings, as you've read in this blog.
If your painting belongs to store art, you should apply polymer varnishes to protect your painting. Though you should always keep cleaning your stored painting with different time intervals, it will increase the longevity of the painting. Always take precautions before adding any natural elements to your art piece; research beforehand so that you know every possible effect after making the art piece.
