How to Store Art: Prints, Canvases and More

If you are a collector of fine art or even a painter, you are aware of how priceless and precious art can be. Every piece of original art is one of a kind and incomparable. Storing these unique artworks comes with a great deal of responsibility.

Use the techniques given below to learn how to successfully preserve artwork. 

How to Store Artwork at Home

Artwork comes in various forms; it could be small or big art canvases that you have been working on or even just art prints that you are wondering about how to store. You may be looking to store unframed artwork from an artist or preserve an unfinished artwork made by a late family member that you want to store as memory. 
 

There’s a solution for storing all kinds of artworks at home, but before we get into the details, there are a few tips and tricks for storing artwork that you should follow up on. Follow these tips to ensure your unique pieces stay in good condition, and each brushstroke stays fresh.

Sunlight Is Your Enemy 

Often, when artworks get ruined and fade, they have constant and direct exposure to the sun. This direct sun damage occurs mainly because of the different chemicals that painting mediums include; the chemicals react badly with sunlight and can then suffer from damage. Not only does the paint get damaged, but the canvas gets damaged by daylight as well.

Keeping oil paintings out of the sun helps maintain the color. So, if you wonder how to store art canvases, here’s a key point for you: store them in a dark place and away from the sun; this is one of the best measures you can take to preserve your artwork. 
 

Humidity Is a Big No

Humidity is another cause of paintings fading and getting ruined. If you own an extensive art collection, it’s essential to remember the ideal temperature required for humidity is 55%. Anything below or above this temperature is potentially harmful to your artworks. 

Galleries often strictly control the temperature in their environment. That may not be possible at home, but you can use dehumidifiers to improve air ventilation and keep moisture to a bare minimum.
 

Avoid Cleaning Your Paintings

Moisture and humidity are the enemies of paintings, and no matter how gentle your cleaning product is, you cannot escape ruining the image. It’s not a good idea to even touch the painting surface with wet cleaning products. 

But what if you’re worried about a dusty painting? Many collectors wonder how to store artwork properly without it getting ruined by dust. Instead of introducing moisture, you should grab a duster and dust off dust particles gently. A professional restorer is recommended if you are serious about preserving the artwork at home.

How to Store Art Prints

Many collectors have a collection of limited edition art prints they need to store. So if you have a pile of prints growing in your basement and are wondering how to store them at home, here’s what you should do.
 

Keep Pollutants Away

Keep your area clean from dust, dirt, and oils. These pollutants are a contributing factor to ruining your art prints, so keep the place as squeaky clean as possible, and this way, you can easily store your art prints perfectly. 

Solander Boxes Are Ideal

To store prints safely you should get your hands on a solander box. This book form case is ideal for storing art prints because it’s acid-free and conveniently used by conservationists who safely store maps, documents, old pieces of newspaper, and even art pieces holding value.

How to Store Finished Artwork

When you invest in a piece of artwork, you will want to protect your art from factors that may damage the unique pieces. Here’s how you can preserve artwork:

How to Store Unframed Artwork 

• Frames aren’t ideal: If the artwork is already unframed and finished, then you may store it as it is. But if the artwork is framed, you can take it out of the frame and carefully keep it in different folders or cabinets and even collector boxes that are readily available. Metal storage cabinets are ideal since they do not release chemicals.
• Art prints need to be separated using glassine paper. This measure is ideally taken by those people who wonder how to store unframed artwork; follow up this practice to make sure it stays put.
• You can use the storage tips mentioned under storing art prints and artwork for your finished artwork; they are ideal and effective methods for finished artwork storage.

How to Store Art Canvases

Wrap up that canvas: Ensure a canvas is kept in perfect condition while it awaits its buyer. Wrap it up in fresh wrapping paper to prevent it from catching dust. 
 

Avoid storing canvases facing each other: The best way to store your art canvases is to make sure they are facing away from each other. This way, you prevent them from sticking together and stop them from getting ruined. 

How to store art canvases for long durations: If you’re transferring your art canvases for long durations and wondering how to preserve the artwork, we have the answer.  Make sure you keep canvases on a rack to let as much air circulate under your canvas paintings as possible.

How to Preserve Artwork: Conclusion

There are a few things you should never forget when preserving artwork. Keep art away from direct sunlight, humidity, dust, and dirt. To top it off, clean only if you believe it is actually required and only use a dry duster with the lightest of hands. Keep canvases away from each other and use proper equipment to store artwork; wood is the enemy.

Now you know to preserve your artworks, you can start exploring original paintings for sale online and in galleries.