LIGHT

Although art cannot be enjoyed without light, it is important to be aware that light can cause perma­nent damage to prints, drawings, and even paint­ings. Heat and light accelerate fading and discol­oration of paper, but the amount of destruction depends on the intensity and duration of exposure to these elements. Invisible ultraviolet rays from sunlight and fluorescent lighting cause the most damage.

Avoid hanging art in direct or reflected sunlight. Draw blinds or shades during the brightest part of the day to help prevent damage. Once fading occurs, there is no way to restore the colors. You might also consider rotating artworks. Remember, when handling the picture, use both hands on top and bottom or both sides. If the picture is heay. have another person help transport it.

If you must illuminate artwork, use a picture light with a low-wattage, incandescent bulb. Turn the light on only when you are viewing the piece. This will keep the heat and the exposure to light at a minimum. If fluorescent light­ing can’t be avoid­ed, as in most offices, the tubes should always be covered with special cylindrical sleeves which filter the ultraviolet rays.

CLEANING

Artwork requires periodic cleaning. An occasional dusting of a painting with a soft sable art brush will remove loose dust. Never use a cloth on a painting as it could pick and chip the paint.

When cleaning glass or acrylic, use a damp, not wet. cloth and dry with a soft cloth. Never spray the glazing with a cleaner. It could run down the glaz­ing and get inside the frame causing water marks to form on the mat(s) and/or the art. as well as encouraging mold and mildew growth.

Occasionally dust the back of your picture and check the condition of the hardware and wire. Be sure that they are securely attached to the frame. Consult your professional framer if the hardware appears to be pulling out or is loose. If the hooktsi you have screwed or nailed into the wall seem to be loose, then perhaps the artwork is too heay tor

TEMPERATURE

The temperature and relative humidity of the room in which art is displayed is very important. Ideally, the humidity should be 5O percent and the temper­ature 7O degrees fahrenheit. If temperature and humidity rise and there is little air circulation, the possibility of mold and mildew growth increases, it is important to maintain a steady temperature throughout the entire year. An air conditioner, dehumidifier or humidifier can be of considerable help to you. However, if the climate controlling device is turned off at night or on week­ends/holidays, a sufficient change in the moisture content of the air can take place causing temporary or permanent damage to your artwork.

Just as you see that pets and plants are properly cared for during an extended absence, so should you care for your val­ued art. Have the house aired periodically by a friend or neighbor.

Air should be allowed to circulate behind the pic­ture. Spacers or bumpers placed on the two lower corners of the frame will tilt it out a bit from the wall, allowing air circulation.

A small amount of rippling or waving of a print can be expected. However, high humidity causes hygroscopic moisture absorbing materials, such as paper, canvas and sheepskin, to swell. If the humidity is excessive, it can cause severe buck­ling as well as mold growth. Hygroscopic materi­als shrink when exposed to low humidity, and extremely low humidity over a period of time can damage fibers causing embrittlement. For local­ized buckling, consult your framer.

Do not store or hang artwork in any location that can experience extreme fluctuations in tempera­ture and humidity. That includes attics, basements (even if finished off), damp outside walls, over fire­places, near heating or air conditioning ducts, by outside doors, under bright lights or in direct sun­light.

Also, remember that kitchens and bathrooms pro­duce steam and heat, resulting in an unhealthy environment for vour valuable works of art.

If your art should become damaged, do not attempt to repair it yourself. It is recommended that you leave this to a professional conservator. To locate a reputable conservator, contact your profes­sional framer or check with your local an museum for assistance.

INSECTS

insects quietly attack and damage paper and can­vas. Silverfish and cockroaches, among others, can feed on your artwork. They attack not only paper and fabric, but glues and some types of pigments, insects can quickly cause damage, so they should be dealt with promptly. Cleanliness, control of moisture, and regular inspections are good preven-tative measures, if you find pests are present, take the piece to your professional framer for an evalua­tion of the damage.

PRESERVATION

A qualified professional framer will play an impor­tant role in the preservation of your art through the use of proper protective materials. Care should be taken in selecting a professional framer who is knowledgable in conservation framing methods, which will help protect valuable art.
When purchasing framed artwork, it would be wise to have it checked by a profes­sional framer to be cer­tain proper steps were taken to protect it. Improper framing could very well cause unnec­essary deterioration resulting in a devalua­tion of the artwork.

Art on paper or canvas is fragile. Paints, stains and pigments, as well as the paper and canvas are all vulnerable to environmental conditions within our homes and offices. Too much or too little heat in a room, high humidity, poor air circulation, sunlight, and artificial light can cause irreparable damage to paintings, drawings and prints.

Works of art have many natural enemies.

Don’t you be one of them.

Protect your art and it will remain a treasure for a long time to come.