If you are preparing to add fine art paintings to your home decor, at Thomas Kinkade Carmel, Monterey, and Placerville, we have assembled a list of canvas care tips to extend the life of your collection.
When properly cared for, canvas art can last decades or even centuries. Keeping your painting in great shape may be easier than you thought.
- Do not expose paintings or prints to direct sunlight.
- Display your art in a cool, dry place.
- Gently clean your canvases with a soft, damp cloth.
- Avoid using household chemical cleaners, as they can damage the artwork.
- Wrap your prints in acid-free archival paper before storing or transporting them.
- Never stack multiple paintings against each other.
Keep Canvas Prints Out Of Direct Sunlight
Although artwork looks best with good lighting, you will want to avoid hanging your prints directly across from an uncovered window or on your back porch. Even if they are coated in a UV-resistant protective layer, constant exposure to the sun’s relentless rays can cause the vibrant colors to fade over time.
We recommend displaying your paintings in a room with soft, ambient indoor lighting.
Hang Your Art In A Cool & Dry Location
Humid environments—such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements—can distort canvas and promote mold growth. Similarly, excess heat can cause canvases to expand, shrink, or become distorted.
Larger spaces with good air circulation are the best place to display art. Why not display your beautiful art collection along your living room wall for everyone to marvel at?
Improper Cleaning Can Damage Artwork
Cleaning the dust off of your canvas prints can keep them looking new and fresh. You should only ever use a feather duster or a soft and slightly damp fine linen cloth when cleaning art in order to avoid scratching it. Also, avoid using a cloth that is too wet, as this can damage the canvas material.
Avoid Household Cleaners
Never use standard chemical cleaners on a canvas print because they can break down the protective coating and cause the ink to become blurry or bleached. If you cannot remove all the grime with a damp cloth, it’s best to hire a professional cleaning service to avoid damaging your paintings.
Handle Your Canvases With Care When Moving
If you need to transport your paintings to a new location, it is important to wrap them in paper and keep them separate from each other in order to prevent the prints from becoming scratched. You can do so by placing them on a painting rack or wrapping each individual canvas in a layer of bubble wrap on top of the paper.
How To Store Artwork Safely
Many art owners like to rotate the paintings that they display in their homes seasonally. If you need to store your art temporarily, it is critical that you use the correct type of paper to avoid damaging it. Many standard wrapping papers contain acid, which can cause artwork to turn yellow.
Thankfully, it is possible to buy paper that is acid-free or alkaline. Not all acid-free paper is ideal for storing and protecting artwork, however, so you will need to look for paper that is labeled “archival-grade,” “conservation-grade,” or “museum-grade.”
Fine Art Galleries In California
At the Thomas Kinkade galleries in Carmel, Monterey, and Placerville, we have a comprehensive collection of breathtaking masterpieces. We invite you to speak with one of our expert Art Consultants to learn more about caring for canvas art and advice on choosing the next piece to add to your collection.
