Protect Your Artistic Investment: Painting Storage Tips

Posted on: 6 June 2015

If you have priceless pieces of artwork that you would like to store, you will not only need to choose a secured storage location, but you will also need to store the artwork under conditions that will ensure that your artwork does not become damaged. Artwork can be very fragile and if it degrades, its value will decline significantly.

Always Use Climate-Controlled Storage

Pick a climate-controlled secure storage facility that will keep your artwork at a temperature and humidity level that will not harm your artwork, such as by warping or cracking them. Climate-controlled storage is also enclosed, which keeps dust and insects out of the storage unit. The painting must never be stored in an outdoor storage unit.

Avoid Touching the Artwork with Your Bare Hands

When preparing the painting for storage, try to avoid touching it. The oils from your fingers can get in the paintings and can sometimes damage them. Wear gloves made only out of cotton because there are some gloves, such as latex, that can rub chemicals off onto the painting. Your artwork will need to be as clean as possible because even small amounts of dirt and debris can damage a painting when it is stored for a long period.

Use Glassine Paper

Wrapping the painting in glassine and taping the open back shut will create a protective shield and will not harm the painting even if it is acrylic. Then, you won't have to worry about the painting getting dusty. Glassine paper is a glossy paper that is impervious to oil, grease and water. The paper is transparent, though dyes can br applied to it to make it opaque. This is useful if a more opaque paper will prevent the painting from being exposed to sunlight. 

Store Oil Paintings Upright

If it is an oil painting, store it upright. Lean the framed painting against a flat surface or a padded surface. Do not lean the painting against a pointed surface because this can dent the painting.

Insure Your Artwork

Even if you take great care to protect the painting, something can still happen that can ruin it. Therefore, you will want to get your painting appraised so that you can then determine how much you will need to insure it for. Then, if the painting is ruined, you will not lose your investment. However, if you use a secured storage facility and take the steps above, your artwork will likely be safe. To learn more about storage, speak with a company like Arctic Self Storage.

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