Protecting Your Oil Paintings

To protect not only your oil paintings, but also your investment in those paintings, you need to guard them against damage and wear as much as possible.

We tend to forget they are hanging on the walls because they have a tendency to blend in with their surroundings but oil paintings do need periodic attention and they need to exist within a safe environment.

Here are some recommendations that will help you shield them from harm:

Lighting
Oil paintings should be kept out of direct sunlight. They should also be kept away from fluorescent lighting, which includes lights that mount onto frames. They are a bad idea.

Temperature
Extreme variations in temperature can be very damaging. As the temperature increases and decreases it can cause the wood frame to expand and contract. This can cause the panel support and even the canvas to expand and contract as well. As this expansion and contraction takes place, the paint may even begin to peel or crack since the paint is not quite as supple as the canvas.

Hot temperature is especially harmful to oil paintings that have been wax lined. The heat begins to melt the wax, causing the painting to buckle. Direct heat can damage any type of painting depending upon how much heat and how long the exposure. You may want to consider installing a humidifier to diminish such a risk.

Since it is the fluctuation of temperature that proves to be the most detrimental, it is essential to place paintings in an area where a stable environment can be maintained. Typically, this means out of the path of all heat sources including vents, radiators and heaters. It also means keeping paintings out of the path of cooling devices such as air conditioners.

Water
Valuable paintings should never be hung near pipes or windows for fear of leaks. They should also be kept away from the humidity found in both kitchens and bathrooms.

Display
Ideally paintings should be hung at eye level unless you are placing them in tight quarters such as hallways. In this case, you might want to consider hanging them 8 to 10 inches higher to protect them from being accidentally bumped.

Hanging a painting properly is important. Perhaps the most stable method of doing so is with two hooked plates securely screwed onto both sides of the back of the frame. The painting should then be affixed with brass chains that are fitted onto rawl-plugged screws. This will most likely insure that it will not suffer a devastating fall.

Frames
If a frame becomes chipped or loses part of its gilding, avoid repairing it on your own. You should engage the services of a professional to do this work.

Smoke
Paintings should not be subjected to any type of smoke. Smoke can eventually darken a painting until the subject matter is unrecognizable. Smoke includes the by-product of candles and particularly fireplaces. Oh, all right. Cigarettes, too.

Protective Glass
Some forms of artwork can be protected with glass but not acrylics and not oil paintings. This is unfortunate since glass is a great way to keep dust and insects away from your oil paintings.

Superficial Cleaning
Dust can be removed from the canvas through the careful use of a very soft paintbrush. The bristles must be soft to eliminate any chance of scratching. A cloth should never be used since the fibers can catch on the canvas and damage the painting.

You want to dust your paintings on a regular basis - once a year isn't often enough but every week is too excessive. Just keep in mind that dust serves as a catalyst for mold. Also insects, like silverfish, feed on all forms of paper and that includes art canvases.

If dusting with a very soft brush doesn't do the job, you may use a Q-tip moistened with distilled water but you must do so gently and do not over moisten the Q-tip. Also try to prevent your fingers from coming in contact with the painting, especially older paintings. The oil from your skin can be harmful.

If serious cleaning is required, you will have to take your oil painting to an art conservator or art restorer.

Never use any type of household cleaners on an oil painting.

Transportation
Never lean a painting up against a pointed or curved object. This can dent the canvas or put a hole in it. When carrying a painting hold it from both sides. Never carry a painting by holding the top of the frame.

When moving an oil painting be sure to place a stiff material in front and in back of the painting and then use bubble wrap. If it is being placed in a vehicle, it is best to lay the painting flat so it will not fall over when taking a corner or stopping short. Never lay anything on top of a painting.

Storage
Never store paintings in either an attic or a basement. Also, paintings should not remain wrapped for an extended period of time. If wrapped for too long, moisture will build up which could cause mold, as well as attract several types of insects.

Written by Anne Benedetto, Auction House Talk
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