Oil paintings make any room classier. However, they also need tender love and care for them to last longer. Get to know some best practices to follow to extend the life of your oil paintings.
Keep paintings in a dry room
If you have oil paintings, it's important to keep them in a dry room. This can be anywhere from a garage or storage shed to your living room or even the attic.
The humidity level in your home can cause moisture to accumulate on your artwork, which can lead to cracking and other damage. If you don't want to risk damaging your paintings with too much humidity, then it's best to keep them in a dry place like a garage or storage shed.
If you do choose to keep them in an area with high humidity levels, there are some steps that you can take to help prevent damage:
Keep windows closed when not in use. The more air that comes into contact with the surface of the painting, the more likely it is for water vapor molecules to form on it (and eventually evaporate). This can accelerate the drying process of wet paint and cause cracking or other damage over time.
Use a dehumidifier if necessary (or make sure your house has enough ventilation). Dehumidifiers work by pulling moisture out of their environment -- like an exhaust fan does -- so they're great for keeping moisture away from surfaces like paintings and woodwork that need extra protection against harsh damage.
Dust painting twice a year
Dust painting is the process of removing the dust that accumulates on your oil paintings after you have painted them. It is important to do this at least twice a year, and more often if necessary. The first time you dust paint, use a soft brush or feather duster to remove as much of the dust as possible from the surface of your work. Then wipe off any remaining dust with a damp cloth and cleanse with warm water and soap.
The second time you dust paint, use a dry cloth to wipe off excess moisture from the surface of your work. Then wipe down again with a damp cloth until no more moisture appears on its surface when held up to light or released onto paper (which will be visible through small tears in the canvas).
After these two steps have been completed, continue to store your painting in an area where it will not be exposed to humidity levels in excess of 50 percent per year (which could damage its condition).
Hire a professional cleaner
You can save your oil paintings by using a professional cleaner. These cleaners are designed to keep the paint from fading, cracking and chipping. They also help to remove any dirt or dust that may have accumulated on the surface of the painting.
The first step in preserving an oil painting is to hire a professional cleaner. These cleaners use special chemicals that are designed for this purpose and are able to clean both old and new oil paintings without damaging them in any way. They will also protect against future damage from exposure to sunlight or other elements such as moisture, dirt and dust.
