Care of Your Custom Artwork and Prints
Works of art on paper are fragile and ageing is a natural chemical and biological process. Due to the pollution in our environment and different living conditions there are some important guidelines to help your artwork last.
LIGHT: Light will fade colors after time. When hanging your artwork make sure you do not place it where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. Lights can also have a negative affect, so don't place your artwork directly above or below a light.
HUMIDITY: High humidity can cause molding and foxing. Foxing is brownish spots sprinkled over the artwork. Never store artwork in a basement with high humidity and without air circulation. Humidity can also attract pests like silverfish. If you live in a highly humid climate you may want to consider a dehumidifier. On the other hand, A permanent humidity below 40 % can cause the opposite difficulty and over time make your artwork dry out and become brittle. If you live in a climate that normally has very low humidity, you may want a humidifier.
HEAT: Museums keep a constant temperature and humidity in their exhibition rooms as extreme temperature fluctuations cause expansion and contractions of paper and makes it uneven. The best way for the average home to perserve and protect artwork is to keep the temperature as even as possible. Don't over heat your home in the winter. And never place your artwork above or below a heat vent. Do not place Artwork above or below a lamp as the heat from the bulb can have an adverse affect over time.
POLLUTION: Pollution, in the form of acids found in papers, furniture, dust, dirt and sweating hands, can cause the colors to bleach out and discoloration of the paper. The paper, matting and backing on your artwork should be acid-free to keep the artwork from fading where it is touching the matt. At Pencilpetart.com we know the importance of using acid-free products. That is why all paper, matting and backing used is of the acid-free type. When handling your artwork either wash your hands with soap and water first or wear a pair of white gloves.
FRAMING: You will want to make sure that your artwork is not directly touching the glass. A good reason to matt your work with acid-free matting. Glass is less expensive but acrylic plastic is considered a better choice, by many, because it is offered with ultraviolet light absorbers to protect your artwork. If you are framing, ask your framer for special plexiglass with protection filters against ultraviolet light.
