JOYCE SMALL GALLERY

TIPS TO PROTECT PAINTINGS

The simplest way to clean up an oil or acrylic painting on canvas is to use a white cotton cloth soaked in a gentle soapy water; olive oil–based soap works wonders. You might want to use Q-tips and work gently in crevasses.

If the painting still looks grimy, you might want to use an art restorer.

Many times canvases have become loosened on the stretcher bars. A simple method to retighten the canvas is to spray water on the back of the canvas and leave the piece to dry in the sun for a couple of hours. Canvases are made of fabric, and with time the weave has become loose. This process is safe and will not damage the painting itself.

The best way to store art is to follow the following steps:

1. Wrap up the piece in brown paper.
2. Wrap it up in bubble wrap.
3. Place frame corners on all four corners.
4. Place the wrapped-up artwork in a solid box (e.g., a mirror moving box).
5.  What about protecting art during a move or shipping? Anything we should do in addition to following the steps you shared for storing art?
   ~ We recommend you double the box by adding cardboard on each side of the painting. Make sure the box is filled in with paper to avoid the piece’s moving within the box during transportation.