If you love to buy original art, the chances are that you have built up quite a collection over the years. Especially if you have been purchasing your beautiful pieces for affordable prices at our fabulous online art gallery! One of the only downsides to building up a collection of unique, one-of-a-kind artwork is that it can be easy to run out of wall space to hang it all! Even though the ‘art gallery’ look is in, those who have acquired a hefty amount of paintings will often reach a point when it is time to store away those un-used pieces, ready until their time comes to showcase their magnificent beauty on your walls once more!
Storing a collection of original art is notoriously difficult to get right, yet failure to do so can result in your prized collection becoming damaged over time, losing its wonderful appearance that you fell in love with at the beginning. If you’re an art addict who has run out of space on your walls, here are some things to remember when storing your collection of original art!
Clean it carefully
Use a cloth to ensure your frame is free from all dust. For the painting, use a soft bristled brush to remove any particles of dust that may have settled on the piece. Or for a more unusual method, use bread to safely clean your painting!
Use acid-free materials
Only use acid-free materials for wrapping, storing and separating your art. Crescent board works perfectly for this. Also remember to check that your art has been framed using only acid-free materials too.
Keep a consistent climate
Whether you turn your office or your closet into a room to store original art, you’ll want to keep your artwork at no more than 40-0% humidity, with a temperature of 21-24 degrees Celsius. Invest in a humidifier in order to ensure your storage space is meeting the right requirements.
Don’t touch the floor
When artwork is stored touching the ground there is a large risk that it will get damaged by dampness. Remember to store your work up off the floor on a shelving system, or invest in extra ‘walls’ to hang your art on in rows.
Document it carefully
As you store away each piece, be sure to properly document your collection in order to protect yourself against damage or loss. Take good quality photographs and note the condition of each piece before your store it away.
If you’re looking for advice on how to keep your art looking fresh in between hangs, we hope this has helped! And to keep in adding to your collection, don’t forget to keep checking our online art gallery – we’ve have new paintings for sale uploaded daily!
