How Should you take care of your Artwork ?

Art today is not just bought for asthetic beauty but also for Investment. It is the most sought after investment today with high returns. The Indian art market has developed several folds in the past 4 years with a ROI (return on Investment )of more than 600%. The Mantra is to collect artwork of eminent and upcoming artsts who have high potential for growth.

However , unlike any other investment , Art needs to be preserved and cared well for long lasting beauty and value.

Here are some TIPS for preserving your precious investment....

Care & Conservation

• This aspect is perhaps the most important to owning paintings. It involves a careful approach and treatment to the conservation and maintenance of good quality / original works of art. It is also common knowledge that the conservation and care method used does not adversely impact the painting. Here are some key factors to keep in mind: 
  Safe storage, adequate support and framing, good hanging systems and display of paintings are a must in order to prevent the onset of damage.
• Regular treatment and maintenance of paintings involving cleaning, in- painting, etc is to be implemented.
• As they are fragile, care should be taken with keen interest. The paint layers can be made of pigments in oil, acrylic (or other synthetics), encaustic (wax), tempera (egg), distemper (glue), casein (milk), gouache (plant gum), or a mixture of media.
• Paintings generally do well in environmental conditions that are comfortable for people, with relative humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent. Paintings on canvas may react more quickly to rising and falling humidity levels than paintings on wood panels.
• Hanging paintings above heating and air conditioning vents or in bathrooms with tubs or showers is also not advised.
• An alkaline wash renews the paper to its initial brightness. If surface dirt cannot be removed by dusting, cotton swabs that have been dampened with distilled water can be lightly rolled on the surface to remove dirt.
• Remove paintings from a room before painting, plastering, or steam cleaning carpets or wallpaper. Return the artworks only when the walls and floors are completely dry.

Tips to handle paintings

• Avoid touching the front or back of a canvas or panel wherever possible.
• Do not stack works of art one on each other; this can be avoided by interleaving it with a acid - free slip sheet.
• Try to avoid rolling canvases as much as possible.
• The surface of the painting should be protected with glassine paper.
• Do not expose works to too much / direct heat.

Cleaning

• It is advisable to do this within the first 5 years of buying the painting.
• Dust, grime, and natural absorption of the first original varnish layer affects the quality of a painting and therefore requires dusting and re-varnishing.
• Cleaning agents should never be sprayed directly onto the glass of a framed print. The liquid can cause moisture damage.
• Never use pressure-sensitive tapes (cellophane tape, masking tape, etc.), gummed brown wrapping tape, rubber cement, synthetic glues, or heat-sealing mounting tissues on any painting that is to be preserved. A starch-based adhesive is non-acidic, non-yellowing and easily reversed and is a good option.
• Consult a trained conservator before cleaning the back or front of a paint.

Devi by Vandana Taneja

Cosmic Light by Sangeeta Malhotra

Buddha by Shalini gupta

Windswept by Bhavna Rastogi