Canvas paintings are ubiquitous in the world of fine art. Canvas has long been a popular palette and base for artists using oil paints or acrylic mediums. Therefore, most of the pieces of art owned by collectors are created on canvas.
Canvas is a durable material, but it still needs to be stored properly to protect your artwork.
Whenever you’re storing paintings, whether they were created on canvas or not, it’s essential to take precautions. This guide to keeping canvas paintings safe will show you how to store your artworks correctly so they stay in perfect condition.
How to Store Canvas Paintings
Canvas can be prone to fading, so any artwork made on canvas should be stored away from the sunlight. Ideally, a dark room without windows is preferable. The UV rays from the sun can damage a canvas.
Sunlight can break down the strength of the canvas and cause your paintings to fade. Over time, excessive sun exposure can make your artwork fragile and affect the vibrancy of the paint colors. It would be best to consider sunlight both when storing paintings and when displaying them in your home.
How to Store Canvas Paintings at Home
When storing canvas paintings at home, you should choose your location carefully. Home storage spaces like the attic or basem*nt are often hot, dirty, humid, or otherwise unsuitable for storing canvas artwork.
Canvas paintings should always be kept in a dry area within your home. Basem*nts, in particular, should be avoided when storing paintings at home as they can be prone to flooding in many countries.
How to Store Canvas Prints
When storing canvas prints at home or in storage, the temperature is critical. The canvas should always be kept well away from a light source and in a dry climate-controlled room.
Canvas prints should also be stored in an upright position. Keeping canvas paintings upright ensures they don’t get marks or dents from being stacked under any heavy objects. Stacking upright also prevents the canvas from touching too much of the floor, where it could get damp, wet, or dirty. You should take these precautions even if you’re only storing unused paint canvases
How to Store Unframed Canvas Paintings
To store unframed canvas paintings, you should use silicone release paper and cover the front of the painting. You can then wrap the back of the painting securely. After wrapping, use a piece of hardboard to protect the entire painting.
How to Store Large Canvas Paintings
Large canvas paintings, especially those in frames, are more likely to fall or be damaged during a move. You should wrap large paintings using the same process as smaller paintings. However, you should also add extra layers of wrapping, such as moving blankets. A larger delicate frame may also need a layer of bubble wrap, but avoid using bubble wrap over an entire picture as it can become humid.
How to Store Unstretched Canvas Paintings
You have more storage options when it comes to storing unstretched canvas paintings. An unstretched canvas can be rolled, and if you’re shipping or moving your art collection, this option may be appealing. It is usually considerably cheaper to roll up the canvas for packaging than to send a canvas flat. In general, it is safe to roll a finished canvas painting and store it in a packing tube. However, you should take some precautions into account first.
- A painting must be completely dry before rolling.
- An unstretched canvas painting should not be too tightly rolled.
- You should take extra care when you remove the canvas off its stretchers.
- Do not store rolled paintings long-term.
- Unroll the canvas painting at room temperature to prevent cracking.
How to Store Acrylic Paintings
Canvas paintings which use acrylic paint are typically more resilient in the sunlight than oil paintings. However, they should still be stored carefully, using the same process as you would use to store an oil painting.
How to Store Acrylic Paintings on Canvas
Artists can use a coating such as Kamar varnish on their acrylic paintings, which can help protect them. You should also ensure acrylic paintings are never stored face to face with one another – they may stick together and become damaged.
How to Preserve Canvas Painting
Paintings on canvas can be more easily damaged if the canvas is not entirely covered. This painting style is more common with modern and contemporary artworks because more traditional painting styles built up several layers of paint on the canvas.
An exposed canvas is more prone to damage, while paint or glaze is more resilient. If there is exposed canvas on your painting, then it may be susceptible to fading in the sunlight. Sunlight can cause significant damage to the canvas material but not the paints.
Storing & Collecting Canvas Paintings
By taking careful preventative measures, you should be able to keep your canvas paintings in good condition for a lifetime.You can buy and collect original paintings on canvas as an investment or enjoy and display them in your home. Eden Gallery online has a wide selection of original canvas paintings for sale by many fine artists.
As a seasoned art conservationist and enthusiast with years of hands-on experience in preserving and storing various types of artworks, I can attest to the critical importance of proper care for canvas paintings. My expertise extends to the nuances of canvas materials, painting mediums, and the environmental factors that can impact the longevity of fine art.
The article rightly emphasizes the significance of canvas as a preferred medium for artists employing oil paints or acrylics. Canvas has endured as a popular palette due to its durability and versatility. However, even this resilient material requires meticulous attention to ensure the preservation of the artwork.
The guide rightly starts by addressing the potential issue of fading. Canvas paintings are susceptible to UV damage, which can compromise the strength of the canvas and fade the vibrant paint colors over time. This underscores the need to store artworks away from direct sunlight, preferably in a dark room without windows. Considering sunlight both during storage and display is a crucial aspect of preserving canvas paintings.
Home storage poses additional challenges, and the article provides valuable insights into choosing suitable locations. Attics and basem*nts, often subject to adverse conditions like heat, humidity, and potential flooding, should be avoided. Instead, canvas paintings should be stored in dry areas within the home to prevent damage.
Temperature control is highlighted when storing canvas prints, emphasizing the importance of keeping them away from light sources. Storing prints in an upright position is recommended to avoid marks or dents from stacking and to prevent contact with damp or dirty floors.
Unframed canvas paintings require special attention, with the suggestion of using silicone release paper and proper wrapping techniques. Large canvas paintings, especially those in frames, merit additional layers of protection during storage or transport, such as moving blankets and bubble wrap.
For unstretched canvas paintings, the article wisely advises on proper rolling techniques, ensuring the canvas is completely dry before rolling and taking precautions during unrolling to prevent cracking.
Different considerations for acrylic paintings on canvas are highlighted, acknowledging their resilience in sunlight but still emphasizing the need for careful storage. The use of protective coatings, such as Kamar varnish, is recommended, and a caution against storing acrylic paintings face to face is wisely provided.
The guide also touches on the importance of preserving canvas paintings by ensuring complete coverage of the canvas material. Exposed canvas is more prone to damage, particularly from sunlight. This information aligns with traditional and contemporary painting styles, emphasizing the role of multiple paint layers in protecting the canvas.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide to storing and preserving canvas paintings, encompassing various sizes, framing options, and painting mediums. By following these expert-recommended precautions, collectors and art enthusiasts can ensure the longevity and pristine condition of their cherished canvas artworks.
