Caring for Paintings

Tips for Caring for Your Pastel Painting

Pastel paintings and their color brilliance are very resilient over time, as long as the surface is protected. One of the reasons pastels paintings are so beautiful is the quality of the pure color particles and how these catch and refract light. Because of its nature, the surface of pastel painting cannot stand physical contact which would brush the dust off the art surface. In order to prevent damage, the surface of a pastel painting should never be touched and should be protected from moisture. Water and other liquids are enemies of pastels. Pastel paintings should be framed under glass not plastic or Plexiglas. These can cause static and possibly lift pastel particles off the painting.

Pastel artwork should be protected from jarring and never be laid or carried in a face-down position because both of these actions can cause some pastel dust to dislodge from the surface. If you are traveling with a pastel purchased from Cynthia, it is recommended you remove the painting from the frame and put it in a self-sealing bag, and keep it from rubbing against any surfaces until you are ready to hang it.

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In the process of moving or shipping a painting, you may find a small amount of pastel particles that become dislodged from the surface of the painting. This is typical and in no way affects the quality of the painting. If you notice a bit of colored pastel has dropped onto the mat or glass, carefully remove the frame, carefully clean the mat with a cotton swab or wipe the glass with a soft cloth and reassemble.

• If you choose to frame or reframe your pastel:

  • Consider a framer that knows best methods for pastels.

  • It is recommended to use acid-free spacers which separate the painting from the glass. This will protect against rubbing and the possibility of condensation and subsequent staining should there be a rapid drop in temperature.

• If you find reflective glare is a problem, non-glare museum-grade glass can be substituted by nearly any framing shop. Non-glare glass can affect the appearance of the image slightly.

• When cleaning glass after framing, rather than spraying the glass, spray the cloth and wipe with a light touch.

• Rubber bumpers on the back of the frame allow air circulation, help keep the painting level once hung, and prevent marring of your walls.

• Hang your pastel and all valuable paintings and photographs in a place that avoids direct sunlight, extreme heat, or high humidity.

Tips for Caring for Your Acrylic Paintings

• Use compressed air in a can to blow away surface dust. Use a delicate brush to gently remove surface dirt from your paintings. Be careful not to bump or scratch the painting.

• The best type of light for your painting is indirect sunlight, recessed lighting, and halogen lights (not ultraviolet).

• Avoid allowing any rigid objects to press against the front or back surface of the stretched canvas as this could create permanent indentation damage. When it becomes necessary to handle or move a painting, avoid touching the paint surface or the back of the canvas. Do not apply any kind of pressure (even finger pressure) to the back of a canvas -- cracks in the paint will likely develop after a time if this is done.

• If your canvas painting does get slightly stretched or dented in an area, sometimes spraying water on the backside (the unpainted side) of the canvas can shrink the stretch/dent. It depends on how severe the indentation is.

• Do not place the painting above a heat source such as fireplaces. In addition to the damage caused by radiating heat, dirt that rises with the heat may cause damage.

• Avoid hanging the painting in a moist environment such as a room that has a bath or shower. Rapid environmental fluctuations will be harmful to the painting.

• Do not clean the surface by using solvents or cleaning products. Cleaning liquids may actually embed the dirt into the painting and cause permanent liquid lines over the surface. It is discouraged to use any liquid, including water, to clean the surface of your acrylic painting. Never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes or feather dusters to clean a painting as threads can catch on areas of raised paint and dusters can scratch the painting.