Tips for Protecting Artwork from Museum Professionals

Is your studio dangerous for your art?

After you've spent time building something great, the last thing you want to worry about is an accident happening at your workplace.

To minimize risk and protect your collection, we've put together some tips from art professionals on how to minimize risk in your studio. 

Create zones for different tasks

Get creative with your space and create areas where you can do different things. If you're painting, designate one spot in your studio where the magic of color happens. Allocate another place for packing and organizing things, and another corner for storing finished work in preparation for transportation.

Then organize each area with the right materials and keep them in your "home". Not only will your art be protected, you'll find it easier to deal with clutter, and you'll never waste time looking for packing tape again!

Keep your framed art right

If you are a XNUMXD artist and frame your work, always store it with a wire hanger on top.—even if you don't hang the framed part on the wall. Otherwise, you may damage the hinges, which can lead to wire breaks and ruined artwork. This rule also applies to carrying art: use the two-handed rule and carry art in an upright position.

Use white gloves

Once the brush is down and the paint is dry, you must introduce a new rule into the workshop: white gloves must be worn when working with any work of art. White gloves will protect your art from dirt, soil, fingerprints and smudges. This can save you from a costly mistake and ruined artwork.

Store strategically

Art is like Goldilocks: it is only happy if the temperature, light and humidity are in order. Most art materials are very sensitive to temperature and humidity, so setting up next to an open window is an easy way to ruin your collection. Consider where you'll place your "storage area" and avoid windows, doors, vents, direct light, and ceiling fans. You want your art to remain as dry, dark, and comfortable as possible before it is presented to the public or sold to collectors.

For XNUMXD work, think of "light elements on top".

Pop quiz: Where is the best place to store XNUMXD work?

If you guessed right on the shelf, you're half right. Full answer: on a padded metal shelf, the lightest items on the top shelf. The heaviest work should always be on the bottom shelf. This way you reduce the risk of heavy art breaking the shelf. The probability of art failing on the bottom shelf is much higher than on the top shelf.

Store photos away from the office or in the cloud

If your insurance records are kept in paper form and that paper form is kept in your studio, what happens if the studio goes bust? There goes your work. For this reason, it is important to keep inventory documentation offsite or use a cloud-based software organization system such as .

Control the environment

Even if your work is stored away from direct sunlight and low temperatures, it may still be at risk of spontaneous destruction if you live in particularly humid environments or when temperatures fluctuate. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause artwork to expand and contract, which stresses the art and can accelerate the rate of natural wear and tear.

Keep your studio cool. The best temperature range for most art materials is 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. And, if you live in a humid environment, buy a dehumidifier. Tip: If 55-65 degrees isn't right for your studio, just keep the temperature within 20 degrees to avoid the damaging effects of fluctuations.

Now that your art is safe from harm, isn't it? Check " " to make sure your health is safe.