How To Store Paintings And Artwork In The Best Way

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How To Store Paintings And Artwork In The Best Way

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Learn How To Store Paintings With These Simple Storage Tips

Artists put their heart and soul into a painting, sometimes taking months worth of work. All that dedication and effort can be quickly undone if you’re unsure of how to store paintings properly. So just as it’s important to have the technical skills, it’s also crucial to know how to store paintings afterwards.

Why it’s important to store paintings correctly

It may seem boring – but knowing how to store paintings is essential. There are many elements that can damage work that you’ll need to consider including humidity, lighting, temperature and pests. Prevention is key as some paintings might be past the point of restoration once already damaged. Aside from just protecting the painting, a professional artist is likely to end up with many pieces of work at once. Storing them correctly and efficiently will save a whole lot of space in your home studio, allowing more room for your creativity to flourish.

Preparing your paintings for storage

A tidy studio is the dream, but there’s a few things you should do before putting all your paintings away in a hurry.

□ Are your paintings clean? We don’t recommend using cleaning solutions or water on the surface of your work, as they will be very delicate. Instead, apply light, gentle strokes with a soft duster to remove any layer of dirt or dust. If the painting requires more care, take it to a professional for the best results.

□ Are your paintings clearly labelled? Once they’re wrapped up and stored amongst multiple works – it can become confusing to know what is what. Place a visible sticker with the title, date, medium and size so they don’t get lost.

□ Do you need a digital log of all your work? This next tip links with the one above, but maybe you should label each piece with a number before putting them away. That way, you can make a spreadsheet with details of each painting, marking them off if you sell them.

□ Do you have enough photos of the painting? Once your piece is packed away all nicely, you’re not going to want to get it out again just for a photo. Make sure you’ve taken enough high-quality images beforehand for your website, portfolio and social media accounts.

How to store paintings

There’s a few different artwork storage ideas depending on the type of work you make, so finding the right method that suits your practice is essential. Depending on the painting in question, you might want to incorporate a number of these following methods to make sure your work is secure and safe.

In a frame

Is it good to frame your paintings? Ideally, the more support and protection that you give your painting the better, and a frame provides a good deal of both. Framing also increases the value of your work, by making it readily presentable and ready to be displayed.

If you’re wondering whether your painting needs a frame, consider its fragility. With mediums like watercolour and gouache, framing is sometimes your best option due to the delicacy of the paper. You’ll also need to consider the glass options, as some paints like oil and acrylic can actually be damaged by trapped moisture when stored behind glazing. Search for some of the best framing services and ask a professional if you’re ever unsure.

In bubble wrap

Knowing how to protect your paintings with bubble wrap is not only important for storage reasons, but shipping too. However, bubble wrap alone is not the answer and artists should proceed with caution. Never let the bubble wrap directly touch the paint surface, especially in the case of acrylic and oil paintings. The texture of the wrap can leave annoying imprints and marks that are difficult to remove. To prevent this, artists always place down a layer of acid-free paper first, and wrap afterwards.

How do you wrap artwork?

It can be quite daunting when you first approach the packing and storing process. Every artist has their own techniques, but if you’re wondering how to tackle wrapping your artwork with bubble wrap for the first time – check out the tutorial below.

With a painting rack

This next option requires a fair amount of space, but it’s a good idea if you can. Many artists have bespoke or ready-made canvas racks to store their works in progress and finished pieces alike. They hold the paintings vertically with individual slots, making sure they’re off the floor and not touching each other. This efficient method gives the artist easy access to their work whilst keeping the paintings safe and workspace tidy. Try shopping online for painting racks or have a go at making your own.

In a portfolio

What about storing paintings that aren’t on stretched canvas? Typically, these pieces are more delicate and need specific storage attention because they don’t have a support that keeps their shape. Therefore, you might want to invest in a portfolio file with protective sleeves, keeping each painting separate and safe.

Obviously, you’re limited to a certain size portfolio so maybe keep this option for drawings, small work and watercolour paintings in particular. A portfolio will keep the paintings out of the light, keep them dry and prevent creasing. Another benefit is the portability, however we recommend limiting your movement with the work as much as possible.

Using professional storage services

If you’ve got particularly large or delicate work, it’s always best to consult a specialist and perhaps invest in professional storage locations. That way, you can rest knowing that your work is being looked after properly without a lot of effort on your behalf.

The storage centre can monitor any factors like temperature, light and humidity to provide the optimal environment for storing paintings. In your average home or art studio, it might not be possible to control all elements this way, making this a good option for advanced artists who can factor professional painting storage into their budget.

Things to remember when storing paintings

Whatever method you use for storing paintings, you should keep in mind the following things:

☞ Try to handle your paintings as little as possible

Touching your artwork only increases the chance of damage, especially your bare hands. You need to be especially careful of an oil paint surface, as it can disturbed if not dry enough. If you do need to manoeuvre your paintings, wear cotton gloves for added protection. This important when employing any painting storage method.

☞ Keep paintings out of direct sunlight

Due to the chemical components of paint mediums, your piece is at risk of deterioration if left exposed to long periods of light. The UV rays can cause the paint to fade, reducing the vibrancy of colour. So, if you’re planning on storing your painting away for a while, it would be a good idea to use a low-light room. The same goes for pieces of work you have on display. Be mindful about their proximity in regards to windows and other light sources.

☞ Keep artwork separate

Storing paintings vertically with space in between can be a very space consuming option, like the painting rack we mentioned above. If you’re in a small studio, you might not have the room. Therefore, if you do need to lay work flat on top of eachother, be sure to use acid-free paper or board in between. If the works are directly touching, the painting surfaces may stick together over time or transfer.

☞ Don’t ignore the humidity

How do you prevent mould on paintings? Well, when deciding how to store paintings, don’t forget to consider the room’s humidity. Moisture in the air will only cause problems for your paintings that will be hard to reverse. Unfortunately, this may eliminate your options of rooms in your home like attics or basements.

☞Monitor the temperature

Don’t put your artwork away and then forget about it. It’s a good idea to check on and regulate the temperature of your storage to avoid damages. Ideally, try to keep the environment cool, but not too cold. Extreme temperatures can crack the paint surface or warp their wooden frames.

Is it safe to roll paintings up?

Many artists will have unstretched canvas paintings to store, and rolling them up is both good for shipping and space saving. However, this method does come with its risks. It may be that you only roll up your paintings that aren’t as important, like experimentations. Ideally, you will want to keep your most treasured and sentimental work on their stretchers to avoid damage to the paint surface.

The main issue with rolling up paintings is cracking or wrinkling the surface. Paint is not designed to bend or distort. If you do need to roll up your unstretched canvas paintings, you must ensure the paint is fully dry. It’s also important to roll with the paint surface on the outside, making sure it’s not too tight either. The less time your painting is rolled up, the better. It’s not a great long-term solution, but can be useful in some cases for shipping and temporary storage.

Final Thoughts On How To Store Paintings

Often, we can forget to store our paintings properly after all the work put into the making process. It’s easy to move onto the next piece before you’ve even put the original one away. However, it’s a step that artists shouldn’t neglect, both for damage prevention and studio organisation. If you want your paintings to stand the test of time, knowing how to store paintings will be crucial. Find what method works for you and your practice, combining multiple options for the best possible storage solutions.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS ON HOW TO STORE PAINTINGS? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

Don’t forget you can always share your art with us! Submit to one of our open calls or tag us on Instagram @darkyellowdot.

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