Caring for your art | South Australia

Caring for your Artwork

All artwork should be cared for to ensure longevity, and should be treated like an original piece. Every type of artwork has its own care instructions so be sure to carefully read instructions applicable to the type of art you have purchased.

Caring for original Artwork

Painters apply everything from watercolors to oil paints—or sometimes an unusual combination of several media—to a wide variety of surfaces. Typically, your originals purchased from Greer Tappert will be acrylic with a texture medium.

Most original artwork on canvas will be framed (canvas frame) however if you request a commissioned piece to be done on flat canvas, when framing it, it should be done so without glass to ensure it breathes and doesn’t hold humidity or dampness. This means the artwork will be highly susceptible to its environment, particularly to sunlight, fats and chemicals. Fats and chemicals can build up overtime and damage your artwork, so be sure to care for it correctly to ensure longevity.

Acrylic paintings should be dusted lightly with a soft brush whereas oil paintings can be cleaned by gently wiping them with a damp cloth. As the oil is impervious to water, you shouldn’t damage your artwork.

Caring for your Prints

A piece of artwork printed on paper is generally more delicate than on canvas.

Handle paper prints with extreme care to avoid kinks.
Ideally, wear gloves to keep skin oil and dirt off the print. The papers used for printing are coated with a special emulsion to encapsulate the inks. This emulsion will scratch if handled roughly.
Always handle by the border rather than touching the printed surface.
Paper prints should always be framed behind glass or placed in mattes in a protective box or album. When framing a quality paper print, be sure to use a reputable framer who uses acid-free, archival products that will assist in keeping your print looking good for generations to come.
Museum glass costs more but will increase the longevity of your print.
Use good quality conservation or Museum mattes when framing. Never frame a paper print directly behind glass, always use a matte to separate the print from the glass, allowing it to breathe.
Hang your artwork away from direct sunlight or lights that emit a lot of UV as this can cause your artwork to ripple or fade.
All a framed print should ever need is dusting for the frame and cleaning the glass – spray onto your cloth not your frame. Your framer will advise you how to clean museum glass. Regular glass can be cleaned with any normal glass cleaner.
For a lighter-weight alternative you can use thermoplastic instead of glass.
You may also want to discuss ultraviolet protection and anti-glare options with your framer.

When caring for your canvas print ensure you handle it with care and dust with a soft brush or dry cloth.

When hanging any artwork, be mindful of the environment, and in particular when hanging it in a kitchen or area where there are fats or other chemicals being used or sprayed. Fats and chemicals can build up overtime and damage your artwork, so be sure to care for it correctly to ensure longevity.