subject: How To Take Care of Your art paintings - Light [print this page] Buying a piece of art is only worthwhile if you know how to take care of it. There are many factors which will cause an art painting to deteriorate over time Humidity, pollution, insects etc. In this article, I'll focus on Light.
Light
Light is essential to life but not so much for paintings. It reacts with oxygen, moisture and pollutants in the air to break up cellulose molecules, leading to embrittlement and discoloration in organic supports. Let's not dig too deep into the science behind it. We're artists, not scientists.
Here's the bad news, all light is damaging, but damage varies according to intensity and duration of exposure.
Daylight which is filtered through windows contains UV radiation, the primary culprit for damages. UV radiation is responsible for fading pigments rapidly.
Fluorescent light emits UV too, albeit to a lesser degree. Incandescent light contains fewer UV but radiates more heat which can damage art too.
Which art is most vulnerable to light?
Art done on paper is least able to hold its defenses against light. Extra caution is required to keep them away from direct light. That explains why museums often regulate light in exhibitions of works on paper to a level that leaves us squinting to view them properly.
How can I control light levels effectively?
Be conscious and be earth-friendly by switching off the lights whenever possible. Install shutters or blinds to reduce direct light. Another useful tip will be to turn paintings against the walls when not being worked on. You can also avoid placing works on wall directly opposite windows where there's bound to be direct light.
If you have cash to spare, invest in customized roll-down binds made from UV treated acrylic sheets that are more superior to usual curtains.
Does it mean that total darkness for art is good?
Oil paintings are different. In unbroken darkness, oil paintings are prone to discoloration and mold growth. Therefore they should remain partially exposed to controlled light.
However, focus more on stabilizing the climate. Haphazard climate is far more fatal for art works than darkness.
The author, Shannon Lim, deals a lot with original oil paintings on his online platform dedicated to assisting emerging artists expose and sell their works. He has met many people who just buy art paintings without knowing how to take care of it.
