Tips to Keep Your Art Collection in Perfect Condition

At Zeh Original Art, great care is taken to ensure that your art piece will continue to look as fresh as the day it was painted for a very long time. In fact, watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings will last for many, many decades or centuries if proper materials are used in their construction. All Zeh Original Art is made with archival, acid-free materials and professional grade paints. The best pigments are chosen from a range of highly permanent colors. This means that your painting will not fade with time.

Even so, there are a few things you can do to help preserve your Zeh collection or any art you may purchase elsewhere:

(If you find this guide helpful, please take a moment to check the “yes” box at the bottom of this page. Thanks!)

For all original paintings:

The most important first precaution to take is to keep your painting out of direct sunlight. Install paintings where the direct sun will not shine on them or use sheer curtains to filter the light.

For Paintings on Paper:

• Glass and Mat or Spacer: Make sure paintings on paper have a glass covering to protect against dust and moisture and an acid-free mat or spacer to keep the painting from touching the glass. When an original painting is up against glass with no spacing between, tiny amounts of moisture or humidity that might enter have no where to go but back into the painting!  In addition, the painting may be exposed to acid from the glass which can contribute to its deterioration. Large paintings should have at least a double or a double-thick mat. As an alternative to a mat, look for spacers at a frame supply store. These are inserted along the inside edge of the frame and serve the same purpose of keeping the painting off the glass. All matted Zeh Original Watercolors have both an acid-free mat and acid-free backing.
• Backing: Along with an acid-free or acid-neutral mat, be sure the BACKING is also acid-free. Many times this is overlooked, but consider that the painting is touching the backing at all points.  Regular or corrugated cardboard will cause acid burns and discoloration over time. Use either mat board or acid-free foam core board.
• Hinging: If regular masking tape is used to adhere the artwork to the backing or mat, it will turn brittle eventually and your painting will slip out of place. Use framer’s tape (which, you guessed it, is also acid-free)
• Many people say that its not wise to install a watercolor in a bathroom or any high humidity area. However, if the framing is properly done using foam core conservation backing to seal the painting in a glass-fronted frame, this can be OK as long as moisture doesn’t drip down the front of the glass.
• Use a soft cloth to dust the frame and glass. If you use glass cleaner, spray it onto the cloth or paper towel rather than directly on the glass.

For Paintings on Canvas:

• Varnish: A coat of clear varnish designed for acrylic or oil paintings can not only protect the painting from dust and make it easier to clean, but also can add more richness and depth to the colors. Zeh original acrylic paintings on canvas and watercolors on watercolor board are protected with a coat of clear varnish and do not require a glass front when framed. They may be cleaned with a soft cloth or soft, flat artist brush. Dampen with plain water only if needed.
• New Oil paintings: Oil paintings which are less than six months old should be unvarnished. Varnish cannot be safely used before six months as oil paints take that long to thoroughly dry. As oils dry, they shrink imperceptibly. Though you won’t notice the shrinking, if you add varnish over an oil painting that is not dry, the varnish may crack as it dries at a faster rate. If, after six months, you wish to varnish an oil painting for protection, use acrylic varnish designed for oil paintings. This will stay clear and non-yellowing. You can find a good spray varnish at an art supply store. Clean oil paintings with a soft cloth slightly dampened with plain water to remove dust and allow to dry for a few days before varnishing.
• To maintain a painting on canvas, dust gently when needed with a clean, soft cloth or soft, dry artist brush.

At Zeh Original Art, the greatest care is taken in the making of your art piece. All Zeh art is made with archival, acid-free materials and professional grade paints. The best pigments are chosen from a range of highly permanent colors to ensure that your painting will continue to look as fresh as the day it was painted for a very long time.

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