I wanted to start a series to answer some common questions about art collecting, preservation, and the like. Welcome to Art Collecting 101, Topic 2.
Question:
Do I need to dust my paintings? I am always worried about touching the surface/ruining something.
Answer:
Dusting your paintings with a clean, dry microfiber cloth is a great way to care for them! You can dust the edges and the surface of fully dried acrylic and oil paintings on canvas or panel. (If the artist has sent you your piece, it's probably dry). Dust can actually settle into paint and age it/darken it over time, so dusting is encouraged. Never use any type of solvent, water, or dusting agent, and only use a very gentle cloth. (I dust mine with only clean, dry microfiber cloths which have been air dried after washing or are from the dryer with no fabric softener). Art on paper is usually best framed behind glass or plexiglass, in which case dusting the surface of the art shouldn't be an issue.
Note: The exception to this would be if the artist has warned you to not touch the surface of the work (there are some mediums, such as oil pastels, which never, ever dry and should not be touched, and would be better framed under glass or plexi).
Check back for more posts in this series!
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