Leaving for a weekend getaway? Tips on how to prepare your art for your vacation.

Today’s post is devoted to making your vacation worry free. We will go through how to correctly preserve your art for your time away from it. When you purchase a piece, it becomes part of who you are. It is a valuable asset that reflects your thoughts, feelings, and essence. Just as much time as you spend deciphering which pieces to add to your collection, should be spent on protecting those precious pieces.

Know what you have, and what it is worth. Julian Radcliffe, chairman of The Art Loss Register(ALR), recommends keeping an updated list of all your items, the prices you paid for them, and what they are currently appraised for. He also advises keeping pictures of front of all pieces as well as the back.

As discussed in the last post, framing art is a smart idea. It can help protect the art. But most importantly make sure you or the person helping you frame, completely understands the medium, and what specific frame works and the requirements of each piece.

While away on vacation, you might have the idea to store away your collection. This is not always a good idea. There are internal parties at some storage facilities that might have an eye out for art. Storing it away actually puts the pieces at a higher risk for damage. But, if you are going to store them in a storage facility, make sure it is climate controlled, and it is recommended that you back the paintings with sheets of Glassine or silicone release paper to prevent dust and bugs from moving into the edges and corners. Glassine is a neutral pH product that protects the artwork. These products also protect against acid damage if you store the paintings in cardboard boxes.

If you are leaving, even for a short weekend getaway, make sure to keep your air conditioning on. Any temperature fluctuation can cause damage to the pieces and can loosen joints.

Whenever possible, draw the blinds. Limiting the amount of natural light in the room can help your pieces looking young. Paint is also organic, and will degrade if it gets too hot.

Follow these tips and you should have a worry free vacation!

Thanks for reading!

-Fascination St. Fine Art