One of the investments which will never grow old is artwork. If anything, artwork appreciates over time. It might unfortunately not always be possible to display all your artwork in your commercial or residential space with the dwindling building surface areas. In other cases, you might be moving away for some time and cannot haul your artwork with you. These situations do not necessarily mean that you should look for fast ways to dispose of your artwork.
Your best choice is to get outdoor storage solutions to keep your paintings and sculptures in until you are ready to take them back. In the past, outdoor storage solutions were large metal structures in grounds far from busy places. Nowadays, however, outdoor storage solutions are within reach of most residential and commercial areas, and you can thus get your artwork quickly when you need it. Moreover, there now exists polypropylene storage structures which are inexpensive, rust-free, strong and easy to customize. Even the best controls to guarantee the ideal climate and pest-free environment for your artwork will do little without the proper storage of your artwork. The following are the essentials for the safe storage of different artwork types.
Avoid Plastic Wraps
You should never wrap your painting and sculptures in plastic wrap. This option will only seal in moisture around your piece and thus promote the growth of mildew or mold. Rather than reach for a plastic foil when preparing your artwork for storage, go for acid-free paper. If any of the pieces are fragile, wrap them in sawdust or acid-free packing peanuts instead of plastic bubble wrap.
Store Framed Paintings Hanging or Standing Up
You cannot store paintings and framed artwork facing down and expect them to maintain their integrity and look. You should instead store then hung up in the storage unit or standing down but separated from each other using acid-free packing materials. If you have one or two paintings, then hanging them might work for you but for multiple paintings having them standing together in a wooden rack or large crate is your best choice.
Clean and Polish Any Wooden Artwork Items
Wooden items can crack while in storage without their proper care. Other than storing the items in climate-controlled units, you should prepare them for storage by cleaning them then applying a paste wax layer. This wax holds the moisture found in the natural wood and averts its cracking with prolonged storage.
Maintain an Inventory of Your Stored Items Offsite
Before you leave your artwork in a storage unit, have an inventory including all crucial information on each piece along with its photo. This list should not be stored with the artwork but rather offsite. It will prove essential if you need compensation for your artwork in case of extreme weather elements or pests.
The above essentials on the storage of your artwork are not things you can afford to ignore. Your artwork is a significant investment, and thus you should take all necessary steps to ensure it is safe irrespective of its length of storage. Storage units now employ various sophisticated security measures including fingerprint sensors, motion detectors, and electronic keypad access to guarantee the safety of your artwork.
