Tips on art

Decoration with contemporary pieces is all a challenge. Apart from good taste and a lot of sensitivity, we will need originality and minimum knowledge of light and space. Some drops of intuition will do the rest.

Enjoy the art

When using works of art to decorate our home the price is not as important as the value it represents for us; its capacity to touch us. A tip to select location: Put sculptures and paintings in an isolated way to avoid that quantity hinders quality. Art should be enjoyed with no objects nearby which distract our attention.

The importance of illumination

If you have a site to put your works of art, use low voltage directional lights to illuminate them. Light should illuminate the whole painting to see all its details. This rule should be applied to every kind of object and painting, no matter its period of time or current. Avoid gleams on crystals which would prevent us from enjoying the entire work.

Space and Color

Space and color are essential in the case of a contemporary painting or sculpture. It is not a matter of looking for a painting which combines with the colors of our room but of integrating that work of art into our vital space in a harmonic way. A classic house can perfectly contain contemporary works. We only have to see that they have the space they require to enjoy them.

How to take care of your works of art

To take care of your works of art is essential to maintain them in good conditions for a long time. In order to do so, follow the tips below:

• Never keep or store your works of art in basements or garages where temperature and humidity can fluctuate constantly.
• The ideal temperature to keep works in good conditions is between 13ºC and 22ºC (55ºF and 72ºF).
• Avoid hanging your paintings or works on paper in areas where they are exposed to too much light since it can cause colors to vanish and paint to crack.
• Keep your furniture away from heaters, radiators and other sources of heat.
• Remember that fabrics loose their shape with the passage of time. So, you should have the frames stretched periodically.
• Works on paper should be properly framed, hermetically sealed and protected with crystal. Use only museum quality materials.
• Wash your hands before touching a piece of art since natural oils in your skin can damage them.
• To clean an oil or an acrylic painting use a soft feather duster.
• Use a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush to avoid dust build-up on top of a painting or any other framed work.
• If you cannot remove dust on a painting just with the use of a feather duster, take a little piece of cotton, moisten it with distilled water and apply it carefully on the painting. Do not do so if the work is cracked.
• Do not put Christmas or any other decorations on your paintings since they can be seriously damaged.