Care Instructions
Care Instructions for Acrylic Original Painting
My paintings have 2 to 3 varnish layers on top to protect the acrylic film. The best practice for keeping the surface clean is to minimize dust or moisture in the area. Touching the surface should also be minimized. Each time the surface is touched, residue from our hands can deposit materials that over time become more difficult to remove.
It is always best to gently dust the painting every 1-2 months or so to prevent heavy buildup. Gently dust your painting with a soft dry cloth, microfiber cloth, and/or a very soft sable or sable-like brush. Do not press onto the surface or you will “burnish” the film or cause micro-scratches in the surface.
A “low tack tape” can be used lightly on the surface to remove difficult hairs or dust. Buy the tape from an art supplier. The tape is designed to lightly hold things while making art.
If you absolutely must, and maybe have smudges from handling the painting, you may have to use a very very mild clean soap (no lotions, perfumes or extra cleaning chemicals). You could use an olive oil-based soap or gentle hand washing laundry soap for delicates. Mix distilled water with a tiny, tiny bit of soap. Use a clean soft cloth. Lightly wet the cloth then gently wipe the painting surface. Use a new clean cloth, apply a small amount of distilled water then wipe the area where you applied soap; you may have to do this twice. Use a new clean soft cloth to dry. Make sure to gently wipe, you don’t want to burnish or scratch the surface.
Do not use glass cleaners and ammonia-based products to clean your painting. These will eat away at the acrylic and varnish.
Do not display your original painting, print or canvas print in direct sunlight. The pigments will fade or colors may shift over time.
Care Instructions for Canvas Giclee Prints
For a quick cleaning, gently dust your canvas print with a soft dry cloth, microfiber cloth, a very soft brush, unscented duster or feather duster.
Dust every couple of months to prevent heavy buildup. You can vacuum the back corners gently too. Careful not to push vacuum into the central area of canvas as this may cause a dent.
For a deeper cleaning, dip a soft cloth or microfiber cloth in distilled water, wring it out until it’s barely damp and gently wipe the surface and sides. Do not oversaturate with water. If this isn’t enough to clean the surface, use a tiny, tiny bit of very mild, unscented soap like gentle hand wash laundry soap for delicates or olive oil-based soap with distilled water. Dip the cloth and wring it out until it’s barely damp and gently wipe the surface and sides. Rinse the surface and sides by using a new soft cotton cloth or microfiber cloth in distilled water the same way. Dry the surface right away with a new clean soft cloth.
Do not use glass cleaners and ammonia-based products to clean your painting. These will eat away at the ink and canvas.
Do not display your original painting, print or canvas print in direct sunlight. The pigments will fade or colors may shift over time.
Care Instructions for Framed Fine Art Giclee Prints
For a quick cleaning, gently dust your framed print with a soft dry cloth, microfiber cloth, a very soft brush, unscented duster or feather duster. Dust every couple of months to prevent heavy buildup.
You can use glass cleaner (only on frames with clear acrylic pane). Spray onto the soft cloth first, then wipe the surface.
Do not display your original painting, print or canvas print in direct sunlight. The pigments will fade or colors may shift over time.