Canvas print care guide for art that looks good

Welcome to my blog, I am a professional cartoonist, illustrator, artist and writer. My site here is intended to promote a range of works that I think will look good on the wall. Included on my site is not just my own work, but some works by other artists who's work I love and hope to bring to a wider audience. I hope you enjoy your tour of my site and welcome any feedback. Prints are fulfilled by The Print Space for prints on paper, they are one of the UK's premier fine art print companies, and there is also the option of buying some images printed onto canvas, these are fulfilled by Printumo. All prints are available worldwide. This canvas print care guide will help you keep your chosen piece looking sharp, whether it is hanging in a Gloucestershire kitchen or on a wall much further afield.

Canvas is a pleasing way to give an image a bit more presence. It has texture, depth and a practical solidity that suits strong graphic work, photographs and paintings particularly well. It also needs very little fuss. A few sensible habits will protect the surface, the colour and the shape of the stretched canvas for years.

My own work often starts with the Gloucestershire countryside, sites along the River Severn and the peculiar beauty of old industrial buildings. Sheds, corrugated iron, worn paint and industrial metalwork have a visual life of their own. I am equally drawn to the large advertising signs of Los Angeles, which make particularly striking photographic images and canvas prints. These are pictures made to be lived with, rather than hidden away.

Canvas print care guide: start with the right wall

Where you hang a canvas makes more difference than most people expect. A bright room is absolutely fine, but constant hard sunlight is not ideal for any printed artwork. If a wall receives direct sun for much of the day, choose another position or use a blind or curtain during the strongest hours. This is especially worth considering for richly coloured images and photographs, where you want the tones to stay as intended.

Keep the canvas away from radiators, fires and other direct heat sources. Repeated heat can dry and tighten the material, while sharp temperature changes are simply not good news for a stretched surface. A bathroom can also be a difficult home for a canvas because steam and condensation bring dampness into the equation. A well-ventilated bathroom may be all right, but it is not the first room I would choose for a favourite print.

Kitchens depend on the layout. A canvas across the room from the cooker will generally be fine. One directly above it is likely to collect grease and moisture over time, however carefully you cook. Give the work a little breathing room from the busiest, steamiest parts of the house.

Dust gently, not enthusiastically

For ordinary care, a clean, dry microfibre cloth is all that is needed. Every few months, lightly pass it over the face and edges of the canvas. Do not scrub and do not press down. The aim is to lift loose dust, not polish the print.

A soft, clean make-up brush can be useful around the corners and along the inner edge of the frame, where dust sometimes settles. Avoid feather dusters, rough household cloths and kitchen roll. They may seem harmless, but they can catch on a textured surface or leave tiny fibres behind.

If you are moving furniture or decorating, it is worth taking the canvas down temporarily. Dust from sanding, paint splashes and the odd careless ladder are much harder to deal with than ordinary household dust.

Do not use sprays or cleaning products

The simple rule is to keep liquids away from the printed face. Window cleaner, polish, soap, stain remover and even a damp cloth can affect the ink or leave a patchy mark. Different canvas finishes and inks respond differently, so there is no reliable all-purpose cleaner that makes experimentation a good idea.

If a mark appears, resist the urge to attack it straight away. First check whether it is loose dust that can be removed with a dry, soft cloth. For anything greasy, sticky or stubborn, seek advice from the printer or a professional picture conservator before doing more. A cautious pause is better than turning a small mark into a permanent pale patch.

Handle the frame, not the image

When taking a canvas down or putting it up, hold the wooden stretcher frame at the sides. Avoid gripping the front surface with your fingers, even if your hands are clean. Pressure can leave a temporary dent and skin oils are best kept away from the print.

Two hands are better than one, particularly with a larger piece. Put it face-up on a clean, dry surface if you need to rest it while measuring or rearranging a wall. Never place another picture, a book or a mug on top of it. It sounds obvious, but artwork often gets damaged during those half-finished room reshuffles.

Make sure the hanging fittings are secure and appropriate for the weight of the print. A canvas that slips from one hook may survive, but the corner of the frame or the wall behind it may not. If the piece is hanging in a household with lively children, pets or doors that swing open with force, give it a little extra distance from the danger zone.

What to do about dents and slack canvas

A small dent can sometimes occur after accidental pressure. Do not try to rub it out from the front. In many cases, simply leaving the canvas alone in a stable room allows it to settle naturally. If it does not, ask for professional advice before attempting a remedy, as methods that are suitable for one canvas may be wrong for another.

A canvas can also look slightly less taut after a move or a change in humidity. This is usually more noticeable in older pieces or in rooms that become cold and damp in winter. Keep the work in a reasonably even environment and avoid moving it repeatedly between very different temperatures. If the slackness is significant, a framer can assess it without risking damage to the printed surface.

Storage and moving house

If a canvas must come off the wall for a while, store it upright rather than flat where possible. Keep it somewhere dry, clean and away from garages, lofts and sheds that become damp or extremely hot. Wrap the front loosely with clean, acid-free tissue or a soft cloth, then protect the corners with cardboard. Do not seal it tightly in plastic for a long period, especially if there is any chance of trapped moisture.

For a house move, use a sturdy box slightly larger than the canvas and make sure it cannot slide about inside. Mark the box clearly so that nobody stacks a heavy lamp or a box of books on it. This matters just as much for a modest-sized print as for a large statement piece.

Let the picture have a proper life on the wall

Canvas prints are not limited editions, which means the pleasure is straightforward: choose the image you want to see every day and give it a good place to do its job. New charcoal drawing images and new photographs have recently joined the collection, alongside exciting new works by Steve Parker. Each brings a different kind of line, texture or atmosphere to a room.

Whether you choose a quiet rural scene, a battered shed, a strip of corrugated metal, or a Los Angeles sign blazing against the sky, look after it lightly and sensibly. A clean wall, gentle dusting and a little distance from heat, steam and fierce sun will let the work keep looking good on the wall for a very long time.