How to Care for and display your Oil Painting 

Oil paintings are timeless works of art that often carry deep emotional significance. Understanding how to care for an oil painting can help preserve its beauty for generations to come. All of my paintings are created using professional grade, archival materials and best oil painting practices to ensure the piece has the strongest foundation for durability. However, proper care and handling are still essential to maintain its integrity.

In this post, we’ll discuss the best practices for taking care of and displaying an oil painting to ensure it remains vibrant and in excellent condition for years to come.

1. Display Your Painting in the Right Environment

The environment in which your painting is displayed plays a huge role in its preservation. Proper temperature, humidity, and light conditions will keep it protected. Not to worry, most indoor environments naturally abide by the following best practices for displaying art. I only list them in detail to answer frequently asked questions.

• Temperature: Avoid placing your painting in areas that experience extreme temperature fluctuations, such as near air conditioners, radiators, or fireplaces that get used often. A stable temperature of around 65–75°F (18–24°C) is ideal for oil paintings. Extreme heat or cold can cause the paint to crack or the varnish to degrade. I keep my favorite oil painting above my fireplace, but I only use my fireplace a few times a year, so it’s not a concern. If you use your fireplace a lot throughout the winter I recommend switching your oil painting out for something more temporary or replaceable during those months.
  
• Humidity: Oil paintings are sensitive to large changes in humidity. Keep your painting in a space where humidity is kept between 40% and 60%. Don’t hang or store your painting in damp or moist areas, like bathrooms or basements, as mold and mildew can damage the canvas, and humidity can warp the stretcher bars. If your painting starts to show signs of mold, consult a professional conservator immediately to avoid further harm. If your home is very humid or dry, consider using a dehumidifier or humidifier to maintain a balanced atmosphere.
• Avoid High Traffic Areas: Try not to display the painting in areas where it will be exposed to excessive foot traffic, moisture, or physical contact. The less handling it experiences, the better.
  
• Light: All of the paint I use has the best lightfastness rating available meaning it will never fade under normal conditions. It’s important to avoid intense direct sunlight or bright artificial light. Opt for low-intensity LED lights with UV protection if buying a light to shine on the painting. Most interior walls don’t receive enough light from the sun to be a concern, but if displayed in a sunroom I would consider framing with a UV protectant glass.

2. Keep the Painting Clean

Dust and dirt are inevitable, but how you clean your painting matters. The varnish on an oil painting offers protection, but you still don’t want to use harsh chemicals or scrub too hard.

• Dry Dusting: Use a soft, dry duster or cloth to gently dust the surface of the painting. Hold the brush or cloth lightly, and work in small circular motions to remove dust and debris from the surface.
• Pest Prevention: Once a year inspect the back of the painting to make sure it is free of debris, dust, hair & insects and gently clean. If your painting is framed and there is paper covering the back you don’t have to worry about this, as the paper backing prevents these issues.
• Avoid Wet Cleaning: Do not use water, solvents, or cleaning products to wipe the surface of the painting, as these could damage the painting’s surface, the archival materials, or the varnish. Even with varnish, excess moisture can affect the paint and make the surface cloudy or sticky.
• Air Quality: Indoor pollution like smoke can stain or degrade both the varnish and the paint on the canvas. If you live in a highly polluted area, consider using an air purifier in the room where the painting is displayed.
  

3. Handle with Care

When moving or handling your oil painting, be sure to take precautions to avoid accidental damage.

• Handling: Try not to touch the surface of the painting to avoid oils from your skin depositing onto its surface. Don’t worry, it’s okay to touch it a few times if you already did (I know it’s very tempting;) It is best to hold it, carry it and hang it by holding the back and edges.
  
• Moving and storing: When transporting or storing the painting it is ideal to loosely wrap it in bubble wrap for protection. If you have the space I even recommend saving the box and packing materials that your painting was shipped in in case you need to move or store it in the future.
  

Ideas and Best Practices for Framing and Displaying an Oil Painting in Your Home

An oil painting can be a statement piece in any room, adding sophistication, color, and texture. Displaying an oil painting the right way can elevate the overall aesthetic of your home. Below I’ll share some creative ideas and best practices to help you showcase your oil painting in your home with style.

1. Hanging your painting as is

The painting itself is substantial enough to hang on the wall as it comes out of the box when I ship it to you. I finish the edges to complement the painting, so it can look great hung on the wall right from day one. For smaller paintings you can hook the top wooden stretcher bar right on the hanging nail. For larger paintings I attach a sawtooth hook to the stretcher bar for hanging.

2. Framing Your Oil Painting

A frame can enhance your painting and help integrate it into your space. Here’s what to consider when framing your oil painting:

• Match the Frame to Your Room’s Décor: The frame should complement the style of your painting and your home’s décor. A simple, understated frame can let the painting shine, while an ornate frame can add an element of drama and visual interest. Ultimately, the frame should work with the piece and your home’s overall style. Here is a link to my framing and arranging art Pinterest board that I use time and time again for inspiration: https://www.pinterest.com/Xtinabrewer/arranging-art/
• Where to frame your painting: For my personal framing needs I use my local Hobby Lobby and Woodland Art Gallery. Hobby Lobby and Michaels offer beautiful and affordable framing options. If you’re looking for something more specialized I recommend searching out your local framing shop or framing/gallery combo. 
• DIY Frame: You can purchase a frame and frame your painting yourself; however, attaching the painting to the frame requires you to drill into the wood in the back of the painting and I only recommend this if you are very handy with these types of projects.
• Framing glass: Framing glass is not recommended or necessary over an oil painting surface. The paint film + varnish is durable enough and most beautiful when displayed without glass covering it. UV protectant glass is only recommended if the painting will receive constant daily intense sunlight.
• Types of frames: I typically use floater frames, plein air frames and traditional frames for my canvases. Each type highlights the painting in it’s own unique way. I have many examples of each type of these frames on my Pinterest board. https://www.dickblick.com/categories/framing/canvas-frames/
  

3. Hanging Art and Viewing Angle

Think about how the room flows and where you want people to be able to enjoy the painting. A few factors to consider:

• Eye Level: The ideal height for hanging a painting is typically at eye level—roughly 57–60 inches from the floor to the center of the piece. If the painting is part of a gallery wall, try to keep the middle of the arrangement around this height.
  
• Viewing Distance: Oil paintings are often best viewed from a bit of a distance, especially larger pieces.
• Hanging: Don’t forget to make sure your painting is securely anchored on your wall to a stud or wall anchor. Larger paintings, especially framed paintings are quite heavy and will pull out a nail just simply pounded into the drywall.
  

Conclusion

Displaying an oil painting in your home adds beauty and personality to your space. It is a wonderful conversation starter when you have guests over and nothing can beat the way it transports you to the memory of the moment it captured. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your artwork remains in excellent condition, preserving its beauty for many years to come. If you ever have any questions about your painting don’t hesitate to reach out to me.