Care & Installation Resources
Guidance for caring for your artwork, selecting a placement location, and finding qualified installation help when needed.
Fine art should be handled, placed, and cared for with attention. The following guidance is offered to help preserve the beauty, surface quality, and presentation of your artwork over time.
General Care
Each artwork should be handled with clean, dry hands or with cotton gloves when possible.
Avoid touching the image surface directly, especially on acrylic, metal, and Fine Art Paper presentations.
When moving or unpacking artwork, hold the piece securely from the sides or frame structure rather than pressing against the front surface.
For larger works, two people may be needed to safely lift, move, or position the artwork.
Placement Considerations
Where artwork is placed can affect how it is experienced and how well it is preserved.
Avoid placing fine art in areas exposed to prolonged direct sunlight, excessive heat, high humidity, steam, smoke, or frequent temperature changes.
Bathrooms, areas directly above fireplaces, damp basements, laundry rooms, and walls receiving strong direct sun may not be ideal locations for long-term preservation.
Soft natural light, balanced interior lighting, and carefully placed picture lighting can help bring out the atmosphere, color, and depth of the work without placing unnecessary stress on the materials.
Light and Reflection
Light changes how artwork feels in a room.
Acrylic and metal presentations may reflect nearby windows, lamps, or bright surfaces depending on placement and viewing angle.
Before final installation, it can be helpful to hold the artwork or a temporary paper guide in the intended location and observe the wall at different times of day.
Morning light, afternoon light, evening lamps, and overhead lighting may each affect the viewing experience differently.
A slight change in height, wall choice, or angle of nearby lighting can make a meaningful difference.
Cleaning Acrylic Presentations
Acrylic should be cleaned carefully to avoid scratching or damaging the surface.
Use a soft microfiber cloth and a cleaner appropriate for acrylic surfaces.
Avoid paper towels, rough fabrics, ammonia-based glass cleaners, harsh chemicals, or abrasive cleaning products.
Dust gently rather than pressing hard against the surface. When in doubt, use the lightest touch possible.
Cleaning Metal Presentations
Metal presentations are generally durable and easy to care for, but the surface should still be treated with respect.
Use a clean microfiber cloth for dusting.
Avoid abrasive materials, harsh cleaners, or excessive pressure.
For smudges, use a gentle cleaning method appropriate for the surface and avoid soaking the artwork or allowing liquid to collect near edges or hanging hardware.
Cleaning Framed Fine Art Prints
Framed works should be dusted gently with a soft, dry cloth.
Avoid spraying cleaner directly onto the glass or frame.
If cleaning the glass is necessary, apply a small amount of appropriate glass cleaner to the cloth first, then clean carefully without allowing moisture to seep into the frame edges.
Do not use excessive liquid near the frame, mat, or backing.
Caring for Unframed Fine Art Prints
Unframed Fine Art Prints should be handled as little as possible before framing.
Avoid touching the printed surface.
Keep the print in its protective packaging until it is ready to be framed.
The print should be kept away from dust, moisture, direct sunlight, pets, food, and areas where it may be bent, creased, or damaged.
For best results, work with a professional framer familiar with archival fine art materials.
Custom Framing
Unframed Fine Art Prints are intended for collectors who prefer to choose their own frame, matting, glazing, and presentation style.
When working with a local framer, consider asking about archival materials, UV-protective glazing, acid-free matting, proper mounting methods, and frame styles that support the artwork without overwhelming it.
The goal of framing is not only to protect the print, but to allow the artwork to feel natural within the room.
Ready-to-Hang Presentations
Acrylic, metal, and framed Fine Art Print presentations are intended to arrive ready to hang.
Even when artwork arrives ready to hang, the wall type, hardware, weight, placement height, and surrounding environment should still be considered before installation.
Drywall, plaster, masonry, tile, wood paneling, and commercial walls may each require different hanging methods.
For larger or heavier works, professional installation may be the wisest choice.
When Professional Installation May Help
Professional installation may be recommended for larger presentations, heavier works, high walls, stairways, difficult wall surfaces, commercial interiors, healthcare spaces, hospitality environments, executive offices, atriums, or architectural installations.
Installation services are not included with the artwork purchase unless specially arranged in writing.
Collectors are encouraged to work with a qualified local art installer, professional picture hanger, interior designer, contractor, or insured handyman service familiar with fine art installation.
Questions to Ask an Installer
Before hiring installation help, consider asking a few practical questions.
Are you insured?
Do you have experience installing fine art or larger wall pieces?
Are you familiar with my wall type?
Can you provide the proper mounting hardware for this artwork’s size and weight?
Will the artwork be securely anchored?
Have you installed in homes, offices, healthcare spaces, hospitality interiors, or similar environments before?
Can you help determine the best height and placement?
These questions help ensure the artwork is handled with care and installed with appropriate support.
Larger Statement Works
Larger works can bring powerful presence to a room, but they also require more planning.
Before installation, consider the wall width, ceiling height, nearby furniture, traffic flow, lighting, and viewing distance.
A large piece should have enough surrounding space to breathe.
It should also be installed securely and at a height that feels connected to the room rather than simply centered on an empty wall.
For statement works, professional installation can help protect both the artwork and the space where it is placed.
Commercial and Public-Facing Spaces
In healthcare, hospitality, office, and other professional environments, additional considerations may apply.
Durability, cleaning needs, public access, wall protection, lighting, safety, and building requirements may all affect placement.
For these spaces, it may be helpful to involve an interior designer, facilities manager, art consultant, contractor, or professional installer before final placement.
The artwork should be secure, appropriate to the environment, and positioned where it can be experienced without unnecessary risk.
What to Do if an Artwork Arrives Damaged
If a package appears damaged upon arrival, photograph the outside of the package before opening it.
Keep all original packaging materials until the artwork has been fully inspected.
If the artwork itself appears damaged, contact the studio promptly with photographs of the package, artwork, and any visible damage.
This documentation helps address the issue through the insured shipping process.
Do not discard packaging until the matter has been reviewed.
Records to Keep
Collectors are encouraged to keep the Certificate of Authenticity, receipt, shipping information, and any studio correspondence connected to the artwork.
These records help preserve the artwork’s history, edition status, and provenance.
They may also be useful for insurance, estate planning, future appraisal, or transfer of ownership.
A Note on Care and Placement
Fine art becomes part of a room over time.
Its presence may shift with daylight, evening light, seasons, furniture changes, and the quiet rhythm of daily life.
Thoughtful care and placement help preserve not only the physical artwork, but the experience it brings into the space.
The goal is simple: the artwork should be placed securely, cared for properly, and allowed to be seen, felt, and appreciated for years.
For additional guidance on selecting the right size and placement, review the Sizing & Placement Guide.