Like a Rolex: How to Prepare Your Art for Loved Ones

18 Jun Like a Rolex: How to Prepare Your Art for Loved Ones

Posted at 15:59h in Blog by Brynn

My mom has this process that she calls “unencumbering herself.” She goes through her house every so many years and gives away items she no longer needs or wants. Within a few minutes into a phone conversation or a home visit, she offers family and friends dishes, small tables, nails, tools, and tchotchkes. Her mantra is, “You call me before you go shopping. Save your dollars. I may have what you need.”

However, there is one item she will not give away just yet–her artwork. My mom isn’t unique in this; many people hold onto their artwork–specifically paintings–until they can no longer enjoy it. They give paintings away after they have drastically downsized their home or plan to leave it to a relative in their will. This is a wonderful thought. Paintings often have monetary or sentimental value and can be a wonderful heirloom to someone who appreciates it–especially if the piece is in good condition.

If the painting is damaged or neglected, the recipient will likely feel they’ve inherited a project. Instead of putting the painting on their wall, they’ll stick it in the attic, basement, or garage where anything can happen. These spaces are often unsafe for artwork. Paintings need a climate-controlled environment with protection from objects, bugs, and animals that can puncture, tear, or eat the art. You don’t want your art to end up forgotten and damaged.

The best thing you can do to help your loved ones enjoy your art is to ensure it is in ready-to-hang condition. This could mean having your painting cleaned, repaired, and possibly reframed. What do you need to do to prepare your art for your loved ones? Where do you start?

Preservation & Prevention

The first step we recommend is having a conservator review your artwork. If you’ve spent years looking at your painting, you may have become blind to serious issues such as dirt or paint loss. A museum conservator will assess your painting for damage and provide a treatment plan for your art. They will clean and repair the piece to address problems such as removing grime, treating mold, and repairing damage from bugs or punctures. This treatment helps prevent further loss and helps increase the painting’s lifespan.

A word of caution: there are loads of visually satisfying videos out there where people use chemicals to clean paintings in what appears to be seconds. That’s online entertainment, not something you should do at home. We never recommend do-it-yourself restoration solutions on original works of art. It is too easy to destroy a painting, especially if it is valuable. The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute even writes, “The technology and technique of cleaning are constantly being improved upon. Caution is advised when searching the literature for cleaning instructions. Textbooks, even up to the late nineteenth century, contain recipes for removing tough varnish layers which will also remove some of the paint layer.” Consult a professional before trying any at-home painting restoration.

Value & Cost

People often focus on the value of art, but the market is constantly shifting. The pieces that are highly valuable today may not be valuable in thirty years. If you want to sell your painting, you should talk to an appraiser to see if cleaning and repair will increase the potential sale price of your art. Think about selling your house. Will you get significantly more money for your home if you paint all the rooms in your house gray, or does it make more financial sense to leave your bedroom that pretty blue you loved? Weigh your options carefully.

However, if you’re gifting the painting to a loved one, it is almost always more valuable to the recipient to clean, repair, and reframe the art before gifting. It’s like inheriting a Rolex; when you receive a Rolex (or something Rolex-adjacent), you want it to work and look nice so you can put it on your wrist immediately. The recipient may not have the means to care for it initially and may not prioritize the care in the future. Give them something they can put on their wall without worry or concern.

You can have the piece appraised if the art is valuable or came from a notable artist, especially for insurance purposes. If the piece is valuable or only offers sentimental value, we always recommend including the painting’s provenance. Write down the piece’s history: who and where it came from, the subject, the artist, and any other relevant information that will tell the art’s story. This will help your family appreciate the painting and help keep that little bit of family history alive.

Emotional Support

Many of our clients bring in artwork that belonged to a loved one. Some people come in immediately after losing a parent; others come in years after the fact. For the latter, they find it too hard to organize photos, documents, and artwork because they are processing their feelings. It’s too much to handle directly. Instead, they wait a few years to start the process. By then, it can be too late for some of their pieces.

One of the best things you can do for your loved ones is to take the burden off their shoulders by organizing your art and taking care of your paintings. It shows them you care about them. If you need help getting started, here are a few other articles that can help you begin the process:

You can always contact us for a free consultation. We love talking about your projects. Let us know how we can help.