AARTY

Care & handling

Handmade work is durable, not fragile — but it has preferences.

Light

Keep work out of direct sunlight. Natural pigment fades faster than acrylic, and no varnish makes a painting sun-proof.

Damp

Avoid bathroom walls, unventilated basements and the wall behind a kitchen hob. Natural-pigment work on canvas or board is the most sensitive of anything here.

Cleaning

Dust with a dry, soft brush. Never a damp cloth, never a spray, never a solvent.

Moving it

Carry a stretched canvas by the stretcher, never by the top edge of the fabric. Keep the packaging: it is sized to the work.

Hand-finished surfaces

Texture is meant to be seen and occasionally touched. Oils from hands will mark an unvarnished surface over years, so touch the edge rather than the face.

Still unsure? Ask before you buy rather than after — talk to us.

Stay close to the studio

New collections, artists we have just met, and the occasional note from the studio. No more than twice a month.