To care for a canvas giclee, hang it away from direct sun, heat and damp rooms, dust it gently with a soft dry brush, and never clean it with water or household cleaners. A rolled canvas should be stretched or framed soon after delivery so the surface does not crease or crack.
Canvas pieces anchor many of the rooms our customers send us photos of. Here is how to keep yours looking the way it did the day it arrived. Shop the format in our African American art on canvas collection.
Key takeaways
- Direct sunlight is the main threat to color.
- Dust with a soft, dry brush only.
- No water, sprays, polish or cleaners.
- Stretch or frame rolled canvas promptly.
- Handle by the edges or stretcher bars, never the face.
Where to hang a canvas
Choose a wall that does not get direct sunlight. Avoid hanging above radiators, fireplaces, kitchen stoves or in bathrooms, where heat and humidity cause the canvas to expand and contract. Steady room temperature and humidity are best.
How to dust it
Use a soft, dry, clean brush, such as a wide natural-hair brush, and work gently from top to bottom. Do not use a cloth that can catch on texture, and never press into the surface. On hand-embellished canvases, the added paint strokes have raised texture, so a light touch matters even more.
What never to use
- Water or damp cloths
- Glass cleaner or household sprays
- Furniture polish
- Feather dusters that shed
These can leave residue, dull the surface or lift embellishment.
If your canvas arrives rolled
Large canvases often ship rolled to arrive safely. Unroll on a clean, flat surface, image side up, and let it relax. Do not fold it. Arrange stretching or framing soon so the canvas is not left rolled for long periods. Our framing shop stretches rolled canvases over bars and can add a floater frame.
Handling and moving
Lift a stretched canvas by the stretcher bars, not by pressing on the front. When moving, wrap the face in glassine or clean paper, then add corner protectors and cardboard.
When to call a professional
If the canvas sags, develops a dent, gets wet or the embellishment flakes, take it to a framer or conservator. Do not try to iron or re-stretch it yourself.
Humidity and temperature
Canvas reacts to moisture. In damp rooms it can slacken and sag; in very dry or hot spots it can tighten and crack. Keep it in rooms with steady temperature, away from vents, fireplaces and exterior walls that sweat in winter.
Checking a canvas over time
Once or twice a year, look for sagging, dents, dust build-up in the texture or changes in color. Catching a sag early means the canvas can be re-tensioned before it creases.
Storing a canvas you are not displaying
Store canvas upright, face protected with clean paper, in a dry interior closet, not an attic or basement. Never stack heavy items against the face.
Frequently asked questions
Does a canvas giclee need glass?
No. Canvas is usually displayed without glass. A floater frame finishes the edge without covering the surface.
Can I varnish a canvas giclee?
Leave varnishing to a professional. The wrong product can damage the inks.
How long does a canvas giclee last?
With archival inks and proper care away from direct sun, many decades.
Stretch or frame your canvas
Bring a rolled or loose canvas to our framing counter at The Mall at Stonecrest, or browse hand-embellished African American art on canvas. For frame styles, see our custom framing Atlanta page.
