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Storing paintings, is the loft an option?

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Hang on Studio Wall
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Alicia Tolhurst-Brown

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I'm running out of wall space, which is where I normally store my art. However, now that I'm painting more thus option is limited. So is the loft an option. Obviously dust is an issue, but in sure I can get round that. It's the temperature I worry about. Also for oil paintings what is the best wrap for protection? For storing or for sending via post. Thank you, these questions keep popping up in sure, so thanks again for your patience.  Alicia
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Tony Auffret

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Not wishing to be too flippant, but if you could sell them, you could store them on other people's walls!

Alicia Tolhurst-Brown

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Not wishing to be too flippant, but if you could sell them, you could store them on other people's walls!
Tony Auffret on 07/02/2020 08:51:48
Haha, of course that would be much more productive and hopefully soon an eventuality. 😊

Alan Bickley

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I wouldn’t wrap them in bubble wrap, brown paper or something along those lines, stuff needs to breathe! As long as the loft is reasonably insulated and not damp, they should be fine, although it wouldn’t be my first choice.

Sylvia Evans

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Could wrap on old sheets or brown paper ...breathable .
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Oil paint tends to darken in the dark - or to yellow anyway.  But can  be restored by exposing them to sunlight.  The whites in particular can get quite yellow. Problems in the loft can include - damp; mould; silverfish; an accumulation of embalmed woodlice after the spiders have been at them; mice/rats; and you falling down the loft ladder and ending up with a framed picture over your head....   Agree though with wrapping them in brown paper IF THEY'RE FULLY dry, and not Retouch varnished, if you've nowhere else to put them.   Beware of extremes of temperature - is your loft insulated?  Extremes of temperature can play havoc with stretched canvas - which is vulnerable to damage anyway if you've got it stored anywhere than up on a wall.  

Alicia Tolhurst-Brown

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I had a feeling this wouldn't be a wise choice, I'm just going to hope I can sell. Either that or my friends and family could be paint sitting, they have plenty of walls. Thank you

Tessa Gwynne

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That sounds like a good idea Alicia, a sort of free gallery, and hopefully others will see them and then the buying begins!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Sometimes a local café will take your pictures, perhaps on a rotating basis, to cheer their walls up a bit.  

Alan Bickley

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I’ve got a few small oil paintings displayed in my doctors surgery, (it’s a large room), along with several other local artists work. Anything based around local themes creates interest, and they do sell quite quickly.  They don’t take any commission, obvious I suppose, it brightens up the walls and makes a change from medical posters etc.

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by Alan Bickley

Alicia Tolhurst-Brown

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Great idea Alan, the surgent near me is new  with plenty of bare walls. Also clean. Alicia