How to care for handmade art

OIL PAINTINGS

Here are just a few basic rules courtesy of Robyn Bellospirito:

"Never lean the front or back surface of a stretched canvas on a pointed or sharp object, no matter how small. This will leave a dent that will disfigure your work. If you must lean it against something, lean it on the wood of its stretcher bars so that nothing presses against the canvas.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will fade the colors in your oil painting. Please be aware of this when choosing a location for your work.
You might want to dust your painting regularly, so that a thick layer of dust does not build up which will dry out the paint and possibly result in cracking and peeling. Do not spray anything (like pledge) on the work. Dust with a soft, dry paintbrush. If the surface of your painting looks dry and dull, you may want to have it re-varnished. Varnish is a protective surface which will not only enhance the image, but will keep the surface intact and safe from cracking (except under extreme circumstances, of course). Please research different varnishing products if you, for any reason, do this yourself.
If you must transport the work, lay a flat piece of cardboard, mat board or similar firm material over the front and back surfaces, and then wrap it gently. Try not to keep it wrapped up for too long as to avoid moisture buildup which might cause damage to the work.
Never expose your painting to extreme heat, extreme cold, or to extreme humidity. (Yes - this means a flood. Yes - this means a fire. Yes - this means snow. This could also mean an attic in the summer or a damp basement!).
If something bad happens to the work (i.e. it crashes down on someone's head and gets a big gash in it), bring it to a professional conservator who can fix it properly.
If you ever need or want to get rid of the work for any reason, always contact the artist, who should be informed of the work's new whereabouts so he or she can update the work's provenance records. Never, ever destroy or throw away an original work of art!!! If you absolutely can't keep it for any reason, offer to give it back to it's creator."

PRINTS

Although some prints look great even without a frame, if you wish to make sure that your print stays in the best condition for as long as possible, framing is recommended.
Avoid high humidity, and make sure that the print doesn’t come into direct contact with the glass - this may cause condensation to build up at the point of contact, leading to yellowing.
The print should be kept at room temperature, and out of direct sunlight.
To store your print for an extended period of time, for example in a drawer, wrapping the print in acid-free paper will prevent yellowing.