Lighting Your Art Collection

Fine Art Lighting

My father-in-law is back home from hospital. The whole family is relieved. He's weak and can only eat tiny amounts of food, but at least he's holding it down and not throwing it up. We were afraid we were going to lose him. My husband and I still haven't told the folks about our new home. We've decided to surprise them. We've been going about quietly planning the home decor, such as choosing suitable lighting. We're taking our time over this, as we want to show off our Edna Hibel fine art works and collectibles to their best advantage.

Nothing too flashy or harsh. The lighting will be soft and elegant and, of course, energy saving. It will enhance our fine art collection and not compete with it. We'll also take care to keep our lovely art collection away from windows and direct sunlight.. UV rays can damage artworks.

Collecting fine art and collectibles is a very satisfying hobby, but curating and showcasing your art collection can be even more enjoyable. It certainly enriches the quality of my life.

Carol
Cherish Collectibles
Home of Fine Art, Collectibles & Gifts by Award-winning American artist Edna Hibel

Healing Art

Art of Healing

My father-in-law is still in hospital, recovering from colon cancer surgery. It's been a week since he was admitted. Fortunately, we managed to get a private single-bed room. When I first saw it, I was struck by how much care had gone into making the room look pleasant and comfortable. Not only was the color scheme pleasing to the eye, but soothing framed art on the walls helped made the environment more cheery and also homely. The total effect was calming and relaxing.

When I wandered around the public areas of the hospital, such as the corridors and the lobbies, I noticed that art was an integral part of the hospital's interior decoration. Framed art of comforting, positive scenes, mainly pastoral as well of smiling people, were scattered liberally on the walls.

It is good to know that some quarters of modern medicine recognise the healing power of art. Fine arts, including music and dance, speak to our souls. When selecting art for your home or office, be discerning. Avoid images which are disturbibg or negative. We get enough of that in real life. Always choose fine art works with positive messages which will inspire and lift your spirit.

Art is both therapeutic and healing. Use it wisely to enhance your home and other living spaces.

Carol
Cherish Collectibles
Home of Fine Art, Collectibles & Gifts by Award-winning American artist Edna Hibel

Matters of the Art

My father-in-law had surgery for colon cancer today. Finding out that he had cancer came as a real shock to him. He had always assumed that he was healthy because he didn't eat much, pottered around the garden and occasionally played golf. He was supposed to have had a colon cancer check-up in January but he put it off for half a year. Maybe it was laziness, or maybe he was just afraid. Several relatives have had cancer, including me. When it's so close to home, sometimes you just don't want to know.

My grandmother died of cancer, and so did my half-brother. Two other brothers had cancer too, but they survived. It's my parents-in-law 50th wedding anniversary this year and I've been thinking about a suitable gift for them. They have a lot of tacky and tasteless things in their home, so naturally I'd like to give them some beautiful Edna Hibel fine art works and art collectibles. If I could. I'd even give them a nicer home. The sad thing is, my parents-in-law do own some lovely things, most of them gifts from friends and other people. But somehow they felt that these items were too nice to use and enjoy, so they've kept the good stuff packed away all these years while they made do with ordinary and cheap things. What a waste!

Life is so short, and you never know what will happen tomorrow. The Edna Hibel Mother's Day 2007 Collectible Plate which my husband and I gave to my mother-in-law is still packed away in its box. My parents-in-law could have enjoyed a lovelier home all these years if they didn't have such a spirit of lack and unworthiness. They have such low self-esteem. Now almost three-quarters of a century have passed for them. My husband and I will inherit their carefully-preserved precious possessions one day, beautiful items which they owned but never alowed themselves to enjoy. What a pity.

Are you denying yourself or your loved ones when you don't have to? Don't, for goodness sake! Use the fine bone china and crystal, wear your pearls and other precious jewelry, and lavish your home with beautiful things, like fine art and collectibles. Live every day splendidly and have no regrets! Live life to its fullest!

Carol
Cherish Collectibles
Home of Fine Art, Collectibles & Gifts by Award-winning American artist Edna Hibel

Art To Beautify The Home

Art In Interior Decorating

I'm counting the days to when I get my new home by the river. I've already decided on the wall colors. They'll be rich and warm, to match my gorgeous Edna Hibel fine art works and art collectibles, such as the stunning Arte Ovales artist's proofs. I'm still looking for the perfect lamps and other lighting to complement my decor and show off my Hibel art collection. It's going to be beautiful.

I've been so excited I can hardly sleep ..... There's really no place like home. My first home was very spartan and simple. I always planned to do it up but I never got around to it. I never made use of art to dress it up. Have you noiced how much character and personality a home with art has? It just gives it a whole new dimension and makes it extra special.

Life is precious and every day is a gift from God. Even if you don't entertain very much you should create a wonderful home environment just for your own daily pleasure. Beautiful art doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Hibel's art pieces and collectibles, for instance, are very reasonably priced.

My new home will be decorated with lovely Edna Hibel fine art works and art collectibles. I can hardly wait to start having guests over!

Carol
Cherish Collectibles
Home of Fine Art, Collectibles & Gifts by Award-winning American artist Edna Hibel

Art Conservation Basics

Protect Your Art Works and Art Collectibles

The weather has been really strange lately worldwide. There's flooding in some places and drought in others. It's been terribly hot and humid where I live. Thank God for air-conditioning. Not only does it keep people functioning but it also helps to protect sensitive items like fine artwork and art collectibles. I have temperature and humidity-controlled dry cabinets too. Great for small items.

After you’ve spent precious time and resources building up an art collection, it would be a shame to have its value depreciate because of a lack if knowledge of proper care and conservation for works of art. Some ageing is natural and acceptable to a certain degree, but deterioration or damage due to negligence is not, especially when it can be avoided.

You’ve probably seen what humidity, light and mold can do to photo prints and film. The same environmental conditions which inflict this kind of damage threatens your art pieces. In fact, with the worsening environment, art works are more in danger than ever before. Even modern lifestyles pose a threat. Have you noticed how art galleries and museums discourage the use of flash cameras and other artificial light sources in the presence of their exhibits?

As the curator of your own collection, you would be well-advised to protect your art pieces from the following hazards:

Pollution
Dust, dirt, human bodily fluids and oils (such as perspiration) and acids are corrosive and discoloring to art. The first three elements are obvious, but where do acids come from? These can be found in household cleaners, air fresheners, chemicals found in furniture, carpets, curtains, appliances, packaging and even the air. Direct skin contact is also damaging to art, which is why handling art works with bare hands should be avoided.

Humidity
This may be good for the skin but the same cannot be said to be true for art. Humidity, moisture or dampness cultivates mold and causes foxing, or brown spotting on the art. Storerooms are typically humid and poorly-ventilated, the perfect breeding ground for these evils, as well as vermin like silverfish and cockroaches. Even paintings and prints displayed on walls can be destroyed by the wormholes or worm tracks of silverfish. Check any art on display regularly for any potential problems.

Heat
A very dry environment can also be damaging to art. Constant humidity of less than 40% can make art works, especially paper or textile-based ones, brittle and very fragile. Humidity should range from 40% to 60%. Modern living environments in cooler climates widely use central heating or radiators which may make conditions far too dry for delicate art. To minimize the problem, try placing bowls of water on radiators.

Radical fluctuations in temperature can cause items to expand and contract. Art should preferably be kept at a constant temperature, just like in special exhibition rooms in museums.

Light
Art cannot be appreciated without light but too much light is detrimental to art, as the UV found in both natural and artificial light fades colors and details.

Protective Options
So what can you do to protect your art collection? You can try to keep your art pieces in a relatively pollutant-free, temperature, light and humidity-controlled environment. This may involve:
- purchasing and installing special boxes, chests, cabinets or folders
- designating a special purpose-built room or area for your collection
- renting specialized storage space designed for housing delicate art

Some protective options, such a metal cabinets, are rather ugly, but they will protect your valuable items more effectively than, say, wood. Not all materials are equal; acrylic plastic is preferred to glass, and acid-free paper is better than normal paper. You’ll find some examples here:
http://www.home-museum.com/How-To-Arts/how-to_contents.htm

The variables can be confusing, so seek the advice of an art specialist or archiving expert to get started on the right foot.

If you keep your lovely art works safely tucked away under lock and key, you will not have the pleasure of displaying and admiring them. That would be like having the cake and not being able to eat it. Find a balance that suits your requirements.


Carol
Cherish Collectibles
Home of Fine Art, Collectibles & Gifts by Award-winning American artist Edna Hibel