Another Artist Saver

I rarely if ever blog about products unless they truly make a huge difference in my life. There are already far too many blogs devoted to trendy design and what's hot new and cool in the world so I don't want to add to the noise. However, I wanted to share with my fellow artists out there a product I swear by because it will not only save you time but make studio life a lot easier. And if you're just an art collector at home or like keeping things clean, then this one is for you too.

Swiffer Dusters have shaved a lot of time off my schedule when prepping for a show or presenting work to clients. The fact is, unless you're sealing your work in expensive dust-free sleeves or in hermetically sealed chambers, they will get dusty from time to time. And for me, with the bulk of my paintings being so large, they can be a royal pain to clean and keep tidy when moving them in and out of storage.

A lot of artists have been misinformed about how to properly protect and remove surface dust from their works. I knew of one artist who would almost repaint an entire piece because of the dust. But this is not only a colossal expense but also a quick way to ruin your work because in effect you're mixing the dust into the new layer of paint. The color and surface will still appear dull and the paint will become sticky and brittle.

Using water to clean the surface is also not a good idea and sadly I've heard this one shopped around too. Other no-no's include blow dryers, high power air compressors, and anything that causes you to rub or scrub the surface.

So I swear by the Swiffer Duster. The Swiffer Duster Starter Kit is a studio MUST HAVE. It keeps my work stations clean and doesn't just push dust around allowing it to settle again or stir up a fit of sneezing while I'm cleaning. And when it comes to keeping my canvases dust free, they are a miracle. The soft material picks up the dust without me having to rub the surface of the painting and it helps me avoid damaging the work in the process. And trust me, my work is so flat that any blemish or abrasion would easily be visible. Even for works that have been in storage a long time and need a little love, a light going over of the surface on these does the job.

So enough of my gushing. Go out and get some and check online for discount coupons. Definitely keep your studio stocked with these and make sure when hanging work for a new show you give them a good once over after removing your pieces from crates or other packing material.