The two oil paintings by Arnold Demarais are cozily balanced by the plant. Thomas W. McCanna's Garden Doves bring new personalities to the living room while Al Davis sea gull adds a touch of whimsy to the hearth. The complementary colors in the Ushak rug from Pakistan are from natural vegetable dyes. If you shut your home down for the winter and leave the heat off, your collection will be subject to drastic changes in temperature and humidity. In newer, well-sealed homes, a lack of circulation can encourage high humidity, increasing the risks of mold, fungus and mildew.
Low humidity can cause cracking and shrinking.
A total lack of light can alter pigments and promote mold growth on oil paintings. Oil paintings are somewhat protected from the elements with a varnish coat applied by the artist. Prints, watercolors and pastels are framed under glass or Plexiglas to preserve the paper. Artists and framers have been aware of the importance of using only acid-free paper and mats for decades. Using archival materials when doing your own framing will prolong the life of your art.