Art theft is a serious problem, and it can happen in a variety of ways. From downloading pictures off Instagram to stealing paintings worth millions of dollars, it’s a crime that can cause a lot of damage.
Thankfully, there are ways to protect your painting from being stolen. Here are five tips to help you do so.
Protect it at all times
It’s no secret that a painting is a prized possession, and thieves are looking for a way to get their hands on it. The best way to prevent it from getting stolen is to take some basic precautions. First, always lock your artwork up when you’re not using it. If possible, use a combination lock so that only you can unlock it. In addition, you should install a security camera in the area to catch any suspicious activity.
Another tip is to use a special type of wrapping to protect your work. Rather than simply wrapping it with bubble wrap, go with specialty materials such as artist’s tape and glassine to make sure that it gets safely home. This is especially true if your painting is a large work of art.
Lock it up when you’re not using it
The best way to protect your painting from being stolen is to keep it locked up when you’re not using it. This can help prevent thieves from accessing your work and it also keeps it safe in the event that you lose it or damage it.
If you’re transporting it, make sure to use proper packing materials and techniques. This is especially true for unframed works of art that require a bit more work to wrap up.
First, pad the surface of the painting with bubble wrap and seal it with packing tape. Next, place it into a tight-fitting cardboard box. This box should be specifically designed with the dimensions of your piece in mind. It’s important that you fill all spaces with dense packing material to avoid the piece bouncing around during transit.
When you’re done, put the box in a storage area that is not constantly exposed to changing temperatures. Keeping the paint in an environment that is too hot or cold can cause it to slacken, stretch, and become damaged. To prevent this, try to store your painting at a constant 55% humidity and between 21-24 degrees Celsius. This will help ensure that it stays in good condition for a long time. You may also want to consider getting a secure lock for the box, so that it cannot be opened without your permission.
Don’t post about it on social media
Social media is a popular way to connect with people around the world, or even to share information about your business. It can take the form of anything from a photo sharing app to a social gaming site. It’s also used to promote entertainment, news, and trends.
It can also be a great way to market your art. Posting pictures of your work on social media can attract new fans and make them interested in your work. It’s also a good idea to watermark your images to prevent them from being stolen.
A painting is a valuable object, and thieves can easily steal them from museums and galleries. Museums usually protect their paintings with security measures such as cameras and alarms. They may also install a case that locks the painting up when it’s not in use.
Some of these cases are surprisingly expensive, but they’re worth it in the long run. They’re made of special materials like acrylic and glass that are able to withstand more damage than regular packaging material.
The right acrylic case can make your work more resistant to theft, especially if the frame isn’t as sturdy. You can get these types of cases at any local hardware store or online, but it’s best to buy a top-rated model from a well-known brand.
In addition to the acrylic case, it’s a good idea to watermark your work to prevent them from being stolen. This can be done by using a website like Umark or uploading the image to a marketplace that automatically does it for you, such as Redbubble. It’s a bit of an annoying process, but it can help make your work more difficult to steal.
Don’t share it online
It can be incredibly disheartening when you’ve spent hours working on your latest piece and then someone steals it and sells it online. While it’s not impossible for your work to be stolen, there are things you can do to prevent it from happening.
First and foremost, make sure you protect your painting at all times. This means making sure you lock it up when you’re not using it, or even when you’re away from your home for an extended period of time.
The more difficult it is for people to steal your work, the less likely they are to do so. Keeping your artwork safe is essential for artists who want to continue creating art and sharing it with the world.
If you’re worried about stealing your painting, consider taking it to a professional to get it scanned. This can help to identify any copyright infringement issues and give you a better idea of what steps to take next.
Ideally, you should use a transparent watermark that covers the entire image. This is a very effective way to protect your work from being stolen, and it can also be a good reminder to anyone who might try to steal your art that they’re doing so illegally.
Another way to protect your work from being stolen is to add a copyright notice on it. It’s important to include this because it shows that you own the rights to the image and are the original creator.
Finally, if you’re concerned about a particular image being used on an online marketplace, be sure to contact them and ask that they remove it immediately. This will also help to ensure that the marketplace doesn’t take your money or sell the image to a third-party.
If you’re not confident about contacting these online marketplaces, you can always file a copyright infringement complaint with the US Department of Commerce. This can be a very effective way to protect your work, but it can be quite expensive and time-consuming.
