The art world has changed dramatically since the Renaissance. Today, artists are no longer beholden to patrons or collectors. They create their own work and sell directly to consumers. This shift has led to a new era of creativity and innovation.
Artists now have the freedom to express themselves without being constrained by the rules of the past. If you want to get rid of your old artwork, consider donating it to a museum, selling it at auction, or giving it to a friend.
Here’s what you need to know about how to dispose of an old painting.
What You Can Do With Old Paintings?
Sell Your Old Artwork
Selling your old artwork is a great way to make money from home. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out as a painter, or you’ve been creating for years; there are plenty of ways to turn your hobby into a business.
Selling your work can be done through galleries, online platforms like eBay, or even in person. You may find that some venues will pay more than others, so it pays to shop around.
If you decide to sell your work in person, you’ll first need to determine whether you want to sell prints or originals. Prints are easier to transport but they don’t command the same price as original works.
Auctions are one of the most common options when it comes to getting rid of your old paintings. They’re usually held once per month and offer a wide variety of items including furniture, clothing, antiques, collectibles, and artwork.
Auction houses typically require that you apply for membership and pay a fee before selling at their auctions. This means that you have to spend time applying and paying upfront. But after that, you can list your items for sale whenever you’d like.
You can, alternatively, sell your old artwork online.
Online auction sites allow people to buy and sell goods without ever meeting face-to-face. These websites operate much like traditional markets where buyers bid on items.
Some sites charge sellers a commission while others don’t. You can set your own prices and get paid within 24 hours.
However, selling your old artwork is only one option. There are many other means of getting rid of your old paintings.
Donate Your Old Paintings
Donating your old paintings isn’t easy. The process involves filling out forms and sending off paperwork. However, it’s worth the effort because many museums and other organizations accept donations.
You can donate your artwork to a local school, church, hospital, or university. Some institutions also accept donations of fine art. For example, the Smithsonian Institution accepts donations of any type of artwork.
Charity organizations often accept donations of artwork. Some even provide free storage space for your old paintings. The Salvation Army is one example of an organization that accepts donations of all kinds.
If you don’t want to donate your old paintings, you can always give them away:
Trade Them With Friends
Trading is another option for those who don’t want to part with their old paintings. It’s similar to buying and selling online except that you meet friends instead of strangers.
If you have a friend who is interested in artwork and wants to expand their collection, why not talk to them about potentially taking your artwork from you and displaying it in their own home?
Even if they might be not sure at first it is worth having a good conversation with them in case they see something in the artwork that you can’t.
Disposing of Your paintings
You might think that throwing your old paintings away would be the best option. After all, why keep something that you don’t plan to use anymore?
However, you shouldn’t toss your old paintings until you’ve made sure that they won’t damage anyone else’s property. Before disposing of anything, check the following:
• Is the item safe? Paintings contain solvents and oils which can cause fires if not disposed of properly.
• Will the item attract pests? Pests such as mice, rats, cockroaches, and termites love to eat paint.
Then decided upon the way to dispose of your paintings:
• You can burn them. Make sure that you follow proper safety precautions when burning objects because fire can spread quickly.
• You can recycle them. Most cities now have recycling programs that allow residents to drop off used materials.
• You can donate them. Many charities accept donations of art and other items.
Have Someone Pick Up And Store Them For You
If you’re willing to part with your old paintings but aren’t interested in trading, destroying or donating them, consider hiring someone to store them for you. Professional storage facilities will cost anywhere from $10-$20 per month depending on how large your collection is.
Putting your paintings into storage may also mean that they are not only protected for the future but also become more valuable. Many works of art go into storage for several years before reemerging and becoming far more valuable when they head to the market to be sold.
If you want to sell your artwork at a time when you can get some more money for your paintings, it is always worth investing in storing them.
Final Thoughts
Old paintings can often have emotional significance for you. Whether you are the artist who painted them, or whether you bought them or inherited them, they often have a strong emotional link.
This is why it is crucially important that you spend time carefully considering how you want to dispose of your old paintings.
Whether you decide to sell them, store them or give them to a friend it is important that you take your time to properly decide what you want to do because these works of art aren’t just painting on canvas.
They’re a depiction of another world, an insight into someone’s soul, an expression of our human wants and desires and as such they should be treated with the utmost respect regardless of what you decide to do with them.