Real solutions from an artist who’s been there
Humidity.
The quiet villain of every art studio in summer.
It creeps in, warping your canvas, smudging your ink, and turning your carefully layered watercolors into a wobbly mess.
If you’ve ever opened your sketchbook only to find the pages slightly curled or noticed your acrylic painting developing mystery bubbles,yep, that’s summer humidity doing its thing.
I’ve learned the hard way (more than once), so this guide is me sharing what actually works to keep your artwork safe and sound when the air feels like soup.
Let’s get into the practical stuff.
Also see: 5 Simple Steps to Creating Cool Summer Paintings
1. Use Acid-Free, Humidity-Resistant Paper
Let’s start with what your artwork is sitting on. If you’re using regular paper in monsoon-ish weather, expect curls and crinkles. The solution?
Paper that’s made to fight back.
Go for:
- 100% cotton rag paper
- Acid-free and lignin-free paper
- Pre-stretched watercolor blocks if you’re painting
Real-life test: I once compared a cheap sketchpad to a Fabriano 300gsm cotton pad during July in Delhi. One turned into a soggy taco. The other stayed flat like it had something to prove.
The difference was night and day.
2. Store Art Vertically, Not Flat
This one’s small but mighty.
Humidity loves horizontal surfaces. The moment you stack art flat, the pressure + moisture = perfect storm for warping and mildew.
So flip the script,store things upright (in a portfolio, rack, or even between foam boards). Let the air move around your pieces.
Quick tip: Slide wax paper or glassine sheets between artworks to avoid any transfer or sticking.
3. Use a Dehumidifier (Yes, Even a Small One)
You don’t need an industrial-sized beast.
Even a desk-size dehumidifier makes a huge difference, especially in closed rooms.
Try this:
- Monitor with a digital hygrometer (aim for 40-55% humidity)
- Run your dehumidifier 2-3 hours in the morning when moisture peaks
- Add silica gel packs in drawers and storage boxes
Personal trick: I keep silica beads in a mason jar and “bake” them in the sun once a week to recharge. It’s cheap and strangely satisfying.
4. Seal Your Canvases Properly
Humidity will find any weak spot, especially the back of a stretched canvas.
Unprimed canvas is like a sponge. If you’re not sealing it, you’re inviting moisture in.
Here’s how to fight back:
- Apply gesso on both sides of the canvas
- After painting, use a final varnish,UV and humidity-resistant preferably
- Staple a backing board or foam core behind stretched canvas to block airflow
I ruined a gouache piece once by only sealing the front. The back absorbed moisture, and the warping was so bad it looked like modern sculpture.
5. Avoid Storing Art in Basements or Attics
I know it’s tempting to stash finished pieces out of sight. But unless your attic is climate-controlled, or your basement is bone dry (unlikely during summer), you’re basically setting a time bomb.
Instead:
- Use a closet with consistent indoor temperature
- If possible, rotate art storage every few weeks to air it out
- Install small vents or a mini fan to prevent stale air buildup
Humidity doesn’t need much to wreak havoc,just a week in the wrong spot and you’re looking at fuzzy mold.
6. Switch to Humidity-Friendly Mediums (When You Can)
Some materials are drama queens. Others? Low-maintenance saints.
Troublemakers in humidity:
- Charcoal (smudges like crazy)
- Pastel (fragile and powdery)
- Gouache (re-wets easily)
Safer choices for summer:
- Acrylic (dries fast, less sensitive)
- Oil (slow-drying but stable once sealed)
- Alcohol markers or waterproof ink
Of course, you should make the art you love. But knowing how your medium behaves in humidity helps you prep smarter.
7. Frame with a Spacer or Matboard
If your painting or drawing is directly touching the glass inside a frame, moisture has nowhere to go. That’s how condensation happens,especially when the temperature flips from hot afternoons to cool nights.
Fix?
Always frame with a spacer or matboard to leave breathing room. That tiny gap lets moisture escape instead of getting trapped.
Bonus points if you frame with museum-grade glass or acrylic. It resists UV and humidity,like a shield for your work.
8. Keep Fans Circulating
Airflow is your friend.
You don’t need to keep the fan blasting at your canvas, but a ceiling fan or oscillating fan helps prevent dead, humid air from settling. It lowers the chances of mold, mildew, and sticky surfaces.
My studio rule: Never leave wet paintings in still air. Keep the fan on low to circulate moisture out,especially for gouache or watercolor.
9. Rotate Displayed Art During Summer
Displaying originals during peak humidity? Risky move.
Even in air-conditioned rooms, condensation forms on glass frames overnight. One trick I use: Rotate artwork every few weeks,display one, store another.
If that feels like too much work, consider making high-quality prints of your originals to display during summer. Keep the OGs stored safely in acid-free sleeves.
10. Create a “Summer-Mode” Storage Plan
Think of this like a seasonal wardrobe swap, but for your art.
Set up a summer-specific system:
- Airtight bins with dehumidifiers for older work
- Zip folders with ventilation holes for current WIPs
- Weekly inspection checklist: warping, mold, and discoloration
One summer, I created a spreadsheet (nerdy but effective) to track what was stored where and in what condition. Now every May, I do a 30-minute check. Saved my butt more than once.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Humidity Win
Humidity is sneaky. You won’t always notice the damage right away. Sometimes it’s subtle,warping here, a strange smell there. But over time, it adds up.
Protecting your art doesn’t require a high-tech studio.
Just some smart habits, a little gear, and knowing how to outsmart moisture before it starts creeping in.
Got any weird summer art disasters or clever hacks of your own? I’d love to hear them. Let’s build an artist’s humidity survival kit, one real tip at a time.
Stay dry, stay creative.