Wedding Favors
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How to keep your artwork as fresh as the day it was created
   
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Article: " How to keep your artwork as fresh as the day it was
created " Author: Heather Diodati Contact Author:
info@whimsies-online.com Word Count: 1730 Words formatted to 65
characters/line Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published
w/bylines; courtesy copy appreciated Web Address:
http://www.whimsies-online.com
Clueless about how to protect the beautiful acrylic painting you
received as a birthday gift? Wondering how to mat and frame your
new watercolor? Heres a handy guide on how to care for your
precious artwork, no matter what media it was created in.
. Handling . Storage . Transporting . Matting . Framing .
Laminating . Display . Cleaning
Special care for different types of media
. Acrylics . Oils . Watercolors . Pastels . Charcoal, Pencil,
Colored pencil, Crayon drawings . Ink drawings . Digital art
Handling
Always use great care in handling artwork. Never touch the
surface of the art with your bare fingers as the natural oils,
acids and salts on your skin can transfer to the artwork and
cause permanent damage. If you must touch the art, wear cotton
gloves.
Storage
Artwork not displayed should be stored in a clean, dry, dark and
well-ventilated area in moderate temperatures and humidity
levels that do not fluctuate a great deal. Avoid storage in
basements, attics or garages as extreme temperatures and
moisture can damage the artwork.
Store unframed art flat with acid-free paper between each item,
or store individual items in archival-quality envelopes.
Avoid storing art between cardboard, as it is highly acidic and
can damage artwork over time.
Store art created with charcoal, pastels, pencil or crayon
between glass to avoid rubbing and damaging the delicate
artwork. Preferably mat the item first with an acid-free mat and
then cover it with glass to protect the artwork from any kind of
contact with its surface.
Never store unframed art in shipping tubes for any length of
time. Remove the art as soon as possible and lay it flat until
you are ready to frame it. If a painting has been stored in a
tube for a long time, consult a professional who will use the
utmost care and expertise in unrolling and relaxing the artwork
to avoid possible cracking and damage.
Never store framed art directly on the floor. Instead, rest the
artwork on blocks or on shelves.
Transporting
Never leave artwork in your car for extended periods of time.
Carry framed artwork by the sides and avoid resting canvas
against any items that may damage the surface.
Roll prints carefully and insert into heavy duty shipping tubes.
Remove the artwork and unroll as soon as possible after
transport to avoid permanent damage.
Matting
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Have your artwork matted with an acid-free mat board. Poor
quality mats may damage art over time due to the chemicals in
the board that can transfer to the artwork. The same is true for
backing your art with cardboard which also has chemicals that
may cause discoloration.
Never use rubber cement or white glue to adhere the art to a
surface as it can cause damage to your precious artwork.
Framing
Art created with ink, pencil, pastels or charcoal should be
framed under glass. You may use Plexiglas only for pencil or ink
drawings as any pastel or charcoal artwork may be damaged by the
build-up of electrostatic charge emitted from Plexiglas and
similar plastics.
Make sure to completely seal the back seams of the frame and
backing with acid-free tape.
To further protect your print from harmful UV rays you can ask
your framer to use glare-free glass with a UV protective coating
to cover the artwork in the frame.
The frame you choose should be slightly larger than your
artwork. Humidity may cause the paper to contract or expand and
the extra space between the frame and artwork will allow for
these changes without damaging the art.
Never frame artwork without also using a mat board between the
art and frame. Wood may hold humidity that can transfer to the
artwork. You can use acid-free frame spacing instead of matting,
if you prefer. Ask your art store to see what is available.
Also, if you have a glass insert to protect the artwork, make
sure you add a mat to prevent the art from sticking to the glass
over time.
Laminating
Since nearly all laminating materials have UV inhibitors in them
it makes sense to consider this option for protecting your
prints, photos and digital art as well as other artwork such as
delicate pastels and charcoals.
Consult a photo store to ensure that this process will not
damage the artwork youre thinking of laminating.
Either bring your print or photo to a photo shop to have it
professionally laminated to a base, or use a laminating machine
if you would rather use a frame.
A laminating machine that uses a heat process will protect the
print more than a machine using cold lamination. Be careful of
low-end laminators with fluctuating temperatures that can result
in bubbles between the print and the plastic, incomplete
lamination or variations in thickness of the plastic.
As an added protection, laminating pouches are also available
with UV-resistance to protect against color-fade.
If you use low quality photo paper for your digital prints, make
sure to test a sample print in your laminator as smearing of the
photo may result.
Display
Careful planning of where youll hang your artwork should
lengthen its lifespan considerably.
Humidity, extreme fluctuating temperatures, direct sunlight,
bright light, heating vents and fireplaces can damage your
previous art. Avoid contact with fluorescent lighting that emits
harmful high-energy rays that can deteriorate the artwork.
Hanging art on exterior walls may subject the art to temperature
fluctuations and dampness in climates where temperatures vary
greatly with the seasons. Avoid hanging artwork in kitchens or
bathrooms for this same reason.
Attach small cork pieces to the back of the frame to prevent
mold from forming, by allowing air to circulate behind your
framed art.
Never use clip-on lights on frames. The area of artwork exposed
to this 'hot spot' will cause drying and damage over time.
Canvas stretcher bars may expand and contract with temperature
fluctuations. This may make the canvas sag and/or crack the
paint. A professional can correct this problem and save the
artwork.
Cleaning
Dust frames regularly and inspect for signs of mold or insects.
Make sure that all hangers and items used to secure the frame
are still in good condition.
Never use commercial products to clean your bare artwork. Use a
feather duster to dislodge dust particles from the surface.
Cloth material may leave lint.
To clean the picture glass that protects your artwork, never
spray cleaner directly onto the glass. Instead, spray your
cleaning cloth and then wipe the glass to avoid cleaner from
running gown and seeping between the glass and frame and
damaging the art. Avoid using a cleaner with ammonia.
Use a cleaner specifically designed for Plexiglas or similar
materials such as acrylic, or use a soft damp cloth and spot
clean gently to avoid scratching.
A professional may be needed to clean your artwork if you notice
color changes and dullness from contact with smoke, whether it
was from cigarettes, heavy use of candles, or if the artwork was
subject to smoke damage from a fire. See your professional if
you notice any signs of mold or insects.
Special Care for different types of media
Acrylic Paintings
Not to be framed under glass, acrylics are fairly sturdy and can
survive in various lighting conditions. Dusting the surface
lightly will prevent any build-up. Be careful when shipping
acrylics in the winter as extremely cold temperatures may cause
cracking. Youll have the same problem when storing your
acrylics in unheated attics, basements or sheds if you live in
areas that experience very cold winters.
Oil Paintings
Also not for framing under glass as these have to 'breath'.
Direct sunlight will fade oils over time. Choose its location
with this in mind.
Make sure to dust frequently as build up may crack and peel the
paint. Never spray commercial cleaners on your painting. Should
the colors appear dull after awhile, you can have your painting
varnished at your art store to renew the colors and protect the
surface from possible cracking.
Transport your painting carefully wrapped in cardboard and
protected with bubble wrap. Avoid leaving the artwork too long
in the packaging as moisture may form and damage your painting.
Watercolors
Frame watercolors behind glass. Colors may fade if fragile
watercolors are exposed to strong lighting conditions.
Oil Pastels and Chalk Pastels
Pastels are very delicate and must be handled with extreme care.
Framing under glass as soon as possible is a necessity to
protect the easily damaged surface. Full sun can fade the colors
but they can survive strong light or indirect sunlight. Never
touch the surface of the art or place anything on its surface to
avoid smearing.
Charcoal, pencil, colored pencil, crayon drawings
These are just as fragile as pastels; therefore they must be
handled and protected in the same manner. Do not touch the
delicate surface of these drawings.
Ink Drawings
Also very light sensitive, fades quickly in direct sunlight.
Frame under UV-protected glass.
Digital Art
Avoid touching the surface of your digital art. Mount your
artwork behind UV-protected glass to reduce fading. Make sure
that the artwork is dry before doing this. An acid free mat
inserted between the artwork and frame will prevent the art from
sticking to the glass. Aluminum frames should be considered as
humidity does not affect them and will not transfer to your
prints. Make sure to keep your digital prints away from
excessive heat for long periods of time, high humidity, direct
sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Taking extra care of your precious artwork today will ensure
many years of enjoyment later on.
(c)2004 DDesign Reprints of this article are free of charge as
long as you include the author portion of the text
About the author:
Heather creates unique personalized cartoons for weddings,
birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or any other occasion!
Fun & personalized with any name or message. Cartoons to fit any
personality, hobby, or occasion. Choose one of her designs and
request personal changes, or order a total custom personalized
cartoon! Everyone loves a gift that's truly unique. Give them
something they'll always remember!
http://www.whimsies-online.com