5 Ways to Protect Your Art

 I have spent a lot of time discussing artistic challenges in this blog. I have shared about the obstacles I have encountered in my process due to particular media, subjects, artistic techniques, and even my time management. But what happens when everything comes together? What happens when you stand back from your easel and realize that God has blessed you with a winner? What do you do now?! I’m so happy you asked. :) 

The first and best place to start is a big “thank you” to God. Prayer is a great place to begin whatever you are undertaking. Getting a “win” is exhilarating so sometimes I forget to pray until after my little happy dance (which I also recommend). I try my best to remember to thank Him as soon as I can. I thank God for blessing the work of my hands, for growing me as an artist, and for just generally answering all those art prayers that I began my session with. Once you have offered prayers of thanksgiving to God (and satisfied yourself with a victory dance), it’s time to protect your creation. Here are 5 simple ways to preserve and protect your new masterpiece! 

1. Hang it up

It might sound comically simple, but the safest place to store a work of art is on the wall. Drawings and paintings that are properly mounted to the wall have a far higher rate of survival than their friends that are stored in, under, and behind things. Over the years, I have found this to be true for framed and unframed pieces alike. I use the walls of my studio space as a sort of staging area for pieces awaiting matting and framing. Hanging a framed piece is ideal but, let’s face it, frames are expensive! Mounting an unframed piece is one of the fastest, cheapest, and easiest ways to protect your art. 

Here’s what you will need:

• 4 plastic pushpins
• A safe section of wall
• A helper or a level (optional) 

Begin by walking around your house or studio and selecting a “safe” section of wall. This should be an area free from moisture, and intense direct sunlight (which may potentially damage and discolor your piece). It is also important to find an area where people will not be tempted to lean up against your work accidentally. Once you have found the perfect home for your new piece, WASH YOUR HANDS. Even if your hands appear clean, the naturally occurring oils on our skin can be damaging. It’s better  to be safe than sorry after all that hard work creating art. Next, hold your piece up to the wall and use a level (or a friend) to help determine that the piece is level. You can skip this step and opt for the trial-and-error method if you wish.

Place pushpins above and below the edges of the paper at all four corners. NEVER, EVER, PUT A PIN THROUGH THE ACTUAL CORNER OF YOUR PIECE! The pressure from the plastic base of the pushpin is sufficient to hold the weight of most pieces of paper and mat board.

2. “Fix” it

Spray fixative, sometimes referred to as spray “fix,” is amazing stuff! Fixative is a special sealant specifically designed for dry media (pencil, charcoal, chalk, graphite etc.). This magical spray works by securing all those lose and dusty pigment particles to the page, preventing it from smearing. You can even purchase “workable fixative” (my favorite) which allows you to seal your work in between layers and continue to draw on top of it! Is that a genius idea or what? Seriously, if you work with charcoal, get yourself a case of this stuff. Are you sold on the wonders of spray fix yet? Well then, grab that rattle can and let’s do it!

Here’s what you will need:

• A can of Krylon Workable “Fixatif” (Krylon’s version of fixative) 
• A large sheet of newsprint or butcher paper 
• Several weights
• A nice sunny day 

The first and most important thing you will need is a nice sunny day between 50ºF and 85ºF. This is important because aerosol sprays are temperature sensitive and working with fixative MUST BE DONE OUTSIDE. Like most aerosol sprays, the fumes are nasty (and potentially harmful) and you NEVER want to use this stuff in an enclosed space.

The good news is spring is in the air and this is the perfect time to get out and spray! Once you have sunshine, it’s time to prepare a “spray zone.” This is done by laying out some inexpensive paper to catch any over-spray (newsprint, butcher paper, or even cardboard works fine for this).

Remember - accidents still happen, even with paper down, so it’s a good idea to work somewhere where any stray over-spray won’t matter. Next, weigh down the corners of your spray-zone. You don’t have to get fancy, rocks work fine for this (as long as they are clean). Begin by spraying a test strip to make sure the fixative will play nice with your medium. It is always a good practice to try out a new product on a test strip of the same paper/medium you used BEFORE you try it on your actual piece. Spray fix can sometimes alter the color/intensity of a medium and it’s better to discover this ahead of time. Once you have determined that the fixative agrees with your materials, you are now ready to apply it to the actual piece.  Again, wash your hands before you touch your actual piece!

Then, place the piece in the spray-zone and secure the corners with weights. Spray in long, even, strokes approximately 8 inches away from the page. It’s ok to get pretty liberal with this stuff.

Allow the spray to set for 15 - 20 minutes and then check to see if additional layers are needed. To test your piece, gently brush a discreet area of your drawing with your finger and check for transfer. I find that multiple layers are often in order. Two or three coats is pretty normal for most charcoal drawings. Once your drawing no longer smells “fumey” it is ready to bring back into the house (approx. 30 minutes - 1 hour).

3. Back it

Mounting your piece to a backing board is a great option for drawings and paintings done on paper. Adhering a piece to a backing board instantly provides much needed structure and stability that will prevent your work from getting creased and wrinkled. Large sheets of uncut mat can be purchased at many art stores and are usually a fraction of the price of the pre-cut variety.

Here’s what you will need:

• A large sheet of mat board 
• A Metal ruler 
• A can of spray adhesive (3M and Loctite brand are both great options)
• A sharp blade (preferably new)
• A pencil (preferably hard)
• A clean piece of newsprint

*I strongly recommend spray fixing your piece before attempting this method as you will be handling your drawing a lot. Please read these instructions in their entirety before attempting and see the instructions in number 2 “Fix it” on how to spray fix your piece.

Start by setting up a spray-zone outside, which you will use later. Next, wash your hands and measure your piece of art. On the back side of your mat board measure out an area slightly larger than your piece (approx. 1/2 - 1 inch on all sides).

This will become your backing board. If possible, use a corner of the mat board so you are only measuring two sides. Cut the mat using the blade and the metal ruler as a straight edge.

 

If the mat doesn’t come free on the first pass don’t panic. I typically need to make multiple passes with my blade before the cut goes all the way through. Never try to tear the two pieces apart; simply keep going over the cut with your blade until you feel them naturally separate. 

Turn your new backing board face up and lay your piece on top. Mark the corners discreetly with a pencil. Take your piece outside to the spray-zone and lay it face down.

It is important to make sure you have a short, clear, path between your spray-zone and your backing board. Once the glue is applied you will only have a limited amount of time to attach the drawing to the backing board before it sets.

Begin by testing your spray adhesive off to the side to make sure the nozzle is working properly. Then, spray the back of your piece with the adhesive. You will want to work in quick, fluid, strokes, being sure to fully coat the edges and corners of your piece.

Turn your drawing face up and align the corners with the pencil marks on the backing board, and gently set it down. 

Try and make any adjustments quickly. Place the clean sheet of newsprint on top of your drawing and board and press the drawing down (sandwiching the drawing between the mat and the newsprint). 

Once the art work has been pressed in place, rub the entire surface of the newsprint swiftly and firmly. The heat generated by the friction of rubbing your hand on the newsprint will help set the glue. 

4. Cover it

This is another inexpensive and quick way to protect your work. I actually learned this method in my high school Drawing and Design class and have been using it ever since - it works like a charm! This technique works especially well if your piece is mounted to a backing board or in a window mat.

Here’s what you will need:

• A clean sheet of newsprint
• Masking tape, or painters’ tape
• A ruler
• A sharp blade

*If your work of art is on paper I strongly recommend you mount it to a backing board first. Taping a cover directly to your piece may result in issues later on down the line if you need to remove it.

Lay your piece over the sheet of newsprint, aligning it with a corner if possible. Using your ruler, cut the newsprint slightly larger than the drawing (the width of the ruler is usually perfect).

Turn your drawing face down on the newsprint. Fold the top edge of the newsprint over the back and crease it. 

Attach the flap to the back of the mat with a piece of masking tape. Easy-peasy. That’s it. 

If you would like a little extra security, use a small tab of tape at the bottom to hold the flap in place.

5. Photograph it

In addition to these four methods, there is one more that deserves an honorable mention - photography. Photo documenting your work doesn’t need to be fancy or involved, a smartphone pic will suffice and could potentially save you a lot of heartache. Even if you have done everything you can to protect your art the reality is life still happens. Accidents still happen. Pipes break, cats get bored, houses burn down, or we as artists get inspired to add just… one… more… line. Whatever the future holds (good or bad) it never hurts to back up your work, just in case. Snapping a quick pic with your cell phone is a great backup method, it’s fast, it’s free, and it’s just a plain old good idea. Making a digital album of your art is also a fantastic way to share your art. Think of it like a portable portfolio that you can take anywhere and share with anyone! 

Phew, that was a long post! What do you say we save framing for another day? :)

Love you guys, have a great week!