Ruined! How to Protect Your Art

This piece was in the window of a gallery for only one month.  It was displayed without a frame and UV protected glass due to contest requirements.  Imagine my surprise after picking it up and not even recognizing it at first.  The green tissue on the tree and the lime green leaves were mostly faded.  A whole third of the piece where there once was a pretty deep blue, now turned completely to grey.

If you purchased one of my original collages before 2018, please make sure to replace any regular glass with UV glass and either send it back to me for UV spraying or spray it with several coats of UV protected spray, such as Krylon’s UV-Resistant Clear Gloss.  Keep the art in a darker spot away from direct sunlight or lamplight.  If your art has already been faded beyond recognition, please contact me regarding possible repairs.

Here are some tips to make sure your collage keeps its brilliant colors:

• Hang art out of direct sunlight.
• Avoid moisture and extreme temperatures.
• Hang the artwork in cool, dry places (68 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Use a UV protected glass in the frame.
• Use a mat to separate the art from the glass.  This will keep the collage from sticking to the glass and assist with moisture control.

Edited 2018:  I have since spoken to the Golden paint helpline and realized that some of the papers I’ve been using are not acid and lignan free, which means they all will fade,  change color, or patina in the case of the metallic papers, over time.  Acids turn papers brittle and brown.  Please contact me if you’ve purchased a collage and are not happy with the changes.  I am happy to talk to you about possible options for repairs, exchanges or refunds.  Keeping the collage in prime conditions as listed above may help prolong the changes, however, for my new collages I am using Golden brand painted cotton papers, and acid free plus lignan free papers to make sure my art will be archival and heirloom quality.

I learned from my mistakes and am sharing the tips with you.  Check out these resources for creating archival collages and mixed media art.