4. HANDLING, DISPLAY AND CARE
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Protective Packaging
Your colour pencil/pastel portrait is bubble wrapped and packed with a temporary foam core border frame to minimise external contact with the portrait paper surface and bending. The fixing tape is low tack so removal should cause no damage to the reverse of the portrait paper.
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Your oil portrait may be rendered on linen or canvas panel and is bubble wrapped, and, given a fast-drying medium has been used will be dry to the touch. It is recommended that you eventually seek a professional framer to build a suitable frame according to your own specifications.
Opening
Please hold the portrait by the borders. While colour pencil/pastel is a dry medium handling or touching the surface should be minimised.
Your skin and fingers have natural oils (regardless of any recent washing) and this can transfer to the pigment or bare areas of the paper. If transferred it can darken any pigmented areas. All graphite, soft pastel and colour pencil artists use a backing sheet under their hands when creating a drawing.
Framing
Paper is vulnerable to damage by tearing, puncturing, or bruising if not properly protected. Stains also pose significant risk to unprotected paper. It also tends to absorb moisture and dirt out of the atmosphere.
All dry medium art should be framed behind glass with the inclusion of one or two border mounts (sometimes called French mounts) to separate the drawing surface from back of the glass. This will prevent any potential smudging that could discolour or damage the art work.
Display
Both the paper medium, colour pencils and pastel where required are high end artist materials that have excellent colour fastness (that is fading, if any, is minimal or non existent over many years).
To preserve the vibrant colours, detail and paper please do not hang your portrait in direct sunlight, adjacent to a heat source or air conditioner or in an area where there is exposure to potential steam, dampness or humidity.
Finally
If you have any questions please contact me on info@johndawsonartist.com.au or my mobile which is 0412 422 701.
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