How to look after your Original Art Investment

Today I am giving you a few basic tips about looking after your Original Art Investments. 

This information is good to know if you love Original Art and like to collect it, but are not in Arty circles, or not an Artist yourself.  Much of how you look after an Artwork will depend on what type of Artwork it is e.g. a painting or a drawing or a watercolour and what surface it has been create on e.g. canvas, paper, wood.


To Glass or not to Glass

Even though I Matt seal my fragile artworks before Sale I recommend all fragile and smudgeable Artworks like watercolours, pastels and mixed media (example shown is watercolour and ink Artwork 'Mother's Nature') should usually be framed with glass for long term protection.  Glass framing also protects from dirt, water and fingerprints that may get onto your Original Art Investments. Fragile Original Art, treated well, will be able to be enjoyed for many, many years to come and passed on to family members as treasured memories or gifts.

Oil and acrylic paintings like 'Owl I Want Is You' can also be framed with glass but most people do not do this. Occasionally, people decide they would like the extra protection of glass, or they select a frame for the artwork which is more conducive to inserting glass. Generally speaking, oil and acrylic paintings are enhanced without glass and it is usually not necessary. All my own Acrylic or Oil paintings always include layers of protective Gloss, Satin or Matt Varnish.

Most oil and acrylic paintings are created on Gallery Wrapped stretched canvas (on a wooden frame) so that you can simply hang them as is. This is how I present most of my acrylic or oil paintings so as to avoid the need for my customers to purchase extra frames (unless they want to, and some do).


A Bit of Water Can Save The Day!

Stretched Canvas can also be easily rejuvenated, if the canvas gets a little loose over time by spraying a little water onto the back of the canvas (don't soak it!) and allowing to dry.  As the canvas dries, it will shrink back a little and firm up the presentation of the Artwork again. Simple and no cost fix :)

Of course, if your Artwork has been very stretched, something heavy has been resting on it for a long time, this technique may not work as effectively and you may need to get your Original Art re-framed.

Handling your Original Art

Although it is tempting to run your hands over your Original Art, avoid touching it where you can. Even with the cleanest of hands the natural oils in your fingers will transfer onto the art surface and may leave a mark, which many not be visible until many years later.

Looking for Original Australian Art? Something Unique, Quirky, Colourful or Whimsical?
Visit my web site at: http://www.lisafrancesjuddartist.com ORIGINALS FOR SALE NOW ~ Affordable Pricing too.

Lisa Frances Judd ~ Original Australian Art

SUPPORT ORIGINALITY, SKILL AND PASSION

Thoughts of an Artist

When you look at art, anyones art, do you ever think of the time and effort and skill that probably went into creating it?  I'm not talking about digital art, or the cheap, mass produced imported home ware shop or discount store stuff, but fine art, traditional hand drawing or hand painting by Artisans who continue to develop their craft with passion, skill and imagination.

When an Artist prices an Original piece of Art, they have to take into consideration how much of their time it took to create. 

For example, 'Angels Watching Us'  pictured here which I am still working on is an A3 size mixed media artwork (watercolour, ink, acrylic, hand made papers and archival decorative papers) I have spent so far, at least 8 hours working on. By the time I finish, it will probably be more like 12 hours or more. As Art is my Living (Job) as well as my passion, if I was to calculate an hourly rate for my time, as you would do, if you work in any job, based on a conservative A$25. per hour I would need to sell the Original painting for at least A$300., plus pack and postage to it's destination just to make a return on my efforts.  Some of my acrylic paintings take me WEEKS to complete due to their complexity.

Then, as well as the time, there is the SKILL level involved in the creation of a unique, original artwork and the fact that most Artists don't get paid 'regular hours' worth of work. We work many hours and sometimes get paid when an Art Collector or Art Lover purchases our creations.

My point is.... Hand drawn or painted Original art IS WORTH THE MONEY. Yes you will pay more for a hand painted or drawn piece of art that is ORIGINAL, is signed by the Artist and dated, is a COLLECTIBLE and is UNIQUE.  Something you can cherish for YEARS to come and pass on to those you love in the family.

Next time you think about purchasing Artwork for your home or office or as a gift, think about this first and support a hard working, skillful Artist who's work brightens up the world.

On behalf of all hard working, skillful and imaginative artists ~ Lisa Frances Judd, Australian Visual Artist

http://www.lisafrancesjuddartist.com

http://www.facebook.com/lisa.frances.judd.visual.artist

Pencil Sketches....



Some days (or nights when I can't sleep) I practise sketch things.  Maybe it's an idea for a new painting in my head.  Something I got from a dream (that happens quite often) or it's simply practising.  Some things are hard to draw, like hands and feet, but I find face usually come to me reasonably easily.  Last night I sketched these two ladies with a pencil.  Then I used a bit of white acrylic paint to add depth and interest and a tiny bit of water soluble ink pencils (which are so cool if you haven't tried them you must!). I don't try to make my faces look completely realistic, I prefer a more whimsical version, bigger eyes, bigger lips, awesome hair LOL. When I am stress out to the max, drawing 'heals me'. If you don't draw yourself, why not give it a go. You don't need to be professional, just interested in creating something personally meaningful, an image with a story.  I will post more of my sketches as time goes on.  If you would like to see some of my artworks IN PROGRESS ~ from sketch to finished product, check out my WORKS IN PROGRESS ALBUMS on my Lisa Frances Judd ~ Artist Facebook Page.  

Have a creative and joyful day :D Lisa