Mirjam's World - Tutorials - Watercolor Care

All my watercolors are painted on 100% acid free, cotton watercolor paper with the best quality professional paints available.
They also have acid free mats and conservation clear glass if you purchased the artwork that I personally framed.

Please see the instructions below about caring for your watercolor original. Conservation Framing is an important form of
insurance for your valuable artwork, keeping it as lovely as it is today for your enjoyment for years to come.

Your original art work should be protected against light that contains UV rays, dust, humidity, and heat.

Light:
Ultraviolet light rays are the same villains that your doctor warns you about. They cause breakdown whenever they come in
contact with organic materials. The damaging effects of UV light on artwork are cumulative and irreversible. Unfortunately, the
sun is not the only source of harmful UV light rays. All light sources, whether natural or artificial, have some of their
components in the ultraviolet range. The most drastic visual effect of exposure to UV light is the dramatic fading of colors —
especially those colors that contain red.
Humidity and heat:
Never hang your valuable artwork over a heat source or in an area that will be high in humidity (such as a bathroom). Heat
and humidity can cause serious damage to your art.

FRAMING AND MATTING
Only acid free materials should be allowed to come in contact with your watercolor original. Prevent form aging of the paper
or fading the colors by using UV light blocking glass or a high-rated UV protective Plexiglas. Allow for at least 1/8” space
between the artwork and glass to protect from any moisture and humidity. Do not laminate, spay or dry mount.

GLASS
Types of a UV light blocking glass

- MUSEUM GLASS
- CONSERVATION CLEAR
- CONSERVATION REFLECTION CONTROL

* the best glass is museum glass – clear: effectively blocks a minimum of 98% of the dangerous UV light, reflects only 1 % of the
light and its light transmission is 96% (how much light reaches the art work, allowing to be seen)

* conservation clear effectively blocks a minimum of 98% of the dangerous UV light, reflects around 8% of the light (how much
light is “bounced back” causing glare) and its light transmission is 89% (how much light reaches the art work, allowing to be
seen)

* conservation reflection control effectively blocks a minimum of 98% of the dangerous UV light, reflects around 8% of the light
(how much light is “bounced back” causing glare) and its light transmission is 90% (how much light reaches the art work,
allowing to be seen)

DISPLAY

Avoid direct sunlight or lighting it with fluorescent light.
Use incandescent bulbs to light your work. Incandescent lights have only 4% of their rays in the damaging UV range.
(Fluorescent lights, on the other hand, have a high concentration of UV rays and should not be used to light your work.)

Display in a cool and moderate, dry environment.

Avoid hanging watercolors near heating or cooling systems as atmospheric pollution such as smoke or aerosol chemicals may
cause artworks’ deterioration by condensation.