Pencils drawings, either created with colored pencils or not, face the risk of fading over time. As your artwork is exposed to many elements, it can lose its original beauty – something we never want to happen.
So, how do you keep pencil drawings from fading? The good news is that there are many different ways to preserve your pencil drawing. You should take the right steps and follow these instructions carefully.
This blog post will show you how to preserve pencil drawings to last as long as possible!
Contents
Using a Frame to Protect your Finished Artwork
Like most artwork made of different media, framing is recommended to shield them against outer elements. Therefore, the first thing you will need to preserve pencil drawings is a frame.
What you need to know about this method:
- You should make sure that the frame has a glass cover
- Also, try using acid-free paper in the back of your drawing so it does not stick through or damage your piece
- Use PVC pipe to hang up your artwork rather than traditional metal hangers, as they can cause rust spots on the corners of frames
- Be sure not to use regular corner braces as they may cause damage over time due to rust or rotting of wooden frames
- Use framers’ wire instead and attach it with thumbtacks along the top edge of your artwork where it meets the inside lip of your picture frame
- Be careful not to poke any holes through your drawing too
If done properly, this should preserve your pencil drawings for some time to come.
If you do not have a frame available, don’t worry, you can preserve your pencil drawings by attaching them to the chipboard and hanging the board on the wall.
Trying The Glue Gun
Another way to preserve your pencil or colored penciled drawings is the glue gun method.
- Take an acid-free piece of paper and cut it into smaller pieces slightly larger than your drawing or sketch
- Lay down one sheet on top of another so that they are back-to-back (the adhesive side touching each other)
- Then, place them over your picture with its front-facing up toward you, be sure not to mutilate any holes in the process either!
- Once finished, simply run a hot glue gun along all four edges of the artwork until secure
Using a Fixative Spray
If you don’t want to use a frame or glue gun, you can preserve your drawings with a fixative spray. This method will help keep the colors from fading and running together over time, and it also will give your artwork a little bit of shine.
- Be sure to test the spray on an inconspicuous area of your drawing. Do this before spraying the entire thing, as some sprays may cause the colors to change slightly or alter how they look
- Once you have found a fixative that you are happy with, Make sure to hold the drawing about 12-15 inches away from the can and spray it evenly across the surface
- Let it dry completely before displaying or storing
Tips To Keep Your Pencil Drawing Intact
Light
Be careful how bright or dark your color in your piece will fade over time if exposed to too much light. Try to pick a location where there is no direct sunlight shining onto it for most of each day so that they won’t fade as quickly.
Moisture
Also, moisture at all costs, even humidity from being near windows, can cause damage! For this reason, be sure never to hang up framed pieces next to an exterior door either, especially during wet seasons when rain may come through open doors.
Dust
We should also be worried about any particular area getting hit with dust or fingernail scratches. We can purchase artist tape and cover those areas to preserve pencil drawings from being harmed.
If you plan on moving soon, then try finding a way to preserve pencil drawings that can travel with you. Just make sure they are packed properly and not at risk of getting damaged during the move.
Finally, if you want to preserve your pencil drawings but don’t have a lot of money to spend on framing and fixatives, there are a few things you can do to help keep them safe.
You can store them in an album or portfolio, put them in a plastic sleeve, or even laminate them yourself.
You can also always preserve them digitally by taking a picture of your drawings and saving it to the computer.
Conclusion
This blog post talks about how to preserve pencil drawings, so they last for many years! The best things you can do are use high-quality paper and draw with harder lead pencils. After that, make sure your drawings are protected from moisture by framing them or placing them inside of albums.
By following these steps carefully, you’ll be able to preserve your drawings easily. Which method did you like most? Let us know in the comments below! Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to share it with all your friends online.