Discussion: Storing (and presenting) your art

[mekare]

Hey all, I am very happy to see so many responses to the current challenge (mine will follow soon). But this got me thinking (especially since I'm doing some pastel drawings for the bang challenges right now):

Where and how do you store your finished art and sketches?

Do you hang it on your wall? If so, how? (I don't do that at all but with some pieces I'd like to.)

Do you have a drawer, a cubby hole (like me) a shelf?



How do you organize your stuff? I guess some members in this comm have been producing art for a couple of years at least, how do you store stuff so you can find it again?

Then there's the problem of keeping works in progress and sketch ideas separate. I have so many concept sketches lying around that I plan/planned on going back to at some point. They are like the "bought but not read" pile of books that I have lying around (though this might verge into themes more appropriate for a motivation/cheerleader post).

This is my "system" - if you can call it that - right now:



Current drawings and bigger (like A3 ) finished pieces go into the big green folder.

Finished drawings (or good sketches) that I really like go into protective plastic sheets in the smaller folder on the right. This is my portfolio that I like to look at when I need to feel like I can actually draw stuff. This works quite well for pencil drawings and watercolour (though some of my watercolour paper has strange dimensions and has to go into the bigger folder).

However - pastel drawings tend to leave pigment on everything that goes over them, even if you use a fixative. Right now they still go into the big green folder. I haven't yet found a practical, inexpensive, non-fiddly solution for that. Some suggest wrapping the entire piece in protective special paper (glassine). That's not really practical for me (and too expensive as well). Advice from the same site:

Do not be tempted to put your pastel in any sort of plastic or cellophane bags. If you do, you’ll find bits of pastel all over the bag next time you look. Also, removing the pastel from the bag without smearing it can be quite a feat! If you feel the need to put your pastel in a bag, make sure you first wrap it in glassine or acid-free tissue.

So there goes my next idea. Right now I'm just really really careful when I search through the bigger folder so I smudge as little as possible. I know alby_mangroves stores her multitude of pastels without any sheets between the paintings. See her storage solutions here.


goss - since you work with art all day maybe you have some clever tips for us?

Comments

[amberdreams]

Mmm good question. I've got a bunch of old loose drawings and paintings going back to the year dot, some of which are languishing in an old chest of drawers, some in folders and the larger ones are in an artist's portfolio folder thingy someone bough for me. I've got a number (nowhere near alby_mangrove's 400!!!) of completed and partially filled sketchbooks which are either on bookshelves, in drawers or randomly lying around.

Now I'm trying to do more traditional art again instead of always working digitally, I really should look at storage solutions...especially as I've been attempting larger stuff too and have nowhere to put it.

[mekare]

The important thing for me right now is just to have my supplies in one place and the paper and folders in another so I can actually find stuff when I have some spare time. :-)
Btw, now I learned a new English phrase (I've never encountered it before): "going back to the year dot" :-) Thanks.

[amberdreams]

Whoever said social media wasn't educational!

[ratcreature]

I have a shelf with some A2/A3/A4 folders for sheets and a stack of small sketchbooks. I only have a few charcoal and pastel pieces, and just added another thin sheet of paper on top of them before stacking and try to be careful when handling them.

[mekare]

Yup, that's what I do. (I used to put paper in between them that I had at hand, I really should start doing that again.) :-)

Oil Pastel artwork storage

[goss]

Here are three solutions that I've used over the years:

1. I usually have the kids at school spray it with either Fixative (expensive to buy) or hairspray (from their mom's dresser).

2. I also have them fold a sheet of wax paper over it as protection. Wax paper can be found in the same grocery store aisle as plastic wrap and aluminium foil. Some of the kids have their sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, so often times I'll have them recycle that by flattening it out. LOL.

3. You can make yourself a homemade portfolio by cutting sheets of wax paper into rectangles, stack it up, and alternating each sheet with regular sketchpad paper. Then staple along one edge with a heavy duty stapler. Voila! DIY storage for your oil pastel drawings.

Re: Oil Pastel artwork storage

[mekare]

These are some good tips. I'm not so sure if they are applicable to soft pastels though since they leave pigment dust so easily. *ponders*

The idea for the homemade portfolio is great.

Re: Oil Pastel artwork storage

[blackmare]

Hi! I was just going to suggest wax paper, and yes, it will work all right for soft pastels. There's really nothing that will prevent a soft pastel picture from shedding; it's just how they are. But folding wax paper over it will work as well as glassine, IME, and better than a bag since you simply unfold rather than having to slide the work out.

Re: Oil Pastel artwork storage

[mekare]

That is great to hear! I will definitely try that now. :-) Thanks for popping over and sharing your experience with us.
ETA:is that owl in your icon your own work? It looks fantastic!