Dust is an artist’s enemy. It can gather on top of acrylic,
obscuring your art. And when work is unprotected, it can stick to drying paint,
damage paper, and generally ruin the effect you’ve worked hard to create.
Pastels, chalk, charcoal, and graphite generate their own dust which can fall from the paper,
affecting the framing treatment and the overall look of the piece itself. Some
artists use fixative sprays to combat it, but others avoid them, as they could
alter the appearance of the work.
Luckily, there are several framing treatments you can use to
work with ꟷ instead of against ꟷ the dust. Creating a space
for it to gather keeps the dust off the artwork,
mat board, and acrylic, reducing the risk of a blurry effect. American
Frame Customer Engagement Representative
Helen Holman shares some methods of doing this below.
Extra Mat
Some artists use an extra mat
board with narrower borders behind their primary mat board. This creates a space where dust can fall and
settle.
Spacers
You can also use EconoSpace
spacers to create a gap between the mat board and the artwork. Place the
sticky side of the spacer on the back side of the mat board. This lets the dust settle in the reservoir
created by the spacer.
Mounting Board
Strips of mounting
board can also be used to create this dust reservoir. Strips of mounting
board are a great option for framers on a budget, as they are inexpensive.
Reverse Bevel
Some artists use a reverse bevel to let dust fall behind the mat instead of resting on
the bevel cut.
Do you have your own
ways of combating dust on your work? Share them with us. Tweet at us at
@AmericanFrame, or email
us. 
Dust is the enemy of an artist. It obscures your art.
ReplyDeleteGood tips. Dust is so hard to deal with.
ReplyDelete