In commercial art, such as illustration, the art work needs to survive just long enough to be scanned or photographed for reproduction. It really doesn’t matter what it’s made out of. In the fine arts, materials must be of high quality because the life span of a good drawing or painting should be measured in centuries. If an artist ever wants his or her work to be considered by a museum, it must be made from the very best materials. Why would anyone pay top dollar for something that is going to eventually degrade and disappear?

If you are purchasing a piece of art it’s important to know what the support (canvas, paper or board for example) is made of and what pigments or drawing materials were used. The support must be PH neutral or free of acid impurities. The pigments must be of high quality and light fast (resistant to UV). Over time, even a small amount of acid with eventually eat it’s way through primers and affect the image. Think of how fast newspaper discolors. This is because it is a very inexpensive paper that is full of impurities. Be wary of art that has pieces of this and that pasted on to it, as in collage. If it is organic, it will rot! Canvas that is not sealed and primed properly will also rot.

Even if a painting looks nice now, make sure you ask about the materials that were used to make it. It might not look as nice a couple years down the road (much less a couple hundred years!).

WHY IS FRAMING IMPORTANT?

Framing is not just a way to show case a piece of art. It is essential to preserving it over a long period of time. Make sure that the framer you use is all archival. A museum quality framer is preferable. How do you know? Ask questions.
Not all art should be framed in the same way. A pastel painting requires a different type of framing than an etching or an oil painting. Prints need careful framing so that they will have the longest life possible.

There are many different design possibilities for framing. Choose a framer that is also a good designer. The framing can make or break a piece of art. After selecting your frame molding, custom covered liners, fillets, double and triple mats and colored mats can all add to the design.
Be careful about colored mats. Keep them subtle so they compliment the art, not detract from it.

“The frame is the art’s reward.” Attributed to Edgar Degas.