{"id":1430296,"date":"2021-08-18T16:15:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T15:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=1430296"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:52:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:52:30","slug":"how-to-take-care-of-fine-art-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/18\/how-to-take-care-of-fine-art-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Care of Fine Art Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paper is a biodegradable material and should be treated as such. The longevity of paper is dependent on the conditions in which it is stored, and how it is handled. Here is how to keep your paper at its best.<\/p>\n

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Storing Paper Before Use<\/h2>\n

Paper should be stored in a cool, dry place. As an absorbent material, paper is sensitive to atmospheric moisture. A damp environment could cause buckling, while humidity can lead to mould growth. Paper that is sized with gelatine<\/a>, such as some watercolour papers, is particularly susceptible to mould or fungi.<\/p>\n

Paper should also be kept out of direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure could cause it to become brittle. Additionally, papers that contain optical brighteners<\/a> could fade back to their natural colour.<\/p>\n

While environmental factors are important to consider, handling paper correctly is equally as important. It is best to handle paper as little as possible. The more frequently it is moved around, the more likely it is to be dented, marked, or get dog-eared. Paper often arrives packaged in plastic wrapping, and the paper can remain in this wrapping until it needs to be used to protect it from fingermarks or spillages in the studio. When taking a sheet of paper from a stack, take one sheet at a time from the top.<\/p>\n

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Of course, not all paper has to be treated in the same way. A sheet of watercolour paper that is intended for a developed artwork should be handled with care, but cartridge paper used for quick studies may not need the same careful attention.<\/p>\n

Tearing Paper to Size<\/h2>\n

You may need to tear your paper to size, either to even out the margins on an original print, or to create a faux deckle that complements a true deckle<\/a> on an adjacent edge.<\/p>\n

To tear down your paper you will need a heavy metal ruler or tear bar. It works best if the tearing is done from the back of the paper. Holding the bar down firmly simply pull the excess paper from its top corner, back across the bar at an angle of 45 degrees. Any raised fibres left along the edge can be smoothed down with a paper folder. For long-fibred washi tearing can be quite tricky. You can best achieve this by running a wet paintbrush along the side of the tear bar. You will create a line of wet paper where you want to tear, which you can do whilst firmly holding down the tear bar. If you are trimming washi to a straight edge the long fibres can pull against your knife and wrinkle the paper. Trimming is best done with a very sharp knife held at a low angle against the washi\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

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A faux-deckle edge on a sheet of watercolour paper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Should I Apply a Coat of Varnish?<\/h2>\n

Varnish is usually applied to oil and acrylic paintings. Although water-colour varnishes are available, these are a recent development and framing finished watercolours behind glass is generally standard practice.<\/p>\n

Varnish does four things:<\/p>\n