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I'm pretty sure we all have piles of things that we set aside until we are ready to deal with them: receipts, snail mail (which is mostly junk mail these days), Amazon deliveries (mine often end up on the dining room table). Even the multitude of photos on our cell phones — that might be a topic for another day!

 

But today, as promised, I'm addressing creators: specifically, watercolor artists.

 

Artists make lots of art.

You have stacks of finished watercolor paintings just waiting for a new home — now what? Here's what works for me...

 

 

Categorize and Protect.

An artist paints for a variety of reasons. Maybe you enjoy watercolor as a hobby, for mental or emotional well-being, just for fun — or maybe you hope to sell your work. First, let's decide the value of each painting:

• Practically a masterpiece: These paintings are stored unframed, with an acid-free foam core backing board in a clear protective sleeve, either on a display shelf, in a bin, or in a flat file drawer until ready to frame, sell or gift.
• Pretty good, but not award-winning: By cropping to preserve the best parts, these paintings might be made into original watercolor cards or artist trading cards (also kept in protective sleeves) until sold, sent, or traded. 
• Failed paintings: Whether overworked, or just plain bad, these paintings might be set aside for experimenting on later, or shredded to never be seen again!  

Every so often I reassess paintings that haven't sold. Maybe what I thought was a wonderful painting last year isn't that great after all. Originals in sleeves might become original notecards or trading cards.

 

The Exceptions.

I know several artists who keep watercolor sketchbooks which are in themselves works of art. These might be created for any of the reasons above, but also as a record of their travels, special occasions, or painting progress. A scrapbook or diary in paint, if you will.

 

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Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

 

~Pablo Picasso

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Storage.
Remember that watercolors are delicate, so be sure to store them away from sunlight, temperature swings and humidity, and always use acid-free packaging materials to ensure your artwork's longevity.

 

A flat file is ideal for storing unused watercolor paper (I buy full sheets in bulk to save money) as well as for keeping finished paintings, as shown below. I also rotate unframed originals on display shelves in my studio, or in easy-to-reach bins.

 

 

Inventory your art.

Yes, it really is a good idea to keep track of your paintings. I've written about the organization methods I use in an article entitled Inventory Your Art, which you may find helpful.

 

An inventory system can not only reveal your progress over the years, but you'll have a record of where your paintings are today — whether they've been sold, won awards, gifted, or destroyed.

 

I hope you've found some of these tips to be helpful in preserving your lovely artwork for generations to come!

 

Paint. Love. Repeat.