Question for Art Collectors.

[Asa]

I recently purchased lots of art off of ebay. I won't be able to put them in frames just yet. Any ideas on the best way to store them. I thought about a portfolio, but some else told me not to store it in plastic. Help and ideas would be appreciated.:D
I too decided to change to my first name.

[Mike Cross]

Neil or Michael or Gary or Morna might know better..i have the majority of mine in one of those portfolio dealies from anthonysnyder.com..fairly heavy duty and look snice.

[dogboy443]

Keep it flat, you can temporarily store it with acid free paper acting as a slip-sheet in between the pieces. Avoid direct sunlight, some of the colored artwork will fade due to sunlight. If you take care of it, it should alright until it can be formally matted and framed.

[Nick W]

These are a must have whether you're framing or not.

http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/19/

N

[Jake Capps]

Thanks Nick! These will come in real handy.

[Neil Hill]

I recently purchased lots of art off of ebay. I won't be able to put them in frames just yet. Any ideas on the best way to store them. I thought about a portfolio, but some else told me not to store it in plastic. Help and ideas would be appreciated.:D

I keep my non-framed artwork in those 13"x19" ITOYA plastic portfolio's, and they seem to work just wonderfully.

Also, I have an IKEA flat file storage unit (sorry, no UPC number or other identifier- just do a search if you're curious what they are or look like) to store the portfolios in. I absolutely love this thing and highly recommend to any art collector picking one up!

[morna]

These are a must have whether you're framing or not.

http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/19/

N

yup that's what we have and it's what Petersen uses (I copied him)


http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/mornagary/portfolio.jpg

[hellboyone]

Itoyas are great. I wait for sales at my local art supply store to buy 'em.

[Asa]

Thanks for all the ideas.:cool: I have architectural flat files I use for all my
Dress designs. and I will get my self a portfolio, acid free paper, and store the rest in there too.:D

[Neil Hill]

yup that's what we have and it's what Petersen uses (I copied him)


http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/mornagary/portfolio.jpg

*DROOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL*

*Sorry for including the picture in my reply, but this 'effect' is meaningless w/out the corresponding reference.

[Todd H]

Being completely inexperienced in the original art department I was wondering, what size is your average original panel? Is there an industry standard or does it very from artist to artist/ company to company?

I'm intending to grab a few original pages in the upcoming year and want to know if I could get one of the smaller sizes in portfolio for storage purposes. I don't have a ton of room so I'd want to go as small as possible.

Of course the book is flat and doesn't take up much room itself.

[Ken O]

I keep mine safely under the parrot cage....

[chiaroscuros]

Comic art paper/board comes in many sizes. Most art done in the last 20 years is "modern size" which varies from 11" to 11 1/2" wide and about 14" to 15" long. So the 13" X 19" Itoya binder is definately big enough. Sadly 11" x 17" usually isn't...

Older pages (12 cent comics) are "twice-up" and are about 15" x 20". But once in a while, newer artists like to draw big. Mignola did Cosmic Odyssey in "twice up" format. And Mike has been known to use non-standard paper with room on the side for sketching and thumbnails drawings, like in Almost Colossus or slightly oversized paper like in Conquorer Worm. So having a binder with a little extra room is a good thing.

Itoya is "archival quality" with acid free black paper as spacers. The only worry is that the plastic will off-gass a little. But this is the standard storage system everyone uses...

I have seen Neil's Ikea unit and it is exactly the right size to hold these binders. Plus it has wheels that let you roll it around your office. But anyone that can fill up all the drawers with full binders of art may have an obsession... :)

[fitzroy]

I tend to go with origami, they look pretty whilst waiting to show them off

[chiaroscuros]

Architectural flat files are slowly going out of fashion in architect offices. They are also insanely expensive to buy new ($600 and up). So anyone that wants one should take the time to search for used ones. Plus the older ones are extremely heavy duty steel that can withstand a bomb blast. The newer ones are thin steel and flimsy.

Most cities have auctions where they sell off city property (and practically give away unpopular things like these flat files). Universities also sell off stuff like this.

And you might try used office furniture stores, but flat files are so specialized that you probably won't have any luck.

Or you can try calling around local architecture offices. It might take a lot of calls (since architects are packrats) but someone might have some collecting dust and will give them away if you are willing to haul them off....


Lastly, I always wrap a plastic garbage bag around the contents in each drawer. Water is the biggest killer and one overflooding tub or broken pipe could wipe out your entire collection.

[chiaroscuros]

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30104322

from Ikea, the ALEX drawer unit on casters $119.00


if you are going to put it under your parrot cage, make sure you laminate it first. and then you can use it as a coaster or feed your baby off of it!

[Jankenstein]

Although they're a bit on the expensive side, there are also mylar sleeves that fit original comic book art as well.

[chiaroscuros]

Although they're a bit on the expensive side, there are also mylar sleeves that fit original comic book art as well.

not compared to the art :)

[Rachel Edidin]

For material I'm planning to frame in the near future, I use a rigid cardboard portfolio-style envelope. Not the most secure means of storage, and I wouldn't use it for anything long-term or super-fragile, but it's a good stopgap. It's also tight enough that I can store it vertically without bending corners--important in a small apartment.

Architect / archival flat filing cabinets are both expensive and huge--if you're not storing several books' worth of art, I wouldn't think they'd be worth the trouble and expense. The ones we have are also much larger than a standard comic-book page, so there's likely to be a fair amount of wasted space / slipped stacks.

[Gary_B]

I came across this option (http://www.gigposters.com/forums/anything-goes/46307-pax-system-ikea.html) while searching for something else.

[Maija]

Yeah I certainly wouldn't have space for a metal flat filing cabinet. All of my artwork (comic and otherwise) is stored in large artist portfolio cases, with sheets of acid free paper between them.

Although the IKEA cabinet is a much more convenient size, a note of caution: fiberboard off-gasses. It's probably okay if the stuff inside of it is protected within portfolios, but it's not ideal for archiving.

[Ken O]

The best storing option is to send the artwork to me. PM me for the address you need to mail it to. Then promptly forget you ever sent it to me, because if I like it you'll never get it back.

[Asa]

The best storing option is to send the artwork to me. PM me for the address you need to mail it to. Then promptly forget you ever sent it to me, because if I like it you'll never get it back.
You can paypall first right?:D

[Neil Hill]

Although the IKEA cabinet is a much more convenient size, a note of caution: fiberboard off-gasses. It's probably okay if the stuff inside of it is protected within portfolios, but it's not ideal for archiving.

For those of us who are more than what I would consider the casual art collector, these smaller IKEA cabinets are a god send. Granted, I really only have two drawers of a 6 drawer cabinet full of art, I have room to expand and in the mean time can store books and other things in their.

Of course whatever you do, it's best to make sure the art is kept out of direct sunlight, is out of the way (from possible bending, folding, nicks, or other damage potential), and is stored away from acidic papers and such. The rest, well, that's really up the individual collector.

[Rachel Edidin]

I've just discovered that TFAW carries self-sealing 12x18 mylar bags. I didn't see these on the mail order site, so it's of limited use if you're not in Portland or LA, but I was excited. :)

[patrick r]

I've just discovered that TFAW carries self-sealing 12x18 mylar bags. I didn't see these on the mail order site, so it's of limited use if you're not in Portland or LA, but I was excited. :)And if anyone needs these let me know and I can pick some up next time I stop in at the store.

[Rachel Edidin]

And if anyone needs these let me know and I can pick some up next time I stop in at the store.

They come in BIG packs--50 or 60, I think--so the most sensible thing to do might involve splitting one up (unless you have a LOT of art to archive, in which case I'm also jealous of you :p ).

[Asa]

I have in my possesion, original pictures, and framed work from aerospace enginering on the lunar landing from grumman. I have about 12 framed artwork, and others that got damaged over time. I could use the mylar bags to help preserve them for many more years. Do They come bigger?

[patrick r]

(unless you have a LOT of art to archive, in which case I'm also jealous of you :p ). Not me. :( Come on lotto.

[Neil Hill]

Not me. :( Come on lotto.

Perserverance, being in the right place at the right time, and patience are the key, Petriacce. Sorry if this comes across as didactic, but it's true that chipping away little by little at that great art collection is better than waiting for some windfall and then buying in bulk.

I realize your statement was made entirely in jest, but I feel it's true that many are waiting on collecting art because they feel it's way more expensive than they could ever afford. Just save up and purchase a piece or two a year, and over time you'll have a bee-otchin collection!

[Mike Cross]

Basically what i did, and still do..i get those guys whose art i always liked, though some big popular artists are beyond me pricewise