To seal... or not to seal? That is the question!

And it pops up with great regularity in the ACEO ~ Art Cards Editions and Originals group (and other ACEO groups) here on eBay. (For more information on ACEOs in general, including "What is an ACEO?", please refer to my other guides.)

I recently gathered information from other ACEO artists to help me write this guide, and what I learned is that the opinions on sealants, fixatives and finishes are as varied as the mediums and the artists themselves! My goal is to provide you with enough information to make your own good decision about whether or not to seal your ACEO art cards, so let's start with some Pros and Cons. (Cons first, because they really are important considerations.)

NOTE: For the duration of this guide, I may refer to all fixatives, sealants and finishes as SEALANTS.)

CONS:

1. It is entirely possible to ruin art by using the wrong (or even any) sealant. Some sealants will negatively effect color, cause running, or they yellow over time. It is critical to understand your medium and your sealing products before applying a sealant.

2. Fraud alert! Alas, sad but true... there are people out there who use a coat of sealant to hide the fact that what they are selling is actually a print. This, however, does not mean that all artists who use sealants are frauds! It just means that the buyer should beware. Check out the artists from whom you buy via feedback. If in doubt, ask the artist if and why a sealant was used on a particular piece. And when the art arrives, check it out carefully!

PROS:

1. Protection! Some people feel that ACEOs aren't handled any more than other art, or even less than other art, because most ACEOs are protected in penny sleeves (info in my other guides). My experience has been that the small, portable size of the art, the ease with which it can be changed in and out of displays, and the eagerness of friends to pull it out of the sleeves to study it more closely is an argument in favor of some kind of sealant for some mediums. Some mediums need more protecting than others. For example, I seal pencil/graphite and pastel art with a light coat of Krylon matte finish spray for protection. I seal my mixed media collage pieces with either a gloss or matte varnish or finish like Modge Podge. Other mediums, I'm less worried about.

2. Protection, again! Any art that is exposed to the air (in open frames, for example) should be protected with a sealant.

3. Visual impact! A sealant can make colors more vibrant! When I use Prismacolor markers, I love a glossy finish. I spray the finished art with the Krylon matte finishing spray, let it dry, and then apply a very light coat of non-yellowing acrylic varnish. The colors POP! And you can create a nice texture with the varnish, too.

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It is most important for a new ACEO artist to understand that sealants are not mandatory!

This is a common misconception. The best advice I can give is for the artist to offer sealing as an option for the buyer. Let the buyer decide! OR, if using a sealant , be specific in the auction description about why and what method and type of sealant was used. (Example: "For protection and to make colors pop, I used a light coat of non-yellowing varnish to seal this card.")

I would not recommend ever using a sealant on a watercolor painting, or on a watercolor and ink painting, or on an ink drawing. It isn't necessary, and it's risky! And, personally, I feel watercolors and inks are best viewed au natural.

Many artists do use a fixative on pencil/graphite and pastel drawings to prevent smudging. I do this myself. It's just better safe than sorry, I think. I've seen pastels smudge even while in the penny sleeve! I use Krylon matte finish, very lightly. (Always do a test squirt of the spray to get a feeling for how fast and thick it will come out of the can!)

Shelly, a member in the ACEO ~ Art Cards Editions and Originals group, mentioned the problem of colored pencil art suffering from wax blooming, making the colors go a little milky. She has found that Krylon Workable Fixative, which she knew worked well with graphite, was a great solution! She says that it doesn't cause blooming and intensifies the colors. (Thank you, Shelly!)

Art created with art markers (like Prismacolor) becomes so vibrant with a coat of glossy varnish. I love it! So I spray lightly with a matte finishing spray, let it dry completely, then either sponge or bristle brush on a very light coat of varnish (non-yellowing acrylic). If I'm going for extra texture, too, I might add a second light layer of varnish with a brush. (This is the method frauds will use on prints of paintings, so you know what to look for if you buy an ACEO painting.) I only use this method on art marker art or on my collages, unless a buyer requests a sealant.

I generally don't seal acrylic paintings, but other artists do and have recommended Liquitex Gloss Varnish. Another artist said the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to seal her paintings is with a polyurethane spray that she picks up at her local dollar store. She indicate that she's never had an issue with discoloration or yellowing in over 13 years.

I don't work in oils, so can't offer personal experience, but other artists have recommended a product called Liquin. Advice is not to varnish an oil painting until it has dried for six months. As a collector, I've received oil painting ACEOs that are both varnished and unvarnished. I can't say that I have a preference either way, as each has it's charm. Extra color pop and gloss with varnish, or just left natural. I welcome input from oil painters! Please email with your recommendations.

About oils -- added September 11, 2007:  The following information came from eBay member Kaleidoscope2:  "Linquin is a medium. I never heard of it used as a varnish. Oils should be coated with Damar varnish after six months of drying time." She also added: "Once an oil painting is dry to the touch, you can just spray it with Retouch Varnish to help bring out the colors." 

I do seal altered art, mixed media collaged ACEOs for durability, protection and visual effect. My choice of sealants vary. I have used Modge-Podge (matte and glossy), varnish (non-yellowing glossy), and an acrylic varnish with a very fine glittery sparkle to it. Another artist, Kelly, recommends for collage and other small items a product called Judikins Diamond Glaze, which is a rubber stamping product described as a dimensional glaze. "It really does add depth and zing to anything," Kelly wrote. "I've never seen it in a store. I've always bought it on line." She recommends you Google the product name if you're interested in learning more and possibly purchasing it.

THE LAMINATION QUESTION

For ACEOs, lamination seems to be frowned upon. It may certainly be offered as an option, but otherwise should be avoided. Although some people don't seem to mind, most of the responses I've read indicate that lamination is not a desired option of the majority of artists and collectors, and is better saved for things like bookmarks.

IN CLOSING

It appears that the best response to the "To seal or not to seal?" question is... leave it up to your buyer, unless you have an artistic reason for sealing your art. If you do seal, detail this in your auction listing. The more information you provide to a buyer, the happier that buyer will be with the art work he or she purchases.

Thank You!

To the members of the ACEO ~ Art Cards Editions and Originals group who are always ready to help me with these guides. You are all the best!!!

Feedback Welcome!

If you have any questions about this guide, input or suggestions, please don't hesitate to email me. My intention is to edit, revise and expand as needed!

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