Silk Painters International - SPIN

 

When silk painters get together, one topic of conversation is always sunlight and its potential effects on their work. Remember your high school physics class? UV or Ultraviolet Rays are the waves on the high energy end of the light spectrum that can cause fading. These light rays are invisible. Do we need to worry? What methods can silk artists use to protect their work?

One of the main ways to protect your paintings is to block the UV rays from impinging on your paintings. This is often done using conservation glass which has a coating that blocks the UV rays. Conservation glass is used for many modern buildings to control heat, so for silk paintings hung in buildings with conservation windows, UV should be no concern. Another option is to frame the painting using conservation glass, or Museum glass. Both will block the UV rays and protect the silk painting from fading.

 

 

More information: Silkworm vol. 14 no. 1, Silkworm vol. 14 no. 2