This was probably my very first animal ‘portrait’ torn paper collage! I made it over twenty years ago and it’s spent most of that time hanging near a window in a brightly lit office. Considering the less-than-ideal environment where it’s spent its life, I’m actually pretty impressed that it still looks as good as it does.

Really though, I suppose the important thing is that it’s spent the last 20 years being enjoyed instead of stuffed in a dark corner somewhere!

All artwork will deteriorate over time, that’s just the nature of things. However, here is some advice on how to display your torn paper collage pieces in a way that will provide the longest period of enjoyment:

• The greatest danger is light, which will cause fading of the inks used in the magazines and catalogs that were used to create the piece.  Please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting.

• Due to the delicate surface texture, your torn paper collage artwork is best displayed framed under UV filtering glass with archival quality mats.

• Keep your artwork in conditions that feel comfortable to you—avoid storing the artwork in very hot places, such as an attic or garage. Also avoid very damp areas, like basements, which can lead to mold growth.

If you have any questions about how to best preserve or display your torn paper collage artwork, please don’t hesitate to contact me here or by email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m always happy to help!

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