How to Preserve Pencil Drawings and Illustrations

Learn how to preserve and store your pencil drawings

After spending many hours focusing in your pencil drawing, you need to think about protecting it so that it stays in the best possible condition for as long as possible. Whether you are planning to hang it up or you wish to store it away and display it later, there are steps and recommendations that you must follow so that your illustrations and drawings stay in pristine condition.

How to preserve pencil drawings and illustrations

If you want your pencil drawings and illustrations to be kept in excellent condition for a long time, follow this set of professional recommendations for taking care of them.

- Parchment paper

This translucent waxy paper is one of your best allies when it comes to preserving your graphite drawings. Although parchment paper is the optimal choice—the graphite will keep better in place—you can also put a white sheet of paper on the drawing to protect it.

- Keep it flat

Keeping your drawings flat (rather than in a vertical position) will prevent the corners from rolling and the paper from wrinkling or behaving in a way that could ruin the drawing.

- Fixative

In spray format, this product protects drawings made on paper and prevents the graphite from moving and staining on contact with skin or other surfaces. You can use matte or shiny finishes of fixative, according to your needs or preference. Fixatives also protect your work from sunlight when they are hung up, and prevent graphite from losing its color.

How to apply fixatives

Make sure you use these in an outside space or a well-ventilated area. Vaporize the liquid 30 cm away from the drawing, then let it dry and apply two more layers, following the same process.

You may also like:

- Don't miss our pencil drawing courses.
- The Art of Sketching: Transform Your Doodles into Art, a course by Mattias Adolfsson.
- Realistic Portrait with Graphite Pencil, a course by Diego Catalan Amilivia.