IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS
Many art collectors do not know that a watercolor painted with quality paints on 100% cotton paper is much more permanent than an oil painting on canvas. Because oil paintings are not protected with mats and glass, they will need to be periodically professionally cleaned to remove the buildup of dirt and grime, and professionally restored when cracks develop over time.
Because a professionally framed original watercolor should be matted with all 100% acid-free boards and papers, framed under special glass (or Plexiglas) that filters out UV rays, with an air-tight dust cover on the frame back, it is virtually impervious to dirt and fading of the colors.
You can look at the old watercolors in a museum to compare their overall quality over time to old oils on canvas, even though acid-free materials were not then available.
Many collectors feel that an oil painting on canvas is more valuable than a watercolor, but the permanence of an original fine art watercolor and the ease of care makes them equally desired and valued by knowledgeable collectors, who can expect to pay as much for a quality original watercolor as they would pay for a quality oil or acrylic on canvas of comparable size.
