Our framing guide covers the basics of hanging a pencil portrait. This post goes a step further into the question people often ask after their drawing arrives: “Will it smudge? Should I spray it?” It also covers storing unframed sketches, moving house with artwork, and caring for older drawings in the family.

Why graphite smudges

Graphite doesn’t soak into paper like ink. It sits on the surface as tiny flakes caught in the paper fibres. Rubbing those flakes moves them, leaving a grey smear. Soft grades like 6B and 8B are more prone to it than hard grades, because they leave more loose material on the surface. That’s why dark, rich areas of a portrait, such as pupils, black fur and deep shadows, need the most care.

Once the drawing is behind glass with a mat, the risk is essentially gone. The danger zones are the time between finishing and framing, and any time the drawing is out of its frame.

What fixative is

Fixative is a spray, usually an aerosol, that coats the drawing with a very thin layer of resin. It binds loose particles so they’re less likely to move. There are two broad kinds:

  • Workable fixative: applied during drawing, so the artist can keep adding layers on top. It also restores some tooth to saturated areas.
  • Final fixative: applied once at the end for protection. Some are labelled with UV protection or as non-yellowing.

The pros and cons

For fixative

  • Reduces smudging during handling and shipping
  • Particularly useful for charcoal and pastel, which are much more powdery than graphite
  • Can let an artist build more layers

Against fixative

  • Can slightly darken graphite and reduce subtle contrast
  • Can change the sheen of the surface
  • Uneven application can leave spots or blotches
  • Can’t be undone

Because of these trade-offs, artists disagree. Some always fix graphite; many don’t, relying on protective sheets and framing instead. Neither choice is wrong. It depends on the drawing, the paper and the artist’s experience.

Should you spray it yourself?

No. If your portrait wasn’t fixed and you’re worried, ask the artist first. Spraying is permanent, and the wrong product, distance or humidity can spoil the drawing. Common household substitutes that people try, like hairspray, are not made for artwork and can yellow or leave a sticky residue over time. If a drawing will go straight into a frame with a mat, it doesn’t need fixing at all.

Storing unframed sketches

If you keep drawings unframed, whether a commissioned piece waiting for a frame or a collection of sketches, follow these guidelines:

  • Interleave: place a sheet of glassine or acid-free tissue over each drawing. Glassine is smooth and doesn’t pick up graphite.
  • Store flat: in an archival folder, portfolio or box. Rolling can crack the surface and causes curling.
  • Don’t stack loose sheets directly on top of each other. Graphite can transfer between pages.
  • Avoid plastic sleeves that aren’t labelled archival. Some plastics release chemicals, and many trap moisture.
  • Keep them in a stable room, not an attic, garage or basement where temperature and humidity swing.

Moving house with framed artwork

  • Wrap framed pieces in a clean blanket or bubble wrap, bubbles facing outward so they don’t imprint on the frame.
  • Put a cross of masking tape on large panes of glass. If it breaks, the shards are held together. (Tape on the outside of the glass only.)
  • Transport frames upright, like books on a shelf, not flat with things piled on top.
  • Use corner protectors for the frame edges.
  • Unpack them soon. Don’t leave them in a hot car or a damp storage unit.

Shipping a drawing yourself

If you ever need to send an original drawing to someone:

  • Cover the surface with glassine.
  • Sandwich it between two rigid boards larger than the drawing.
  • Tape the boards together so nothing slides.
  • Use a rigid, flat mailer and mark it “Do not bend”.
  • For framed pieces, remove the glass or protect it heavily, since glass is the most common thing to break in transit.

Caring for older family drawings

If you’ve inherited old sketches, perhaps a portrait of a great-grandparent, they may show yellowing, brown spots or brittle edges. Don’t try to clean or flatten them yourself. Store them flat and interleaved, out of light, and consult a paper conservator if they’re valuable to you. Re-framing old drawings with acid-free materials can slow further damage significantly.

Signs to watch for in a framed drawing

  • Brown line along the mat edge: acidic mat board. Replace it with acid-free board.
  • Small brown spots (foxing): often humidity-related. Move to a drier spot.
  • Waviness: humidity changes, or the drawing is taped too tightly. A framer can re-hinge it.
  • Ghost image on the glass: the drawing is touching the glass. Add a mat or spacers.
  • Condensation inside the glass: the frame is on a cold or damp wall. Move it right away.

Everyday handling habits

A few simple habits prevent most damage: wash and dry your hands before touching an unframed drawing, hold it by the margins, never slide one sheet across another, and put a clean sheet of paper under your hand if you ever need to sign or write on the back. Keep drinks well away from your work table, too.

Summary

Graphite is permanent and lightfast but sits on the paper’s surface, so it can smudge until it’s protected. Fixative is optional and best left to the artist. The real protection is simple: handle drawings by the edges, store them flat with glassine, frame them with a mat and acid-free materials, and keep them in a stable, dry room. Do that, and a pencil portrait will stay as crisp as the day it was finished.