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599 NINTH STREET NORTH SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
ASK THE ARTSPERTS HOW TO PROTECT ARTWORK ON PAPER AND NOT HAVE REFLECTION www.harmonmeek.com

by Juliana Meek and Kristine Meek
Dear Artsperts:
We’ve just moved into a condo facing
the beach and we love having the view and
the sunlight, but worry about damaging our
artwork that’s on paper (watercolors and
pastels) and we don’t like the reflection. Is
there anything we can do?
Signed,
Blinded by the light

Dear Blinded,
I have great news for you; there is a
solution to your problem! The latest in
acrylic glass is called Optium Acrylic
Glazing, a product by TruVue (www.tru-vue.
com). Unlike regular acrylic (often called
Plexiglas), Optium Acrylic is UV protected,
anti-reflective and anti-static. All acrylics
reflection on the one on the right and also note the one on the left looks to not be covered at all.
are lightweight and abrasion-resistant.
Since regular acrylic creates static that pulls pastel and charcoal from the paper, glass has always
Optium Acrylic is not cheap and not
been required to exhibit these static-sensitive pieces. Optium Acrylic is 2000 times less static than
easily available. Most frame shops in town
regular acrylic and ideal for exhibiting pastels.
can special order a piece for you and Gregory
Glass is also twice as heavy as Optium Acrylic and will scratch and shatter. Optium Acrylic is
Frame Shop at 3rd Avenue North in Old
abrasion resistant – you can take a piece of steel wool to it and it will not mark – though at such a
Naples keeps Optium Acrylic in stock. A
high price I wouldn’t recommend testing it! This makes it easier for shipping a work as it doesn’t
two-by-three-foot sheet of Optium Acrylic
require film or glass skin protection when shipping a work.
will cost about four times as much as
The product is ideal for works that are 40” x 60” or smaller, for shadow boxes, and any artwork
Museum Glass. But if you have an expensive
that would benefit from reflection-free viewing. It also provides 93 percent UV protection – the
or important work, it is worth the price.
highest protection today.
TruVue coats both sides of the acrylic
Cleaning Optium Acrylic is easy with ammonia-free cleaner and a soft cloth. Given that all
sheet with anti-reflection coating; the result
the works in the art collection at the Loos Gallery at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
is a protected work that doesn’t look like it is
are protected in Optium Acrylic (all the Optium has been donated), the staff at C’MON can
behind any protection. Note the difference
attest to the durability and easy cleaning nature of Optium. They can also tell you how the kids
in the two works on paper photographed
go right up to the paintings – putting their noses to the glass since they don’t see that there is any
here. The work on the left is a work by
protection.
Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso and is protected
Now you can enjoy both the setting sun and your artwork!
with the Optium Acrylic; the work on the Sincerely,
right is a pastel by Richard Segalman and is
The Artsperts
behind regular glass. See the difference in
Left: “At left is a mixed media on paper by Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso protected in Optium Acrylic and on the right is a pastel by Richard Segalman protected with regular glass.
Both photographs were taken from the same location but there is no reflection on the one protected with the Optium Acrylic. “Homage to Angelica Kauffman” by Gabriela
Gonzalez Dellosso, mixed media on paper, 18 ½” x 14 ½”, 2016
Right: “December Dressing Room” by Richard Segalman, pastel, 30” x 22”, 2013