Material Care Guide

Always handle with clean, dry hands to protect painted surfaces.

Dust gently with a soft microfiber cloth or a clean artist’s brush.

Keep away from prolonged direct sunlight, heat, and moisture, which can fade or weaken paint.

For deeper cleaning, lightly wipe with a barely damp cloth (water only), then dry immediately with a soft cloth.

Never use solvents, alcohol, abrasive pads, or household cleaners, which can damage or strip the finish.

Display in a stable environment, avoiding extreme humidity or temperature shifts.

Handle sculpture with gloves. Hands may leave oily fingerprints which will become difficult to remove. 

Apply rubbing alcohol using a micro-fiber cloth.

Another option is to wipe down your sculpture with 3 and 1 tool oil.  This, however, requires consistency when applying to maintain a uniform appearance. 

Never use the following on anodized aluminum: window sprays, kitchen scouring compounds, solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, or lacquer thinner.

Acrylic is easy to care for and just a few simple rules will keep it shining like new.

To wash, use a dishwashing liquid and plenty of lukewarm water.  A soft, clean cloth and light pressure will do the trick. 

Rinse with clear water and blot dry with a clean damp chamois.  

For surfaces that are excessively dirty, rinse surface dirt off before washing.

Never use window sprays, kitchen scouring compounds, or solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, or lacquer thinner on acrylic.

To clean your crystal trophy, spray a small amount of ammonia glass cleaner on a soft, lint-free cloth and gently rub it across the surface. Continue doing this until you've covered every square inch. When you are finished, go back over the surface of your trophy with a clean cloth to remove any excess moisture.

Dust regularly with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.

For deeper cleaning, lightly dampen a cloth with water and immediately dry with a clean towel.

To preserve the natural finish, occasionally apply a small amount of high-quality furniture polish, buffing gently with a soft cloth.

Keep the award away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and high humidity, which can cause fading, warping, or cracking.

Never use abrasive pads, harsh chemicals, or excess water on the wood surface.

Pewter sculptures can be cleaned by dusting or wiping with Windex. Harsher cleaners may damage the surface of your award. Always handle your award with two hands and lift from the base.

Over time your bronze sculpture may tarnish due to natural and environmental conditions.

When polishing your sculpture, use any automotive metal polish or Wenol and follow the provided instructions.

In general, outdoor pieces should be maintained two to four times a year and indoor pieces once or twice a year.

Bronze, like most metals wants to oxidize with time.  Just as steel rusts, bronze will darken or turn green depending on its environment.  With regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your patina for many years.  Maintenance should consist of cleaning and re-waxing.  Location and climate conditions will determine how often maintenance will be required. 

Use a CLEAR paste wax like “Renaissance Wax”, “Johnson Paste Wax”, or “Natural Minwax Paste Finishing Wax”.  An over application of wax can leave a white residue on the sculpture.

Using a round pastry brush or a paintbrush, stipple a THIN even layer of wax on the bronze.  Lightly wipe off excess wax with a soft cloth.  Let wax dry to a matte finish (about 10 minutes).  Buff with a clean cloth to bring out the luster of the bronze.

With outdoor sculptures, whether you want your sculpture to age naturally or wish to preserve the original patina, you should keep the piece clean and free of dirt.  Avoid water from sprinklers or elsewhere when possible.  The first step in caring for your sculpture is keeping it clean.  Wipe clean and soft, dry rag, then allow the sculpture to air dry completely before moving on.

Never use any type of cleanser or solvent to clean your bronze sculpture.