A drawing slips neatly into a folder. A papier-mâché dragon, a cereal-box castle or a four-foot painting of the family does not. These pieces are often the most loved, and the hardest to keep. Here is a practical approach.
The golden rule: photograph first, decide later
Before you do anything else, capture the piece. A good set of photos means you can release the real thing without losing it, and it makes the decision less stressful.
How to photograph 3D art
- Plain background. A sheet of white or grey card behind and beneath the model keeps attention on it.
- Soft daylight. Place it near a window, not in direct sun. Avoid flash.
- Several angles. Take the front, both sides, and one from slightly above. Four pictures usually tell the whole story.
- Add scale. One picture with your child holding or beside it shows how big it was.
- Get close. Fill the frame and keep the phone steady.
- Photograph the maker too. A picture of your child proudly holding the model is often the one you will treasure most.
Keep the pictures with the child's name, the date and what they said about it. More tips in our photography guide.
How to keep very large paintings
A giant painting is hard to store. You have a few options:
- Photograph it whole, stepping back until the whole sheet fits in the frame. For a very large piece, a straight-on photo from a distance is fine.
- Photograph details. Close-ups of the best parts make lovely pictures in their own right.
- Keep a section. Cut out the best part and mount or frame it, then recycle the rest.
- Roll it loosely. If you keep the whole thing, roll it with the painted side outward around a wide tube, and store it somewhere dry.
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How to store the 3D pieces you keep
- Small and sturdy: wrap in acid-free tissue and store in a box.
- Fragile: keep in a rigid box with padding, or in a clear display box on a high shelf.
- Air-dry clay: it is brittle. Handle it gently and store it where it will not be knocked.
- Anything with glue, glitter or food: photograph it and consider letting it go, as these age and attract pests.
Give it a send-off
For many children, the goodbye matters as much as the keepsake. Display the model for a few weeks, then let your child decide: keep it, photograph it again, or retire it with a small ceremony. Making the decision with them teaches them that things can be loved and then released.
Turn it into something else
- Wrapping paper. A big painting wraps several gifts.
- Cards. Cut a favourite section into a set of cards.
- A print of the photo. Put the best photograph into a frame. A framed picture of the dragon is easier to live with than the dragon.
- A page in the yearly book. Include 3D pieces alongside the drawings in your artwork book.
A sensible limit
Choose one or two 3D pieces a year to keep, and photograph the rest. It keeps your shelves clear, and it keeps the pieces you do keep special.
Materials and how long they last
| Material | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Air-dry clay | Brittle and can crack; keep it in a padded box |
| Salt dough | Absorbs moisture and can go soft or mouldy; seal it with varnish and keep it dry |
| Papier-mâché | Fairly sturdy but attracts damp; keep it somewhere dry |
| Cardboard models | Fade and bend; photograph and recycle |
| Pasta and food collage | Attracts pests and breaks; photograph, then let it go |
| Painted wood or stones | Very durable; a good keeper |
Photographing for a lasting record
For models you would like to remember, a little care repays you.
- Photograph the model on a plain surface, with the best angle first.
- Add a second shot with a coin or a hand for scale.
- Take one close-up of the detail your child is proudest of.
- Include a photo of the child with it, which often becomes the favourite.
- Keep the photos with the child's description of what it is.
When the original is a gift
If the piece was made for someone, let them keep it and photograph it first. Recipients treasure these, and the photo means your child still has the memory.
When to recycle
It is fine to let go of anything that is falling apart, mouldy, or was mostly made in a single class and never mentioned again. Do it gently, with a photo and a few words, and move on.
The "one a year" rule
Choose one special 3D piece per child per year to keep, and give it a proper place on a shelf or in a box. It makes it special rather than an overwhelming pile of models.
Questions people ask
How do I photograph a 3D model?
Put it on a plain background in soft daylight and take pictures from three or four angles: the front, both sides and slightly above. Include one shot with your child holding it for scale.
How can I store a very big painting?
Photograph it first. If you keep it, store it flat or loosely rolled with the painted side outward, in a dry place. Many families keep just a section.
What can I do with 3D art I cannot keep?
Photograph it, let your child say goodbye, and recycle the parts. Some families display a model for a few weeks first, then retire it with a small ceremony.
