Representational Oil Paintings &  Fine   Art Prints in the Classical Tradition
 
                     

© Kay Witherspoon, all rights reserved  ●  9760 Mayfair St., Studio B  ●  Englewood, CO 80112  USA
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FRAMING ART 
FRAMING
And Caring for Your Artwork 

"Without the proper frame, the artist loses 100 per cent" - Edouard Manet

•• Original artwork should be matted with Acid-freeconservation matboard 
•• Artwork should not be hung in direct sunlight as fading could occur over a period of time. You could consider using conservation glass or UV filtering Acrylic if direct sunlight is going to be a factor. 
•• Be careful not to hang artwork in a room with that will have constant temperature fluctuation or where humidity is high •• Dry or wet mounting valuable artwork will diminish the value. 
•• Glass attracts moisture and therefore can cause the artwork to stick to the glass or create water stains. Matting should be used between the work and the glass to provide an airspace. 
•• Finished frames should be sealed with paper on the back of the frame to keep out dust particles.
Framing Terms and Definitions 

•• Clear Glass - Traditionally, this in the most common glass used in picture framing.
•• Non-Glare Glass - This type of glass reduces the reflection on the glass, often seen with clear glass. This glass should be used only when glare is going to be a big problem as non-glare glass will sometimes distort the art image.
•• Reflection Control Glass - This is a very high-grade quality of non-glare glass and creates less distortion to the image.
•• Conservation Glass - This glass is coated with material to filter out the ultra-violet light that causes fading in your matted artwork. Anti-Reflective - A premium glass that does not allow reflection. It is often known as 'Invisible Glass'.

Differences in Mat-board
•• Paper Pulp Mat - This is the lest expensive of all mat-board. It contains acid, with should not be used for valued pieces of artwork. This type of mat-board will discolor your paper.
•• Alpha Cellulose Mat - This conservation mat-board is made of paper, and it's usage is recommended for fine art prints.
•• Rag Mat - This mat-board is also acid free, conservation mat-board.

* TIP - Don't be fooled by the words "acid-free". Look for 'conservation' or 'museum quality' mat-boards. Some paper pulp mat-boards 'say' acid-free, but in some cases the core of the board contains acids. That may be fine for posters but should never be used to frame valuable artwork.
Framing


The following guidelines reflect current practices at the National Gallery in Washington:

•• Never use masking tape to hinge art to the backing or mat.
Masking tape contains damaging chemicals and was designed for temporary usage only. (House painters use it to mark an area that will not be painted). DO use a water soluble, acid free tape.
•• Use only two hinges at the top of the artwork.
Never tape all four sides of the art to the mat or backing. Paper is 6 percent water: it must have space to expand and contract with changes in humidity. If confined on all sides, the art will wrinkle excessively from expansion and never lay flat.
The two hinges should not be placed across the corners. Corners are weak spots and may rip or tear. Hinging four corners instead of two is not better.
•• Do not use self adhesive tapes for hinging artwork.
They contain many harmful chemicals which can damage the art.
•• Never use corrugated board for backing. Acid free corrugated board may be used behind matboard for support
•• Do not use ball point pen to mark mats. Ball point pen may bleed into art and cause permanent damage. Even pencil marks should be erased before coming in contact with art.
•• o not use saw-tooth hangers.
They are not strong enough to support the weight of a frame safely. They do not allow enough air to circulate between the wall and the framed piece. This is particularly important in areas of high humidity.
•• Art, glazing, matting and backing need to be properly sized in a frame.
A small amount of space needs to be added for expansion and contraction from changes in humidity. Glass can break from its own pressure trying to expand in too small a space. Backing and matting will buckle. A frame can be forced apart at the corners from pressure of materials inside.
•• Consider yourself a professional and treat your work with respect.
Use the best materials you can afford. It should look professional in its presentation, not battered and shop worn. It should look like it will stay together and be attractive to hang on someone's wall. Proper framing will pay off in increased sales.


* For beautiful custom framing name plates we recommend:  http://www.thenamemaker.com/