THIS ISSUE PAGES
John Shotter on Framing Watercolours
John Shotter Demonstration Meeting May 2008 Photo: TAS Editor
John frames his own work and as well as giving his tips on watercolour painting, he gave some very useful framing advice at the May 2008 meeting.
1. Choosing the frame and mount, before doing the painting, gives better results. Take time to try different mount and frame combinations.
2. A fairly wide mount in champagne white suits most subjects. John uses a white Bockingford not paper.
3. Effective devices to prevent the painting appear to blend with the mount include:
(1)a gold line drawn on the mount(2) a darker inner mount(3) a slip frame (wooden strip) between two mounts.
4. The signature should be a part of the painting i.e. ideally only one tone different from the backgound.
5. Fixing the painting to the mount: apply photo corners to the painting to hold it in the correct position behind the mount. Editor's Tip:check the effect in a mirror. Attach the top of the painting to the back of the mount with a 2 inch pre-gummed paper strip (no sellotape or masking tape!).
6. Clean the glass very thoroughly with a glass-cleaning spray and cloth and when it is dry fit it into the frame with the painting attached to the mount. A cushioning piece of card goes between the painting and the back of the picture. DOUBLE-CHECK THE GLASS AND MOUNT FOR IMPERFECTIONS.
Editor's Tip: Before sealing the back if the frame, remove the glass and take a photo of your framed painting on the same level and in bright daylight. No reflection from the glass this way!
7. Secure the backing board using flexipoints and use gummed paper tape (Two Saints sell rolls at just over £3) or specialist silicon adhesive tape to seal around the backing board (no masking tape, sellotape or plastic tape). It should be well pressed down and trimmed using a ruler and knife. This will keep out pests such as the paper fly.
8. Screw D-rings for the cord one third of the way down the frame from the top on both sides of the frame.
9. Using a piece of picture cord one and a half widths of the frame, loop one end down into a D-ring and bring the ends back to tie a knot on top of the cord. Twist the cord and pull it taut before securing it through the other D-ring.
10. Wind strips of plastic tape around the knots and ends of the cord so that they are completely covered. All TAS exhibition paintings must be prepared in this way.
11. Turn the painting towards you and lightly shake it to check that the glass does not move in the frame.
Editor's Tip: Frames are easily scratched and dented. I cut up old cardboard packets and fit them around the corners of the frame before enclosing the frame in bubble-wrap.
