SOMA Artisan's Guild: June 2010

Brian's Top Tip :

To save money, try and use standard sizes frames which can be bought at many home decorating stores like Target or arts and crafts stores, such as Jerry's or Michaels

Don't forget : Guild members get 10% off at Jerry's in West Orange!

Measuring

When measuring your work for matting, leave at least a 1/8" border around the work to allow it to lay flat behind the mat
Leaving less of a margin will run the risk of the art work popping through the mat window

Be aware of this when creating 3D work, or when signing your work
If you are framing your own work, consider signing it after you have matted the piece to ensure your signature i in the right place.
If you are taking it to a framer, make sure your signature is at least 3/8" - 1/2" from either side of the work

Mat Cutting

If you are going to cut your own mats, work out the margins you need and then measure in from the outside edge of the mat
- touch up any mistakes with a razor
- press firmly on the ruler to keep the mat from moving whilst you cut (ask a friend to help hold the ruler)
- use a fresh sharp blade

Mat cutters can cost from $20 - $300 - always read the instructions that come with them

Try and get the most out of your large sheet of mat board
To eliminate waste, try using these templates for common sizes

Assembly

For backing use foam core board, available from good arts and crafts stores

If you are framing something precious or unique like original art, always use acid free archival materials to protect the work

To attach your picture to the mat, you can use
- clear plastic photo corners : good for photos, or paper with square corners
- acid free framers tape : good for thicker watercolor paper, or work with an irregular edge
- to preserve the raw edge, consider floating the work without a mat (see below)

Place 2 temporary strips of blue painters tape help you position your work within the mat window

Once you are happy with the position, replace the blue tape with acid free framers tape
Place 2 tape hinges at the top corners of your picture to attach it to the mat.
Then lay a long length of tape across the top of both hinges, to strengthen them

No Duct Tape, no cellotape, no blue painters tape!

Framing

Clean the glass!
and then clean it again
don't forget to clean BOTH sides

To remove small particles of dust
- use a soft dusting brush
- Q-tips
- small handheld vac
- compressed air can

Place the glass on the table, pick up the mat, art and backing sandwich as one unit and place them face down on the glass
Then transfer the whole package into the frame

Floating Art

To preserve an insteresting edge, such as the raw edge of a watercolor paper you can float the work on a backing mat and eliminate the window mat

To keep the glass in the frame, use a couple of spots of hot glue, or buy a special deep shadow box
To keep the art from touching the glass, make strips of packing the exact size of the frame
you can use
- foam core
- mat board
- wood
- pre-made plastic strips

Dry Mounting is another way of attaching work to a backing board.
This is good for photographs, posters and memorabilia
(Ann Vollum is selling hers at a very reasonable price!)
email her at annvollum@verizon.net for details

Backing

Add a brown craft paper back to the frame to add extra protection against dust and to keep the frame looking neat
Run strips of double sided tape around the edge of the frame
Place a large piece of paper on top and press to stick
Crease the edge of the paper along the frame edge and trim to size
There is a special tool to do this, but a ruler and knife work just as well

Wiring

Avoid using the sawtooth hangers that come with many frames, they are rarely strong enough
Use D hooks, or eye hooks and wire

Place the hook 1/3 of the way from the top of the frame, making sure they are an even distance from the edge of the frame
Loop the wire through the D hook twice, then wind the excess along the main wire like a noose

Recycling Frames

Use spray paint to jazz up a boring frame from a sale or a to give a damaged frame new life
Touch up Frame Markers can be used to conceal scratches in wood frames

thanks for all your tips Brian!