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A daft question but I'm sure someone will help
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Message
Posted
I'm sure this sounds daft but when you have painted a watercolour and want to show the paintings, what do I do with the back of the painting after it's in its mount? I don't intend to frame them but do I stick a sheet of paper over the back or what??? I hope you understand what I mean and any help will be gratefully received.
Posted
It is not daft at all, Margaret!
When I am not intendet to frame my pictures, I put them flat in a box (larger than the mount) with an even large sheet of white paper loose in between the different works!
If I want to show them, I put them in the see through plastic bags where the mount was packed in when I bought it
Also, I learned from a professional framer that you should never attach your painting all around onto the mount. He just used 3 or 4 cm large masking tape at the upper side of the painting, halve on the painting and halve on the mount. This because watercolour or any other paper (because of the humidity in the air) is always expanding a little bit. So your painting could after a while be all cocled in the mount.
I hope this was of any help to you :) Mia Ketels
Edited
by MiaKetels
Posted
You asked about unframed but mounted - well I use a sheet of mountboard (to give it a professional look) - this is attached to the mounted painting with double sided tape . You can use a lighter weight board or even heavy quality paper and I have even seen them on sale with no backing at all. The choice is yours but to do your work justice I would strongly recommend some form of backing sheet. On the backing sheet I also add a sticker giving the title, medium etc along with my own contact details. The whole thing is then wrapped in clear cellophane.
Posted
NO, it's not a daft question at all, whether I am framing the work or not I always cut a backboard and attach it to the mount at the top edge, sort of creating a hinged envelope if you like. I then position my painting under the window and attach the work on the top edge to the backboard, never to the mount itself, makes a nice neat and sturdy job.
Posted
Picking up on Mia's point, the way I do it the painting is effectively sandwiched between the mount and the backing board being actually fixed to the reverse of the mount.. On the question of cockling this may be the case in damp houses but with central heating etc it's something I've never come across. However I have seen tape dry up and lose it adhesiveness with the painting dropping in the frame so I do use tape on both top and bottom as an added precaution..
I see Alan has a different approach so it's really a matter of personal preference.
Posted
After not painting or drawing for a few months, I started slowly by making sketches with water-soluble but not lightfast markers and gave them a clear water-wash. I didn't bother that there were not lightfast because (being over 70), I don't know what will happen with my drawings and paintings when I am not longer there (I am not depressive!!!!). I just put them in a large box and because I don't intend to have an exhibition on the coming months or selling any work, I save them as a challenge to paint them in watercolour during the winter.
But, I don't think I will mount them.
So, keep looking out for me, I am still there!! :) Mia
http://www.painters-online.co.uk/artist/MiaKetels