Painting on bark

[Susan May]

I have a painting that is on the inner bark of a Rainforest tree. I need to frame it. The problem is that it is not only SO thin that you can see through it, but it is no longer flat. How do I mount this?

Can I use a wheat paste?
(I tried Mylar, and it was too shiney.)


Oh... It is due tomorrow. :D

[Lance E]

I had a similar problem about three years ago according the search. My decision was to use hinges under heavier areas of paint etc and put it all into a deep (shadow boxed) frame with it floated foward a little.

[Kit]

Since I started reading the Grumble, I've become a believer in static mounts.

I even went to the party supply store and purchased an inflatable static electricity generator. They come in many pretty colors.

It sounds like this piece of bark is not very heavy, so static might hold it.

Kit

[Rick Bergeron - CPF]

I can tell you what will ruin your whole day...

In our pre-novice days, we took in a piece of artwork on rainforest bark. It looked like any other piece of bark and we had no reason to think otherwise. NOT!!

We put it in the heat press between 2 sheets of rag mat to flatten it out a bit and it stuck to both mats. It was almost like the bark was the best subsitute for fusion4000 we had ever seen.
It appeared to be saturated with an adhesive that was EXTREMELY sensitive to heat and moisture.

If I had to do it over, I'd test with a corner with a tack iron and release paper and then proceed accordingly. I'd make sure it was placed on the finished mounting board prior to flattening and covered with release paper... then heat it to flatten and mount simultaneously. And I'd make sure to check it every 5 seconds or so.

[Jana]

Kit, I've read a little about static mounts, but I still don't understand how it works. Doesn't the static go away if the weather is damp? Please tell me how you go about this and how it holds up over time. Thanks.

[Kit]

Jana, I'm hardly an expert on static mounts; all I know about the subject is what I've read here on the Grumble.

I have mounted three pieces this way and so far, they seem to be staying where they were put. If I get through the summer without having them come back to the shop, I'll be a true believer.

Kit

[preservator]

Static might work, but this is not made of plastic
as Cibachromes are and it may not hold a charge
for as long as they seem to be able to do. Hinges
made of light weight Japanese tissue that are
adhered with microdots of paste should probably
provide enough support, without distorting the
bark.

Hugh