Anyone Decorating Mats---Again?

MerpsMom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Well, not for the second time in one day. I meant does anyone do any of the things we did in the '90s like powder panels or painted panels ala Brian Wolf, etc.? with MatMagic and paints.

I attended a class by Sandy Haas last week and thought it might be fun to do some of it again since I'm boring myself to death with some workups. Companies have done a good job on textured mats but these extras added to plain ones seemed like deja vu. Fabric is fine but does seem to lack the teeny varoom which could help me stop seeing plain. (?) What occasioned the thought was a Papal Blessing I'm framing. They're all alike: Pope's picture, calligraphy verbiage, gold borders with flowers, etc. Needs something else.
 
Italian Lines.

Kind of like French lines..

Line with Duo, let dry then leaf.

or Line with the Embossing glue, powder, then heat gun. Calligraphed flowers are nice too.
 
How about gessoing and gilding some 8 ply bevels or making one of those deep beveled mat fillets with the calligraphy like Baer made?
 
Never really stopped, though I don't use the Mat Magic stuff so much any more. It's appropriate for vintage biological or botanical prints, and for documents such as a Papal blessing (just did one, but low budget kept the embellishment to a couple of simple gold ruled lines).
I never really got into the decorative fabric mats...usually just whites and off-whites, but I really like what can be done with subtle use of watercolor panels and ruled lines.
 
I haven't done it in years. I used to love to do it but never got so it wasn't very labor intensive. I could kill a whole day doing a mat. I've only used the powders and the papers. Is there and good written instruction out there on water color panels? I'd like to try that.
 
Kathy, I was taught to ink your border lines then paint the panel with disteled water first, then put the watercolor wash on. Wetting the panel allow the w/c to lay on smooth & evenly. Adding the panel is easy.
 
As Dave suggested, lines that are made with
thinned acrylic paint in a GOOD ruling pen,
will be water proof; allowing you to wash the
panel with clear water and then with a dilute
gouache wash (for more even coverage). This makes
for a good success ration, since the lines (where
all the mistakes are made) go first. For more
on this, see PFM for this April.

Hugh
 
Thanks Dave and Hugh! I will check the PFM. I am assuming that I am looking for a thin transparent wash? Seems that experimenting will be required. I can do it. I spent a lot of time learning to draw the lines, I think I had lefthanditis, but once I got it and a non sliding ruler it was fun. I can only remember sponging colors in the panels, but that was like 10 years ago.

In fact, my Michael's certificate proving I was a bon-a-fide certified Michael's framer that I was oh so proud of(she said facetiously) I took the time to whip up a beautiful mat with all the panels. I took it down a couple months later because people kept wanting a mat "like that". What was I thinking? I quickly replace it with a nice double mat and fillet.
 
French lined mats are a staple of my shop. Only problem is it takes time to master the skill. The profit on these mats can be plentiful though. Provided that you don't mess up your mat in the process, there is almost no overhead (except your time of course). If you are in a congested market it is also a service that can help you set yourself appart from the other shops in the area.
 
It sounds like this is something that many of us would like to see a class offered on at the Las Vegas show in January!
 
I am another who has never stopped doing these mats.

I am in the habit of doing the panels first because sometimes I like the more muted look of watercolor ruled lines, as well. I will also dip the tip of my brush into ox gall before the watercolor for the panel- this keeps it flowing nice; smooth and even the whole way.

Cathie, I have great fun experimenting with this type of decoration. There are many variations that never manage to look 'over the top'- they always look understated and elegant.

I use them on antique prints for a very traditional look, I especially like to experiment with 'outlandish' colors on black and white prints.

But I also like them on color and black and white digital family prints.

I have added a bit of iridescent medium to a panel, used washed panels on textured mats to play up that texture and inked lines through panels (once they're dry.)

My new favorite is to have a series of lines and panels near the opening and then wash the remainder of the mat in some muted tone. This gives the mat a nifty aged look that I have not seen elsewhere.

Lately, I have also been playing with milky pastel washed panels on those fabulous dark earthy green and brown solid core mats. Yummy! They have been very popluar with customers, as well.

A couple of tips to start you out: Get good brushes and use them ONLY for your mats. I have to hide mine! Get brushes that correspond to the width of panels you are likely to use. I have flat watercolor brushes in 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and one inch widths. One pass'll do, then.

Any type of paint will work. I mix gouache with watercolor with tempera and will add acrylic paint or medium to make it permanent.

Batch 'em. Once you have the brushes in hand and the cups of water handy, it doesn't take much longer to do ten than it does to do two.

Make lots of samples! It's the only way to sell them. I can't tell you how many times I've been told to "do it just like that one," or better yet, "do whatever you want."

When I do panels, by the way, I will always start with a very watered down color. Sometimes a very faintly colored panel is 'just the ticket,' if it's not enough, however, it is very easy to simply brush another layer. And another...

It does take time to get the feel for it, but not that long. If you can hold a brush in your hand, you can do it.

A Papal blessing would be a natural for this kind of treatment- and here's your excuse to add some gold metallic ink to your paintbox.

Let us know where this inspiration takes you!

edie the watercolorundermyfingernails goddess
 
My word, I just got back to this thread. You are indeed inspiring, Edie. Want you should teach a class!

Just because of reading this, I did two gold ink lines on a couple of old photos. Pretty kindergarten stuff, but in pawing through the box to find the ruling pen, I discovered nine bottles of MatMagic inks. Serendipitous, for sure. Three or four golds, a bronze, black, grey, maroon, what-all.

Thanx for the reply: you've kicked me into the right direction.


Cathie
 
I use watercolor from the tube diluted enough to flow for my lines, then dilute it again with distilled water until it looks like tea for the wash. I make one pass with just plain water and a bit of sugar for the wash, then go ahead with the color.
 
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