Opinions Wanted French Mats on artcare

[RoboFramer]

Nielsen brought out their 'Vellum' artcare range to take washes and I've had bad experiences as per what has happened in the photo below.

So - for a time I only did French Mats on alphaMOUNT artcare, that worked but gave me just two colors to choose from - plus I started to get the same problem as below on that at times.

So - decided, as I use artcare as default, to only do French mats on alphaRAG artcare and that has always been absolutely fine.

Up until now - this is the result - and it's a test piece on the back of an alpharag artcare mat - hence the overcuts etc.

The tiny spots are actually almost black and the brown spots are raised from the surface. I'm sure it will dry better, but not perfect.

Guess I need to use A.N.Other supplier for French Mats, but what's going on with Nielsen, they must have changed things, why?

Apols for carp photo!

 

[Joe B]

Hello John,
Just wanted to say your photo didn't come through. I would like to see the problem you are having. Thanks - Joe B

 

[RoboFramer]

You should see it now - it took an edit - I forgot to attach it first time!

 

[Maria Nucci Designs]

John,

I feel your pain. The vellum series is great for ruled lines because it's so smooth but has consistently produced speckled watercolor washes. I've written it off.

Use any of their Alpha Mount or Alpha Rag series. Rag mats, in general, from any manufacturer is the best choice, whether it's Bainbridge, Crescent, Rising etc.

That being said, there have been occasions when I get a speckling thing happening on any of the above mentioned boards. I imagine there are some fibers just under the surface that absorb the color more intensely causing the speckling. But they happen infrequently and I consider it a fluke.

So stay with solid rags from any manufacturer.

 

[imaluma]

Ick. That is really whack.

 

[wpfay]

The Bainbridge Vellums are real hit and miss. The only consistant color I've used successfully is the B8431V (Antique). As for the speckling, can you say Zeolites? That's my guess.

 

[Julie Walsh]

I use chalk pastel: scrape with a blade to produce a powder, can blend 'recipes' to keep for future. The reason why I like this is there is no introduction of water which can cause numerous problems. I use a foam applicator and ensure it is rubbed in well. Here's a pic of a recent one I did for an art conservator. (Every line was a different colour)

 

[Steven6095]

Julie:
That is beautiful!
Any good books out there on how to do this?

 

[danny boy]

Beautiful is right. Outstanding. Magnificent.

 

[Rick Granick]

Oooh, I like that design. What are you using for the color inks? How did you do the gold?
Rick

 

[RoboFramer]

So stay with solid rags from any manufacturer.

I was hoping you'd post Maria - thanks.

I'll get this pack returned & replaced hoping it's not going to be an ongoing problem, not least of all because all of my French Mat samples are on alpharag artcare.

 

[preservator]

The effect that shows up in the photo looks like what used to happened when a watercolor wash was attempted on rag board, as it existed in the "1970's", before it had much sizing.


Hugh

 

[Julie Walsh]

The book I referenced: Mat Cutting & Decoration Volume 2 see page 78 French Powder Panel.
I use Winsor Newton Gouache which is an opaque watercolour. I mix enough water to the consistency of 10% cream and load the ruling pen.

Gouache is available in imitation gold as well as many other colours. I tend to stick with CYMB primary colours. In order to match a second painting with the same french line design, I mixed other colours into the gold. (It helps to be an artist!)

I do all the lines first, let it dry, then tackle the wide panels. I have a wide roll of 811 tape that I use and cut out areas I want to colour wider than the ruling pen allows. Caution, don't x-acto a mitre through the tape in the corners; the pastel will darken in the fine line left behind (learned this the hard way!)

 

[Julie Walsh]

The matboard in the sample photo was on a Crescent board; the final was done on a vellum finish (no picture of it, but it did finish off with a smoother consistency)

 

[QuickDraw]

We discussed and practiced these techniques that Julie is recommending in Linda Wassells French Mat class at the Decor Show in Atlanta. A truly great resource. God I hope they keep these shows going!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jim Miller]

Traditional gouache in tubes may be easily intermixed with other colors. When white is required, use zinc white instead of permanent white; it mixes better.

The only drawback of traditional gouache is that it remains water soluble, and may smear or bleed if it gets accidentally wetted when a watercolor wash is being applied.

Acrylic gouache works in pens and brushes about the same way as traditional gouache, but it is waterproof when dry -- it will not smear or bleed. Unlike traditional gouache and waterdolor, acrylic gouache tends to rest on top of a paper surface instead of soaking into it, so it may be scraped away if a small mistake is made, such as over-running a line at a corner.

For subtle washes and gradient-color work, I prefer traditional watercolor and gouache, but acrylic gouache is best for lines. It often comes as a too-thick-for-penwork liquid in a dropper-bottle. It may be thinned with water, and intermixed with other acrylic gouache colors, but not with traditional gouache. My favorite brand is Dr. Ph Martin's Spectralite Airbrush Color.

 

[Rick Granick]

Jim, the Winsor Newton gold tube goache I use seems to provide the same scrape-ability for correcting minor errors.
I would like to try the acrylic goache you use. Does Martin have a nice gold you prefer? Silver?
Rick

 

[Jim Miller]

Spectralite #49K "Silver" and #54K "18 Carat Gold". Of course, it isn't real gold, but that's the name on the 1 oz. dropper bottle.

 

[Rick Granick]

Thank you, sir. I'll tell "the doctor" you said hello.
Rick

 

[RoboFramer]

I thought I'd wait before re-ordering in case all boards have this problem in Nielsen's current batch. Rang the customer and agreed a change in mat color - not much in it - to another alpharag I have had in stock for some time and know is fine.

Anyway - thought I'd attach the results - 3 v nice old watercolours, top and right are Tangiers, left is Frankfurt.

The wash panel that goes up to the bevel was done by cutting the aperture half an inch smaller than required, painting the panel and then cutting that half inch off when dry - otherwise you can get seepage under the bevel, esp on artcare!