Mount a large pastel paper in a frame

jess3857

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Hello.

I just started painting bigger pieces, and I painted a pastel on a 20x26 or so inch paper that has uneven, handmade-looking edges that I like the look of and so want to leave uncovered. I need to frame it and can only think I should mount it to a mat or something for a larger frame like 24x36 using lineco or similar. Will that support this size paper? It is shizen pastel paper, not sanded.
 
Welcome to the G

For a float mount, I usually use the 'Hedgehog' method (do a search for that). However, for a pastel that is near impossible especially on a paper with little tooth. You might be able to put the pastel facedown but you would have to rework it a little bit after probably.
This method would be fully and easily reversible.

Then I would float a second mat above it (use at least one layer of foamboard, but two might be more appropriate). This helps keep the glass away from the pastel and also creates a channel for the pastel dust to fall into so it won't be as noticeable.

The frame size you want to use seems a bit out of proportion, leaving you with 2 inch borders on the width, and 5 inch borders on top and bottom.

I always frame pastels with mats in the color of the pastel and do reversed bevels. All to hide the pastel dust better.
 
Wow, just looked it up, that is so neat. Framing is kind of intriguing. When you say it's near impossible are you referring to the smudging? I'd probably just put glassine underneath to help. Yes you're right about the proportion, perhaps I can find a 24x30. I may attempt your idea after a little more thinking. Thank you so much for responding
 
If you want the pastel to be dead flat then I would drymount the paper to matboard before working on it. with a deckle edge
it would need to have the board slightly smaller than the paper. I would use drymount Film and pre-mount the film (with the
release paper still on the topside) to the board. You can avoid the edges getting pushed down by slipping a few scrap pieces
under the edges to support them. This way makes alignment of the paper easier. Once mounted and the drawing done it's
simple to Hedgehog the piece. You can either have it 'proud' or cut a window in a surrounding board so so the piece drops
in the hole and the edges sit close to the surrounding board. This way it's easy to tape the piece from the back and no hinging.
If you don't drymount it it will likely never stay flat but in that case treat it as a 3D object and use deep spacers (10mm+).
This can look quite good. 😁
 
The magic of talking to professional picture framers is that they are not constrained with standard size frames. The esthetics of having uniform borders is a better idea. You need the breathing room around (this is sometimes called negative space) what is created to show it off to its best. A border of only 2" in an item the size of your art is rather narrow vs a 2" mat on a standard 8x10 photo. Place your art on a table and measure various widths to see how wider widths look. Use your artistic eye to see the difference between a "squeezed" vs "open to breath" presentation looks like.
FYI your art is not very large in the scheme of things. I know an artist that I framed pieces up to 96" x 60". It was a collage of "Star Trek" characters that she had created for a movie studio presentation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-kabrin-232b1b6/
 
Yes, because of smudging it would be a huge challenge to do a hedgehog mount. Instead of glassine, I would use blank newspaper paper (lol). I don't spray my pastels, but do press them. I use paper with a lot more tooth, which also allows better layering.

I agree that a 2" mat is very skimpy on that size and won't look good.
Are you keeping an eye on budget, because of selling price? I advise a lot of artists that it is better to not frame at all versus putting it in a horrible frame/mat combo. It devalues your art. For a pastel that approach is riskier, as you cannot put it in a plastic bag.

Good luck!
 
I advise a lot of artists that it is better to not frame at all versus putting it in a horrible frame/mat combo. It devalues your art.

Yes. I've been doing that for years and sometimes they even heed my advice. It's sad when some do quite
competent work that is saleable but they think if it's in a 'frame' then it's framed. An artwork needs a frame
that works and presents the art to best advantage. I often tell them that if they put a decent frame around
their work they can charge x3 as much. 😁
 
If you want the pastel to be dead flat then I would drymount the paper to matboard before working on it. with a deckle edge
it would need to have the board slightly smaller than the paper. I would use drymount Film and pre-mount the film (with the
release paper still on the topside) to the board. You can avoid the edges getting pushed down by slipping a few scrap pieces
under the edges to support them. This way makes alignment of the paper easier. Once mounted and the drawing done it's
simple to Hedgehog the piece. You can either have it 'proud' or cut a window in a surrounding board so so the piece drops
in the hole and the edges sit close to the surrounding board. This way it's easy to tape the piece from the back and no hinging.
If you don't drymount it it will likely never stay flat but in that case treat it as a 3D object and use deep spacers (10mm+).
This can look quite good. 😁
Thank you, this helps a lot!
 
If you want the pastel to be dead flat then I would drymount the paper to matboard before working on it. with a deckle edge
it would need to have the board slightly smaller than the paper. I would use drymount Film and pre-mount the film (with the
release paper still on the topside) to the board. You can avoid the edges getting pushed down by slipping a few scrap pieces
under the edges to support them. This way makes alignment of the paper easier. Once mounted and the drawing done it's
simple to Hedgehog the piece. You can either have it 'proud' or cut a window in a surrounding board so so the piece drops
in the hole and the edges sit close to the surrounding board. This way it's easy to tape the piece from the back and no hinging.
If you don't drymount it it will likely never stay flat but in that case treat it as a 3D object and use deep spacers (10mm+).
This can look quite good. 😁
The magic of talking to professional picture framers is that they are not constrained with standard size frames. The esthetics of having uniform borders is a better idea. You need the breathing room around (this is sometimes called negative space) what is created to show it off to its best. A border of only 2" in an item the size of your art is rather narrow vs a 2" mat on a standard 8x10 photo. Place your art on a table and measure various widths to see how wider widths look. Use your artistic eye to see the difference between a "squeezed" vs "open to breath" presentation looks like.
FYI your art is not very large in the scheme of things. I know an artist that I framed pieces up to 96" x 60". It was a collage of "Star Trek" characters that she had created for a movie studio presentation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-kabrin-232b1b6/
That's a good point about bigger borders for bigger art. Due to my day job I've painted a lot of tiny art up until now so didn't think of that. Thanks for thinking of the aesthetics!
 
Yes, because of smudging it would be a huge challenge to do a hedgehog mount. Instead of glassine, I would use blank newspaper paper (lol). I don't spray my pastels, but do press them. I use paper with a lot more tooth, which also allows better layering.

I agree that a 2" mat is very skimpy on that size and won't look good.
Are you keeping an eye on budget, because of selling price? I advise a lot of artists that it is better to not frame at all versus putting it in a horrible frame/mat combo. It devalues your art. For a pastel that approach is riskier, as you cannot put it in a plastic bag.

Good luck!
I usually use toothy paper as well but was experimenting :D Yes, keeping an eye on budget and will price check the products you all have mentioned as I make my decision. I just had to prepare 15 artworks for an exhibit and learned a ton and also realized how much I don't know about framing. Now that the stress of framing them all is over I am rather a little fascinated with all the framing info, I did get an engineering degree even though I ended up being an artist instead so maybe that is why! You guys know a lot! Thank you
 
Feel free to ask questions any time! Yes, there is a lot to framing than just building a frame. Learn as much as you can.
Being the artist, you can do things that we framers are not allowed to when original art comes in.

You can also consider having a framer do part of the framing. I sell open back frames to artists. It's less expensive and most of the artists know enough about hinging art and fitting into frame.
 
That's a good point about bigger borders for bigger art. Due to my day job I've painted a lot of tiny art up until now so didn't think of that. Thanks for thinking of the aesthetics!

Mat margins are not straightforward. Typically the smaller the art the wider the margin in relation. There is no magic formula.
A lot of factors are involved. I once saw some tiny (postage stamp sized) oriental paintings on ivory matted in something
approaching a half-a-sheet size. They were hung in a Museum though, on a huge blank wall. If they had small mat they wouldn't
have had so much impact. And, they would look like light switches...😄

I tend to start with my 'default' width which is about 3" and increase/decrease accordingly. But if I had an image that was twice the
size I wouldn't use a margin twice as wide. A large image has more 'presence' and doesn't need a huge mat to visually isolate
it from it's surroundings.

In the end you have to go with your instinct. 😉
 
Planning your artistic process with the forethought of how you want to display the artwork will go a long way to making things simpler.

Methods such as the suggestion above of preparing your art paper mounting before you even start applying the medium solves the "problem" before hand.

The fact that you are open to learning that framing is not just an afterthought to the creative process, but can be an integral aspect to artistic expression will serve you well in your future artistic endeavours.
 
Planning your artistic process with the forethought of how you want to display the artwork will go a long way to making things simpler.

Methods such as the suggestion above of preparing your art paper mounting before you even start applying the medium solves the "problem" before hand.

The fact that you are open to learning that framing is not just an afterthought to the creative process, but can be an integral aspect to artistic expression will serve you well in your future artistic endeavours.
Thank you. Yes, I made some irreversible mistakes this time throughout the whole process of painting and framing for this exhibition and will definitely be thinking of the end of the process in the beginning going forward.
 
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