Opinions Wanted Mounting a watercolor

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Bill C

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
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Jan 30, 2009
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North Jersey
Customer brought in a 40 X 60 watercolor on paper. You can tell its been sitting a while and became warped. Lots of hard lumpy spots.
Kicker is, she only wants to drymount it. I'm afraid its going to crease if I try. So any suggestions, or should I not even tackle it. Thanks.

Bill C
 
Puppiesonacid said:
thats a tough one. i wouldn't dry mount it myself. but the customer is always right :)
Click to expand...

I doubt the customer will see it that way if it ends up with a lot of ugly permanent creases where the wrinkles used to be.
 
do you have a steamer???

I would gently steam it..............and then put it between FC and add wieghts.............I would NOT drymount an original....EVER!
 
A long time ago I tried what Nicole suggests -- humidification and drying between weighted blotters. It did come out flat, but the wavy wrinkles were compressed into sharp creases, just as though I had dry mounted it. A 40x60 watercolor probably would have even more tendency to develop creases, as the larger sheet might have larger wrinkles.

We live and learn...sometimes the hard way.

If that watercolor is to be flattened, I would contract a conservator to do the work. For an original artwork -- irreplaceable, that is -- I would not attempt any permanent mounting or corrective action.
 
So the customer bought a large watercolor, and wants it to lay perfectly flat? Would she be happy with having a poster made of the watercolor?
 
YEp.....there is no possible way that the watercolor will ever lay completely flat.......you are NOT a magician!!!

I still would NEVER drymount it........:shrug:
 
Thanks for the quick responds guys. I'm going to pass on this, it looks to be more of a headache than anything else.
 
FramerDave said:
I doubt the customer will see it that way if it ends up with a lot of ugly permanent creases where the wrinkles used to be.
Click to expand...

i was joking... customers really don't know a whole lot about things like that, and they think they do.

i would never dry mount it. as far as im concerned turning it down is the best option. maybe they will go to a BB store and they will do it for her.
 
When the customer comes back in, lay a big piece of glass on top of her WC and show her how much it's buckled and no amount of weight will flatten it. (We had a 40x60 piece of 1/4 plate glass and used it frequently to show just this problem)

It's conservator time - run for the hills.
 
Lateral waves you can sometimes flatten. Bumps - forget it. All you will get is nasty sharp halfmoon creases. The paper needs to be relaxed all round, which probably means soaking it in water. Not a job to be undertaken lightly. As stated previously - Conservator.

Strong stuff paper. Once it's made it's mind up what shape it wants to be, it takes a lot of delicate persuasion to make it do otherwise. :icon11:
 
No way to the dry mount. Hopefully you can make them understand that what they are asking is not the right thing to do. Far more risks lie in the offing than they are aware of. Offer them options, (conservator or/other) and be willing to let it go if they refuse.
 
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