Question Permanance of writing

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AnneL

AnneL

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Joined
Jul 11, 2001
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Wautoma, WI USA
I have a shadowbox I'm working on that will include a hand written recipe on 2 index cards. It's written in pencil but the customer had concerns about the pencil possibly fading.

Would some kind of ink be more permanent? If so, what would be the best choice (ball point, sharpie, etc.)? I have the customer's permission to trace over the pencil.
 
Pencil doesn't fade.
 
:thumbsup:
 
You could also use India Ink if you want it darker. Make sure it is a true pigmented India Ink and not a fountain pen ink.
 
You could also scan and print them on acid free cardstock with a high quality Epson (or equivalent) printer. After scanning, you can edit them in photoshop to adjust contrast or darken/lighten.

Regards,
Troy
 
AnneL said:
...best mounting option for fake cookies made of cardboard and plaster. Toile or mylar?
Click to expand...

Since they are fake cookies I'd just glue them down using either Frank's Fabric Adhesive or Lascaux adhesive.

Never ever do this to the real thing though!!!

cookie-monster.jpg

 
graphite is permanent; you can never completely erase it. this is why artists sign their litho/prints in graphite
 
I've glued 2" diameter rocks to mat board with Lascaux adhesive. Hold's great! I've also used it to glue pieces of driftwood in a shadow box with no physical support and it's held up for about 5 years so far.

Haven't tried heavy stuff with Frank's.

When I first got my Lascaux adhesive I made up a board to test how much weight it could hold and what surfaces it could bond. I was surpirsed that it could hold up to about a pound with no problem. It also adhered to everything from metal to glass to cardboard, wood, marble, rocks, ceramics, plastics, fabric...

You do have to let it dry overnight and preferably with a bean bag weight on it.
 
I concur. Graphite Pencil is about the most permanent thing to write with.

Most felt-tip pen and ballpoint inks can fade in a few years. Non-blacks are by far the worst.

On my Fine Art Trade Guild certificate of 1985 vintage, the hand-written sigs have gone completely. Given that this organisation is the (self-appointed) arbiter of standards in the UK industry, I found this quite ironic. ;)
 
You could also use an acrylic gel medium.
 
Anne- you can get acrylic gel medium at any art supply store. It's very handy to have around for a multitude of purposes.
Caution: Heresy Alert... If the cookies aren't a conservation issue anyway,
you could use hot glue.
:cool: Rick
 
Anne - the problem is not only that the fake cookies are heavy but that they are being glued down to fabric matboard - there is always the possibility that the fabric will pull away from the matboard at some point in time unless the glue you use soaks through the fabric and into the matboard thoroughly.

I am afraid that hot glue and silicone might just sit on the surface of the fabric.

Sounds like an interesting project at any rate - be sure to post photos when you have completed the job!
 
You cut the layer of fabric off the mat before you glue. Figure where you want them to go and then cut a circle smaller than the cookie. I use an exacto knife and just cut deep enough to peel the fabric off. Now you have a surface that is quite conducive to gluing.
 
I doubt the cookies are a conservation issue since it looks like she made them with cardboard and some kind of plaster. I am concerned about them shedding though. I also have concerns about whether glue will stick to a mat with such a rough texture.

The nearest art supply store is M's and it's 40+ miles away.
 
Me too!

prospero said:
I concur. Graphite Pencil is about the most permanent thing to write with.

Most felt-tip pen and ballpoint inks can fade in a few years. Non-blacks are by far the worst.

On my Fine Art Trade Guild certificate of 1985 vintage, the hand-written sigs have gone completely. Given that this organisation is the (self-appointed) arbiter of standards in the UK industry, I found this quite ironic. ;)
Click to expand...

On my CPF certificate the signatures are all but gone -- kinda light brown scribble.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I got everything mounted down Monday and finished it up Tuesday. Stole some tulle from a long piece Gary uses for a background. It worked fine and looked great! Gave the cookies a little needed sparkle. I wanted them to be well secured. Can't risk having the cookies tossed! Plus I found out she made the fake cookies from cardboard and dry wall spackle, decorated with marker and bits of paper. I foresee shedding. Hopefully, though, with the tulle, if they crack it will hold the pieces together.
 
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