The Framers Forum

Hi, I’ve had a request to frame an oil on paper painting, the main issue is the artist has raised features on the painting that are up to approx 5-6mm from the surface of the paper, and these raised parts are at the very edge of the painting aswell.

I’ve never had to secure a painting onto a backboard of any type, I’ve mainly done photos and prints, with this painting costing £600, I’m nervous about causing damage.

What products and techniques would be recommended to do this?

Thanks in advance for any help.

The first rule of a professional picture framer is not to experiment on a clients work.
With that said, I think that you could mount that painting onto a smaller piece of rag mount board with hinges and then mount the, 2 layer package, to a backing board.

I would use the Hedgehog technique for this.
https://www.lionpic.co.uk/content/infos ... y-2019.pdf

Agreed! The hedgehog technique is a no brainer. it quick and easy and only uses one layer of mountboard, cost efective too.

If you're nervous about causing damage then take your time, don't use any self adhesive tapes, make sure they're white acid free gummed tapes or better. Get some powder free nitrile gloves to wear. As well as protecting the work, I find that they're a good reminder that I'm dealing with a valuable piece!
Practice the hedgehog a few times on a small practice piece. You'll need a roll of polyproplene film to cut small strips from. Once you get the hang of it, it'll be your go-to floating technique!

Yes that's true and it never fails to impress the customers as well. I use the hedge hog technique quite a lot and it works well.

Yup.

Obviously no glass on this framing project so it very much depends on the quality of the paper upon which the oil paint has been applied. How flat is the finished painting? I’m not quite seeing how the hedgehog method will work where there will be no mount or backing mount showing?. You can’t have board exposed when no glass is involved? Seems to me to be a case where a slip would be of use to make sure the raised elements of the applied paint remain below the frame moulding. I would consider wheat starch hinging the paper onto a conservation board and build the frame around this.

Why obviously no glass Fitz? It may be an oil but it's on paper which would require glass imo. By hedgehog/floating on board with space between the work and the frame those raised painted edges won't be in contact with anything so will remain undamaged. He'll need spacers to keep it away from the glass.
I'm really confused by your reply, can you elaborate?

I was thinking that with oil paint it would be best without glass dependant on the quality of the paper it’s been painted on. Often oil paintings are not best displayed or viewed behind glass as something can be lost in the texture etc of the finished painting. However I bow to better experience and knowledge. I personally have never framed an oil painting behind glass in my long 4 years of professional framing.

If it is being float mounted using the hedge hog method, it would make sense to glaze it with glass to keep the mountboard from becoming grubby.

Thank you for all your replies, I will go with the hedgehog method, and the client asked for it to be glazed, so will do as asked and glaze it with spacers to keep the painting away from glass. Looking forward to learning this new technique.
If the very edges of the painting are not perfectly flat, what’s the best way to flatten out? I’m nervous about all the raised painted bits if I use weights on top of a board or something.