The Framers Forum

Hello there,

I am new to framing and to the forum. I am looking for some experienced views and ideas please.

I have a new client with a large watercolour portrait 1.54x1.85m of her recently deceased father, which was skilfully painted by her 16yr old daughter. Not much monetary value in itself but huge sentimental value involved. The image is painted on a white background and the general colour scheme is pale pastel colours - predominantly greys, lilacs, browns and blues.

I am looking for general advice on how you might go about framing something that large. I am thinking glass is out and Perspex will be too flexible unless we go with something like 6mm? The frame will need to be pretty substantial to reduce flex and will probably need a subframe or some kind of bracing - but I'm open to suggestions on how best to protect and preserve this artwork.

I have yet to see the painting in the flesh (only photos so far), but I wanted to formulate some ideas before I meet the client and see the artwork, so any ideas on mounting/framing would be very gratefully received.

Thanks all, best regards

Dean
CASSONS art and framing
www.cassons.be

First thing - wait until you get a sight of the beast. The paper is a big factor. I'm thinking a sheet that size is likely to come off a roll. I'm also thinking it's going to be thin and creased/wavy/generally wappy. I very much doubt if the artist took a lot of trouble to prepare the paper.
Getting it something like flat is the first step. If the customer is expecting it to be flat as a pancake with no ripples, etc, best warn them that it's not likely to be. Unless you stuck it down. Who's got a press that size and finding a board to mount it on wouldn't be easy.....

I think all things considered I would close-frame it. No mounts/spacers. Use perspex directly onto the painting. That would allow you to use a hefty frame. Also, you could get away with 3mm perspex if you do this. Not pukka conservation framing to be sure, but doing it the 'proper' way would bunk the price up considerably. Think of all the oversize materials you would have to source and ship in.

many thanks for your thoughts Prospero. Currently looking for acrylic suppliers in Belgium/Netherlands and Germany who might be able to help!
cheers
Dean

Isn't bumping the price up a good thing?

I'd be looking at least 6mm acrylic and when I'd arrived at a price for the whole thing, I'd add at least 50% to it to try and scare them off! But at least if it didn't it'd be worth it

I once framed a pastel on paper, 5ft x 10ft with acrylic sheet. The art was done on paper from a roll. It was a medium weight paper. I simply hinged the paper to a mount board in the usual manner with wheat paste and mulberry paper hinges. There were minimal side hinges to hold the art in place since there were neither mats (mounts) nor spacers to hold down the edges. There was a 1" gap between the art and the acrylic. The frame moulding was hardwood with a double rabbit. Sorry, no pictures of the project since it was done prior to the digital age.

Yes, you need 6mm acrylic and a strainer behind the decorative frame for support.

JFeig wrote:there were neither mats (mounts) nor spacers to hold down the edges. There was a 1" gap between the art and the acrylic.

How did you get a 1" gap if you didn't use a mount or spacers?

I'd guess there was a spacer of some sort, just not one that held the artwork as it was float mounted.

the frame was double rebated.

Thanks for the advice.

JFeig - sorry to sound thick but what's a double rabbit?

Cheers

Dean

double rebate

rabbit/rabett = rebate in U.S. speak.

Brilliant, that made me chuckle!

Thanks again...will let you know how I get on in a couple of weeks.

Dean