Framing a watercolour involves carefully securing the artwork behind glass and matting, ensuring it's protected and displayed attractively. Here's a breakdown of the process:
Preparing Your Watercolour for Framing
Before you begin, ensure your watercolour painting is completely dry. This is crucial to prevent smudging or sticking to the glass.
Understanding Overlap
When mounting your artwork, a crucial step involves a slight overlap to secure the paper within the frame.
- Standard Overlap: Generally, a small overlap of about ⅛ inch on all sides is used for most artwork to prevent it from falling through the mat opening.
- Watercolor Paper Overlap: Because watercolor paper tends to wave, a larger overlap, around ¼ inch to ⅜ inch on all sides, is recommended to secure the painting properly behind the mat and prevent it from shifting.
Assembling the Frame
- Choose a Frame and Mat: Select a frame that complements your artwork and a mat that provides adequate spacing. A mat not only enhances the presentation but also prevents the artwork from touching the glass.
- Clean the Glass: Ensure the glass is clean and free of any smudges or dust. Use a lint-free cloth and glass cleaner.
- Position the Artwork: Carefully place your watercolour painting behind the mat, ensuring the overlap is consistent on all sides.
- Secure the Artwork: Use archival-quality tape to secure the artwork to the back of the mat. This prevents it from shifting.
- Note: Avoid using regular tape that can yellow and damage the paper over time.
- Assemble the Frame: Place the mat and artwork assembly into the frame.
- Add Backing and Secure: Add the frame backing and secure it with the provided tabs or nails.
- Final Check: Do a final check to make sure everything is secure and that the artwork looks centered and properly positioned.
Why Proper Framing is Important
- Protection: Framing protects your delicate watercolour painting from dust, moisture, and physical damage.
- Presentation: A well-framed artwork is more appealing and enjoyable to look at.
- Preservation: Using archival-quality materials helps to ensure your artwork lasts for years to come.
Key Considerations
- UV Protection: Consider using UV-protective glass or acrylic to protect your watercolor from fading due to sunlight.
- Archival Materials: Always use acid-free mats, backing boards, and tapes to prevent damage to the painting.
- Professional Framing: If you're unsure about framing yourself, consult a professional framer for advice and assistance.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Prepare Artwork | Ensure the painting is completely dry. |
| 2. Choose Frame/Mat | Select a frame and mat that complement your artwork. |
| 3. Clean Glass | Make sure the glass is clean and dust-free. |
| 4. Position Artwork | Place the artwork behind the mat, accounting for the required overlap (¼ inch to ⅜ inch on all sides). |
| 5. Secure Artwork | Tape the artwork to the back of the mat using archival-quality tape. |
| 6. Assemble Frame | Insert the mat and artwork assembly into the frame. |
| 7. Add Backing/Secure | Place the frame backing and secure it. |
| 8. Final Check | Ensure the artwork is centered and secure. |
