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Picture Framing and Art Preservation/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| framing textiles | 2/2/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have a vintage quilt "square" and a heavy coarsely woven feed sack stamped with family name on it ... A: Sorry I'm so late answering--I didn't get the notification! You can and should mat and frame both ... | ||
| Mounting | 2/2/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: what is the best way to mount a vintage RCA record without damage to this item. We are using ... A: I can think of 2 good options that require no glue or other damage to the record: The first is to ... | ||
| mounting large drawings -- suggestions. | 2/2/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I've been making some large-scale drawings that use a variety of media -- pen, watercolor, pencil, ... A: I have been racking my brain all day about this and I think I've concluded that I don't know enough ... | ||
| Portfolio Presentation. | 2/1/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have to present a portfolio to a group of people for an interview for a photography degree. My ... A: I would not recommend lamination as the extra plastic can interfere with viewers' ability to clearly ... | ||
| preserving unframed limited edition prints | 1/29/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have many limited edition prints that were framed and matted in the 70's. I know they need to be ... A: Probably the cheapest way, which is coincidentally the easiest to store, is to purchase 2 sheets of ... | ||
| Framing a 3-dimensional collage | 1/22/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have purchased a charming piece of collage art from a fellow-artist who is an illustrator. It is ... A: You are most welcome! To see a t-hinge in action, try this link: ... | ||
| Framing a 3-dimensional collage | 1/21/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have purchased a charming piece of collage art from a fellow-artist who is an illustrator. It is ... A: I like your plans so far. I would use foamcore backing on this, to add stiffness without adding ... | ||
| collage on canvas | 1/17/2012 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I am doing a commission collage on canvas (not canvas board). It is 2'x4' horizontal. Do I need to ... A: There are many factors that affect the longevity of artwork, so it's very difficult to give a ... | ||
| floater frames | 1/17/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I want to mount a cradled art board to a floater frame and was wondering how to attach it. Also, I ... A: You're welcome. I don't think you'd need more than one coat of the gesso to seal. It really ... | ||
| 3 vintage blue prints & patent | 1/15/2012 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: My husband's grandfather patented a mechanical device in the 1930s, and we'd like to frame and ... A: Well these are obviously important pieces of your family’s history, and I’m glad you are so ... | ||
| floater frames | 1/12/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I want to mount a cradled art board to a floater frame and was wondering how to attach it. Also, I ... A: (I am assuming you are mounting the photos to the smooth face of the cradled art board, and am also ... | ||
| How to frame picture that goes to edge | 1/7/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: For Christmas our daughter and her husband had two photos put on 12x16 canvas. One of our grandson ... A: Yes, there is a way you can frame them so the edges show, it won't look exactly like there are mats ... | ||
| Attaching Squash Blossom Necklace to Shadow Box Frame | 1/4/2012 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have several squash blossom necklaces (Native American Jewelry) that belonged to my mother. I want ... A: You can tack them down to the backing using sewing thread or clear transite (fishing line). I would ... | ||
| Cleaning - Displaying - Peserving "MONEY" | 1/3/2012 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: Paper money is a textile, isn't it? My father carried a dollar bill with him from 1943 until he ... A: Dave, thanks for the education. I really had no idea such a thing existed. Those bills are really ... | ||
| framing a scarf | 12/29/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have a very delicate silk scarf that was given to me and was blessed by the Dalai Lama. The scarf ... A: Certainly! First, you need to be very sure to use acrylic glazing rather than glass. It will be in ... | ||
| Back of the artwork | 12/27/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: If I'm using linen canvas and want to frame it; 1. What do I use on the back of it to hold it in a ... A: I would say acid-free foamcore would be a good choice for a backing behind the Strathmore substrate ... | ||
| framing a scarf | 12/27/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have a very delicate silk scarf that was given to me and was blessed by the Dalai Lama. The scarf ... A: This sounds like a very special piece, and it certainly deserves very special framing. After all, ... | ||
| Historic Family Photo Preservation Tips? | 12/25/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have a couple of questions regarding preservation of some old treasured family photos I acquired. ... A: The convex glass doesn't preserve artwork any better than other types of glass; it's really more of ... | ||
| Family Photo Preservation? | 12/25/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: "Hi, I have a couple of questions regarding preservation of some old treasured family photos I ... A: You are most welcome! I probably wouldn't use regular paper either, as it too generally contains ... | ||
| Family Photo Preservation? | 12/24/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: "Hi, I have a couple of questions regarding preservation of some old treasured family photos I ... A: For your first question, if the photos are doing great in their existing frames you can probably ... | ||
| Historic Family Photo Preservation Tips? | 12/24/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have a couple of questions regarding preservation of some old treasured family photos I acquired. ... A: These sound like some lovely family memories, and you’re right to want to take good care of them. ... | ||
| Back of the artwork | 12/23/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: If I'm using linen canvas and want to frame it; 1. What do I use on the back of it to hold it in a ... A: I think I need more information to best answer this question. You are framing a linen canvas art ... | ||
| transport | 12/23/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have an 1980s indian ink drawing which I have to transport. I do not have access to acid-free ... A: Obviously your situation is not ideal, but you don't have the materials you really need on hand, and ... | ||
| Dinged Mat Corners | 12/1/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: My father matted a bunch of his original photographs to display at an art show. They were not ... A: Oh, man. I'm guessing your father has not yet shown and needs to repair these in order to show? ... | ||
| Mounting a ring in a shadow box | 11/30/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: How would I mount and ring between two pictures in a shadow box? I have the shadow box with a ... A: I think I understand now. All is well until you put the back of the box on, yes? If that is the ... | ||
| Mounting a ring in a shadow box | 11/29/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: How would I mount and ring between two pictures in a shadow box? I have the shadow box with a ... A: I can definitely help you with this, but I am having trouble picturing the exact problem from your ... | ||
| Framing papyrus | 11/23/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I would like to frame two papyri as a gift. Both show a series of 2D Egyptians in the classic pose, ... A: I have researched "passe partout" before and found very little: A "passe-partout" seems to be ... | ||
| How hight to I hand my painting over the mantle - HIGH CEILINGS! | 11/19/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: Jennifer, You answered a variation of this question back in 2009 - I have a very high ceilings. If ... A: Oh gosh, yes, eye level is out of the question, isn't it? Unless your family are all giants. That ... | ||
| ways to display batiks | 11/18/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I am a batik artist and have been framing my batiks by mounting them on white illustration board ... A: I love the idea of the buttons. I'm a big fan of hiding things in plain sight with regard to ... | ||
| ways to display batiks | 11/18/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I am a batik artist and have been framing my batiks by mounting them on white illustration board ... A: I'll start with the buckling issue. You say that you leave some wax on the batik paintings when you ... | ||
| Laminating photographs | 11/14/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I am a professional photographer who sells heirloom photographs and am trying to educate myself more ... A: Sorry about that. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in issues with a lot of variables, so much ... | ||
| How hight to I hand my painting over the mantle - HIGH CEILINGS! | 11/13/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: Jennifer, You answered a variation of this question back in 2009 - I have a very high ceilings. If ... A: I'm thinking a portrait orientation, somewhere around 40"W x 60" H. (Staying in this range will make ... | ||
| Laminating photographs | 11/11/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I am a professional photographer who sells heirloom photographs and am trying to educate myself more ... A: There are a number of factors that affect the longevity of photographs, or any artwork for that ... | ||
| copper nails and age of painting | 10/24/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: I have a painting that seems rather old, the canvas is secured to the stretcher bars with copper ... A: This is a rather interesting question, and I'm afraid I may not be able to give you a definitive ... | ||
| conservation float mounting | 10/14/2011 | David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF |
| Q: My question is regarding a museum standard technique of float mounting. I need to float mount a ... A: From the sound of things, the best mounting option would be hinging with torn handmade paper and ... | ||
| Framing of Cross Stitch Project | 10/6/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I am a cross stitch lover and recently found that I'm running out of wall space to hang all of them. ... A: I don't think leaving the works unframed will damage them as long as care is taken in the way they ... | ||
| posters | 9/30/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: Recently, in Europe, I bought a few art prints. Now that I'm back home in the US I'd like to hang ... A: Sorry I'm so late in answering! I did not receive the original email, I apologize for the delay. ... | ||
| Repair / Modification of Frame Back | 9/27/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have a fabulous old frame with the original backing long gone. It came with the usual assortment ... A: I can answer the stand-up part of your question, but unfortunately my research has turned up nothing ... | ||
| mounting/framing charcoal drawings | 9/20/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have a number of charcoal drawings mostly of medium size (~11"x16") (some larger). Most of the ... A: Here is a pretty decent tutorial on both hinging and floating (in this example, they've lifted the ... | ||
| mounting/framing charcoal drawings | 9/20/2011 | Jennifer Pierce |
| Q: I have a number of charcoal drawings mostly of medium size (~11"x16") (some larger). Most of the ... A: Drawings that go all the way to the edge of the paper can be floated on matboard so that the edges ... | ||
Picture Framing and Art Preservation
Answers by Expert:
Jennifer Pierce
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer any questions related to picture framing, art display, or art installation, including very large pieces, canvas stretching, shadow boxing, needlework mounting, and just about any type of dimensional or non-dimensional artwork display. The only questions I cannot answer pertain to fine artwork restoration (e.g. your Van Gogh oil painting is faded and you want it to be restored to the original brilliance--call a reputable museum for that).
Experience
I have been in the picture framing business since 1987, with a specialization in hospitality (hotels) and commercial office installations. I have worked on artwork for nearly every major hotel and design firm in the world and have designed some pretty wild installations. Additionally, I have experience with almost every type of conservation technique
Education/Credentials
All of my education was acquired in the field.
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