AboutSara Tro Expertise I am a professional custom picture framer and designer. I have experience in all areas of
picture framing, and own my own custom framing shop. I can answer questions relating
to the design of a piece, the preservation of the artwork, color theory, photograph
restoration, decor, art placement, room balancing and installation questions.
Experience I have owned my own retail custom frame shop for 4 years, and managed a high-end shop before that for 5.5 years. I worked for a professional restorer and archivist for 8 months prior to the management position. I am also a fine artist myself, with a BFA in Photography and Printmaking, and have been framing my own work for years and years.
Education/Credentials BFA Fine Arts, NYSCC at Alfred University, NY
Expert: Sara Tro Date: 5/8/2008 Subject: mounting paper onto board/canvas?
Question I have a large drawing/painting on fabriano 300gms paper. Materials used: Matt emulsion and Household Gloss paint ground, charcoal drawing and spray varnish to seal. Dimensions are approx 110cm x 150cm. I am planning to exhibit this and want to mount it onto canvas or board. My main concern is buckling of the paper.Can you advise me on the glue/ or suggest a method or attachment.I intend the piece to be recessed into a wood surround and be unglazed.
many thanks
loraine
Answer Hi Loraine,
Thanks for the question!
Sounds like an interesting project!
So, is the paper wrippled already, without mounting it? If the paper has absorbed he paint and materials used on the front, and there's no gesso or anything on the back, it may be really hard to mount it totally flat. You could use a rice starch? You'll need something strong and that will absorb into the paper easily, so that might work. Most art supply stores have that stuff. On second thought, if you coated the back it might not absorb the glue as well.. You might need something less archival to actually get it to stick. Hmmm...
You could just hinge it to a canvas backing, letting the edges of the art over-hang the canvas so you can't see it behind the art.. then you wouldn't have to force the paper flat. You can then use the canvas to attach the wood surround to the canvas backing and art. You could mount the art to the canvas, then attach the canvas (with screws) to a board cut larger than the art, then use the "backing "board to attach the art and substrate to the wood surround. Hopefully that'll have a wide enough back for you to put some screws in. I'd attach the hangers and/or wire with d-rings through the board and to the canvas stretcher bars for support. You could also use foam core or thick gator board to hinge to, instead of canvas, but a canvas on stretchers just adds more support, and then you can use that stretcher as the frame to hang from, in a way.
I hope this helps some.. it's hard to tell what to advise without seeing the condition of the piece..
Feel free to write again, let me know how it turned out!
Best,
Sara
