Acrylic on Paper: how should i frame...behind glass like a photograph...any special considerations?

Question

thanks for your advice

Answer 1

Definitely under glass or the paper will be too exposed to the elements. Only cloth/canvas pieces should be exposed b/c they need to breath.

Answer one is correct, Don't let it touch the glass. This is the actual purpose of mats on pictures -- to space the artwork away from the surface of the glass and prevent sticking.
1 mat is okay, but really you should have a minimum of two, for proper spacing.
you also:
1) need an acid free mat -- a 100% acid free mat. If the edge where the opening is cut (the window) is yellow, it's not 100% acid free. It needs to be white -- the edge, not the flaw portion of the mat you see around the picture, that can be whatever color you want..
2) b/c you have an origonal work of art, in order to completely protect it it needs to be preservation mounted. This means not only acid free mats, but acid free backing -- cardboard is a no-no and so is foamcore that isn't acid free. You also need to have it mounted in a way that is non-permanent/damaging -- photo corners, or acid-free linen tape. DO NOT dry mount it - even if the framer tells you it's acid free and can be removed later, dry mounting an image is Always a risky process in itself. They may tell you, and it is true, that unless it's dry mounted the picture may buckle. There isn't anything you can actually do about this except keep it in an area of moderate heat and humidity -- too dry and the moisture gets sucked out, curling the paper, too wet and the paper buckles from moisture.
Three last details if you really want it protected: get UV protective glass, so the picture won't fade,
if you get a wooden frame it should be lined with a foil tape to prevent the acid in the wood from damaging your image
and, finally, the paper on the back of the finished frame should be acid free. That means white, or sometimes blue. NOT BROWN.

That's about it. Sounds like a lot, I know, but a competant, honest framer won't tell you any less. Go to different stores until you find someone you trust.

Answer 2

You can put it behind glass like a photo, but like the first answer, be sure it doesn't touch the glass; you could damage or alter the painted surface. You may want to consider a thicker frame or having a mat (or two) in place to provide a little bit of a buffer.

You can also mount the paper onto a stretched canvas, but while not difficult, it can be time consuming. I'm assuming you'd rather go the framed route, but if not, email me.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Treat it like a watercolor. But, as has already been mentioned, keep it away from the glass. The cheapest way to do this it to 'mat' the artwork.

However, in the future you might want to consider using canvas, making it a painting.

Answer 4

If you must under glass be sure none of your "acrylic paint" is in contact with the glass. It may stick and am sure you wouldn't want that. You way want to let the paint breath and not put it under anything, or any direct sunlight.