Mounting Matters
by Chris A. Paschke, CPF GCF
The LA
Framer – GLAC Newsletter February 2011
"Wax Hangers"
At the 2010 IEA event in San
Francisco I was lucky enough to receive a Rebecca Crowell original in our art
gift exchange (photo 1). It was unframed
and she had attached a commercial linen hanger to the center back of the
hardboard using wax medium as the adhesive (photo 2). A commercial linen hanger with a metal
grommet is a good choice for adhering to the back of an unframed panel as it
will not tear and may easily be removed if needed. Wax is often used as an adhesive in museums
as it is a natural, reversible medium that is rather noninvasive once you get
past the absorption issue.
Wax is a natural binding
adhesive for use with encaustic as it is the same medium as the painting and
generally bonds well to typical wood, hardboard and rag substrates. The first step was to remove the hanger and
clean the board back. The hanger easily
pulled from the board and the excess was scraped from the board with a flat
head screwdriver, but any metal scraping tool or chisel would have worked. Once cleaned It could be framed.
photo 1
A 6x6" cold encaustic on
1/4" birch panel.
Artwork "Collonade"
courtesy of Rebecca Crowell © 2010
photo 2
The linen hanger has a metal
grommet
to prevent tearing over time.
I needed to protect the outer
edges and the face of the original by placing it in a platform float frame, so
a Larson Juhl long base matte black Gallery One moulding was selected. A 1/2" lifter platform was cut to raise
the painted panel closer to the frame face.
photo 3
The installed art
floats inside the frame edges.
The 7x7" outside corner
dimensions of the frame allows for the art a 1/4" float space between it
and the sides of the frame. The
1/2" platform lifts the panel to 1/4" from the frame face. Once the art is glued to the lifter the back
of the frame is wired with D-rings, coated
wire and bumpers to keep it level on and evenly spaced from the wall. Rebecca's card was placed on the back and the
name and date of the art is noted.
Whether left with the linen
tab or placed in a custom made frame the art remains something of beauty to
last a lifetime. But with the frame it
has been protected and the narrow black border has enhanced the fine black
carved line work in the frame making is much more noticeable when first
viewed.
END
Copyright © Chris A Paschke,
2011
Chris Paschke, CPF GCF
Designs Ink
785 Tucker Road, Suite G-183
Tehachapi, CA 93561
661-821-2188
chris@DesignsInkArt.com
For all GLAC articles and visit http://www.DesignsInkArt.com/library.htm