Framing Matters
by Chris A. Paschke, CPF GCF
IEA Newsletter
- Wax-On, March 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 (photo 3). Once cleaned It could be framed.
photo 1
A fabulous 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.
photo 3
Remove the excess wax and adhesive
with a metal scraper of screwdriver.
I wanted to help protect the outer edges and the face of the
original by placing it in a platform float frame. I selected the long base matte black PFF-708100
(photo 3). This frame uses a 1/2"
lifter to raise the painted panel closer to the frame face.
photo 4
Platform Float Frame
PFF-708100
photo 5
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 (photo 6). Rebecca's card was placed on the back and the
name and date of the art is noted.
photo 6
Fitted with hangers and wire.
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. I love my newest collectible!
END
Chris
Paschke, CPF GCF
Designs Ink
785 Tucker
Road, Suite G-183
Tehachapi,
CA 93561
661-821-2188
chris@DesignsInkArt.com
For more
information on float frames or additional framing articles,
visit
http://www.DesignsInkArt.com/frames.htm
and
http://www.DesignsInkArt.com/library.htm
Copyright © Chris A Paschke, 2011