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MattingMatting for BeginnersOften the articles we read about how to mat and frame are pretty advanced. It may be time to examine matting from the ground up, so we’ll look at the basics of materials, equipment, and techniques. You might wonder what you need to cut mats for your drawings and watercolors. Well, you don’t need a lot. You can actually cut a very nice mat with an inexpensive cutting blade and a metal ruler. But, if you plan to cut more than just the occasional mat, it might be wise to invest in an artist style mat cutter. Alto’s is one manufacturer of mat cutters that is available almost anyplace art materials are sold. Now this might sound complicated, but it really isn’t. Every part of a system needs a name, but when you put all the parts together there is actually a cutter, a cutting edge, a base on which to cut and that’s it. Select a mat width, insert your mat and the fun begins. But maybe you don’t know the first thing about cutting a mat. Well, that is a good place to begin. Everything in matting starts with one simple measurement: the size of the image. It sounds easy…and it is. For instance, if you are framing a borderless photo and the photo measures 8” x 10”, that is the beginning point. However, if you cut the opening in the mat to 8” x 10”, the photo will fall right through. Take a tip from professionals: Use a simple technique to measure that is easy to call your own. The pros measure just inside the image area, thus leaving a small margin to hold the photo behind the mat window. So, with an 8” x 10” borderless print, the window should be 7¾” x 9¾”. The 1/8” all around will hold the photo properly once it is attached behind the mat. After the image area is calculated, add the widths of matting you want. If, for instance, you want 3” of matting all around your photo, add 6” to the width and 6” to the height of the image. So adding 6 inches to our measurement above, you see that the outside of the mat blank (the solid sheet before you cut your window) should be 13¾” x 15¾”. Cut your blank and you are ready to cut your window. How hard is that?
You should always use a scrap of matting to function as what is called a “slip” sheet, which is important for several reasons. First, it provides a cushion under the mat, avoiding scrapes or scratches to the colored surface. Second, the blade cuts through the mat and into the slip sheet, rather than into the hard surface of the cutter (which will cause a very ragged cut). Third, a slip sheet prevents damage to the surface of the cutter base. With the slip sheet in the cutter, set the width on the mat cutter to 3 inches. Slip in your mat wrong side up. You always cut from the back side of the mat. That allows for any notes or measurement reminders and cuts the mat with the beveled window. Mark a pencil line down the cutting side of the cutting guide. Repeat on all 4 sides. With one hand grasping the pistol grip of the cutting head, align the head where it will pierce the mat very slightly outside the top pencil line. Draw the cutter towards you with the blade fully engaged into the mat. Continue the cut until just past the bottom line. Repeat this procedure on the other sides. Voila! You have just cut your first mat. Troubleshooting: If the window does not fall out, start earlier and/or continue the cut further on your next attempt. If you have over-cuts (cuts in the mat outside the window), start cutting later and end cutting sooner. If the edge of the mat is ragged, your blade is dull, you do not have a slip sheet in place or the slip sheet has been cut in the same place too many times and does not provide proper support for the blade. If the window did not fall out but is very close to falling away, use a spare blade held at the same angle as the bevel and cut through the corner. You may have to do this cutting from each direction and at more than one corner. With a bit of experience, you will no longer have undercuts but will cut perfect mats every time. Fabric covered mats like suede and linen are slightly thicker than regular paper-surfaced mats. They might require a bit of technique tweaking, but they are cut with the same technique as any other. Just allow for the slightly thicker material and you will have no problem at all. To recap: You can cut mats with a simple stencil knife and a metal straight edge or you can spring for a cost effective mat cutter like Alto’s E-Z System. Others are also available, with costs ranging from around $50 to several hundred. If you plan to cut mats on a regular basis, the purchase price may be less than professional fees to do them. There is also great satisfaction in doing it yourself. Imagine the pride you will feel when you look at one of your originals, personally matted by you!
Art EventsSummergarden
2007: New Music for New York In keeping with MoMA’s history of presenting jazz and classical music in The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, this year’s Summergarden series once again welcomes the participation of two constituents from Lincoln Center—The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center—with concerts on alternating Sundays. New Music for New York presents eight evenings of adventurous contemporary music, with premieres each night. Admission is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Garden opens at 7 p.m. and concerts start at 8 p.m. In the event of rain, concerts will be held indoors in The Agnes Gund Garden Lobby. Learning & Product Expo: ART! The next location for this popular event, where you can see and try art materials of every type in the exhibit hall and/or choose from a program of 200 art classes, is Chicago, followed by Pasadena, CA, in the fall: Chicago, IL, July 13-15 – Chicagoland, Western Suburbs, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel. Classes begin July 13. New Classes Added: Three printmaking classes will be taught by Teresa J. Parker, a nationally known printmaker and curator. Each day she will be offering: Monotype Printmaking, Collage/Recycle Printing, and Linoleum Printmaking. Register now! Pasadena, CA, Oct. 12-14 - Pasadena Conference Center . Classes begin Oct. 11 and registration begins Aug. 1 Call 917-435-2838 and visit www.learningproductexpo.com for more information or to register. Art Santa Fe 2007 This biennial art fair offers visitors a highly selective overview of the contemporary art market. Exhibitors include galleries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. that range from edgy to established. Art professionals, collectors, museum groups and the general public enjoy tours of private collections and artist studios as well as the fair’s exhibitions and special events. Call 505-988-8883; www.artsantafe.net. Art in the
Park Displayed
throughout Saratoga Springs and Schuylerville Enjoy the work of over 70 visiting artists who work in a wide variety of media from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at “Art in the Park.” There will be musical entertainment, refreshments, juror’s awards, a special Kids’ Activity Booth and fun for all. If you are interested in displaying artwork, contact The Arts Center at 518.584.4132. The Saratoga County Arts Council’s public art project, “Horses, Saratoga Style,” was a huge success in 2002. Brought back this year, “Horses, Saratoga Style 2007” features 34 uniquely designed and executed fiberglass horses transformed through the creative artistry of artists from the Capital Region, Western NY, VT and MA. All will be on display until October. The public may vote on their favorite, and the winning horse will be announced in Sept.
The Artist’s MarketplaceNew Artool Instructional DVD and Templates
With the new Long Lines Series WIRED Freehand Airbrush Templates, you will now have an unlimited length to easily create artwork and graphics, which will also save time for achieving professional results on either flat or compound surfaces—from kustom rods and bikes to hot race boats, motor homes and even big-rig trailers! The ends of the WIRED Freehand Templates can be interfaced for a completely seamless transition to either the next length of barbed wire or the gnarly knot of your choice. You can also fill your WIRED artwork with colorful airbrush gradations for illusions of multi-layered 3-D relief FX. The possibilities are endlessly kewl! See your favorite Iwata-Medea-Artool supplier for these new products, and visit www.ArtoolProducts.com. New Strathmore Packs and Pads
Art CompetitionsNortheast
Watercolor Society 31st Annual Works eligible
include watercolors executed within the last three years and not previously
exhibited at NEWS Internationals. All entries must be glazed with acrylic (no
glass). Approximately $8,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded. Visit www.northeastws.com/. 11th
Annual “Lines into Shapes” Art Competition & Sale The competition
is open to all artists who work in the following media categories: oil,
scratchboard; watermedia (watercolor, acrylic, gouache, mixed media); pastels,
graphite; original printmaking (no digital or photomechanical processes); sculpture,
wood, fine art pottery, glass; photography; fiber; and jewelry. Awards total
over $5,000. Visit
www.artcenterofestes.com/CallForArtists.htm.
Artist ProfileAsher Brown Durand (1796-1886)Born near Newark, New Jersey, on August 21, 1796, Asher Brown Durand was the son of a watchmaker and silversmith. Durand became one of the central members of the Hudson River School, finishing his career as one of the most important American artists of the 19th century and perhaps the premier American landscape painter ever. Durand’s fame started with an apprenticeship with noted engraver Peter Maverick of Newark. His work was so impressive that upon graduation he became a partner in Maverick’s business. Durand’s reputation was solidified with the publication of engravings in 1823 to illustrate Trumbull’s writing, “Signing of the Declaration of Independence.” Soon thereafter he published engraved portraits of prominent contemporary Americans, endearing him to the American public. His skill as an engraver was based on his training in drawing. This discipline influenced his early career through the use of outline and precise rendering. Later in life, Durand changed from his painstaking and meticulous style to one less structured. Between 1821 and 1831 Durand helped organize the New York Drawing Association that came to life in 1825, The National Academy of Design (1826)—where he served as the second President from 1845 to 1861—and the Sketch Club (1829). In the midst of these involvements, Durand formed a partnership with his brother, Cyrus, and Charles Wright, specializing in engraved bank notes. In 1832 Durand abandoned his engraving businesses and became a successful portrait painter; and by 1835 Durand had devoted himself entirely to painting. During this time he painted several portraits of presidents for which he is still regarded as genius. But financial stress and encouragement from friend Thomas Cole motivated him to redirect his work to landscape painting. Asher Durand was one of the earliest American artists to work directly from nature. In 1846 Asher Durand helped found the Century Association as a club of authors, artists and the fine arts. Early members included editor-poet William Cullen Bryant and Winslow Homer, John Kensett and architect Stanford White. The Century Association was a spin off group that had originally been called the Sketch Club. Visits to the White Mountains of New Hampshire early and near the end of his life yielded many paintings of mountain views, for which he is best known. From 1857, Durand lived the remainder of his life in New York, dying on Sept. 17, 1886. Three distinguished art institutions are honoring the accomplishments of this great American landscape painter: —The National Academy Museum (New York City) presents Asher B. Durand (1796-1886), Dean of American Landscape that consists of 20 works, including paintings, prints, sculpture and manuscripts drawn from the permanent collection as well as several loaned works by key artists and nine major American landscapes by artists such as Church, Inness, Bierstadt, and others. Opens July 5 through Jan. 6. —Kindred Spirits: Asher B. Durand and the American Landscape is a retrospective of works on view at the Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY) through July 29.Travels to Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., Sept. 14 – Jan 6; and San Diego Museum of Art, Feb. 2 – April 27. —The World of Asher B. Durand: The Artist in Antebellum New York will be on view at the New York Historical Society (New York, NY) until Sept. 30. In addition, Asher B. Durand: Intimate Observations will be on view at Cedar Grove: The Thomas Cole National Site in Catskill, NY, through Oct. 28.
Art DestinationsChicago, IllinoisLet’s begin by stating that when Chicago is Googled as an art destination, there are a whopping 1,700,000 results from which to choose—almost unbelievable! That being said, there are many, many destinations – something for every taste in every possible discipline. Chicago is surpassed only by NYC as an art destination, and a few venues/events are highlighted below. To quote several sources, “Art is everywhere in Chicago!” But, The Art Institute of Chicago must rank very near the top of the list because of the permanent collections and special exhibits they offer. Originated in 1879, The Art Institute has over 300,000 pieces or art, including large selections of American works by artists such as Alfred Stieglitz and significant groups of work by Frederic Remington and George Inness. This gallery is considered by many as “one of the places you should take your kids before they grow up” and makes a great family outing, so allow lots of time. Visit http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/ for current exhibitions. 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60603-6404; 312-443-3600. Located at the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus, the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of over 10,000 objects, spans Western and Eastern civilizations and ranges from classical antiquity to the present day. Magnificent treasures abound from ancient Greek vases to Old Master paintings to Frank Lloyd Wright furniture to sculptures by Rodin, Henry Moore, and Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt. On view through Sept. 16 is Living Modern: German and Austrian Art and Design, 1890-1933. 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60637; 773-702-0200. Visit www.smartmuseum.uchicago.edu. Artropolis is a citywide celebration of arts, antiques and culture with Art Chicago as its centerpiece. Art Chicago, an annual contemporary and modern art fair, is held at the renowned Merchandise Mart and is scheduled for April 25-28 in 2008. Visit www.artchicago.com.
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art to see the most thought-provoking art created since 1945. One of the nation’s largest facilities devoted to the work of living artists, the MCA is the best place in Chicago to excite, challenge, and provide insight into the work and creative process of the most stimulating artists of our time. On view through Sept. 9 is Upon an Ether Sea: Water and Ship Imagery. 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago; 312-280-2660; www.mcachicago.org The Sears Tower, one of the wonders of the architectural world, and all the beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park are worth the trip to Chicago if they are all you have time to see. With magnificent structure, form and beauty, the Sears Tower is 1,450 feet tall with 110 stories and is located downtown at 233 South Wacker Drive. The Skydeck atop this tallest building in the Western Hemisphere provides a view of 50 to 60 miles. Oak Park is west of downtown near the intersection of Harlem and Chicago Avenue. Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet is a summer citywide exhibit that features over 100 globes designed by artists from around the world to create awareness and provoke discussion about potential solutions to global warming. Three of the 5’ diameter globes are located at the Sears Tower. Also featured are 200 mini-globes, some designed by celebrities, displayed around the city. Last but not least is the suggestion of visitation to one of the most ornate buildings anywhere in the world. Begun in 1912 and completed in 1953, it’s an extraordinarily beautiful place that in 1978 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. government. The Baha'i House of Worship is located at 100 Linden Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091; 847-853-2300.
AirbrushAir Quick TipsMagnetized Drawing Surface — Years ago when airbrushed photo retouching and technical illustration were in their heyday, airbrush artists were constantly coming up with new and more inventive ways of doing their work. One such method was the use of magnets to hold non-self-adhering stencils in place. This system worked in two different ways. Artists would purchase a rubberized/magnetized cover for the drafting table, available at art supply stores in the commercial art departments. Thin strips of metal of various shapes were set on top of the stencils (that were most likely cut from 5 mil acetate) to hold them in place when airbrushing. The thinnest strips were best, since they would not block airbrush spray. The second method was just the opposite. The work surface was a sheet of metal, and small magnets of varying shapes/sizes were used to hold stencils in place. There were advantages to this: The artist could work quickly; since non-self-adhering stencils were used, no adhesive residue was left on the surface of the photo or illustration; and since stencils were cut from acetate that was reusable, they could be saved for future use in case the job had to be reworked. The system of using magnets with acetate templates is well suited for painting on any metallic surface, such as in kustom automotive work, sign painting or sculpture. Paper for Airbrushing — Any surface that can be painted with a paintbrush can also be painted with an airbrush. Success is not dependent upon the tool used but on the compatibility of the surface with the paint that’s applied. The most common material used in airbrush technique is paper, the surface you will likely use when learning the technique. There are some considerations when selecting paper. Because moisture is sprayed onto the surface, you should work on a sheet that is thick enough so that buckling does not occur. Two-ply paper such as Bristol or paper of at least 145 lb. weight or heavier is recommended. Also consider the picking (lifting) quality of the paper surface. When using self-adhering frisket film, stencils or tape, be sure that the paper will not tear upon removal. Test the durability of the surface by applying and then peeling a piece of masking tape. If the surface lifts, the paper cannot be used with confidence. The rag content of the paper is also important; the more rag, the stronger the paper. Therefore, a 50% rag content or higher is recommended. Hot press (smooth) and cold press (slight tooth) are commonly used. Heavier textured papers, such as watercolor or pastel, are less suitable because the texture will be evident in the artwork and this may not be desirable. Two-ply Bristol is well suited for student work; and for advanced artwork that is to be exhibited or sold, 100% rag paper is recommended. Similar to watercolor technique, an airbrush artist utilizes the white of the paper for highlights. Therefore, the whitest paper is best. Visit www.bordenandriley.com and www.strathmoreartist.com to investigate available papers; and see your retailer.
ArtPourriAuction News — Sotheby’s: A new record for sculpture at auction was made recently when an exquisite bronze figure of “Artemis and the Stag,” circa 1st Century B.C./1st Century A.D., sold for $28.6 million. Christie’s: The 20th Century Decorative Art & Design Week auctions concluded with a total of $17.6 million. Highlight was the Prototype Maison Tropicale by Jean Prouve, a visionary prefabricated construction that set a new world record for the legendary designer at $4.9 million. Favorite Announced — The U.S. Postal Service has announced that voters selected Yoda as the Star Wars character to be featured on a single stamp. Look for this lovable fellow later this summer. Gallery Reopens — The Faberge Gallery at the New Orleans Museum of Art has reopened with a larger and broader range of objects. A total of 82 are on exhibit, not including 44 miniature Easter Eggs that are displayed on three separate objects. Venice Biennale On — The 52nd International Art Exhibition from La Biennale di Venezia, entitled “Think with the Senses—Feel with the Mind, Art in the Present Tense,” presents 100 artists from all over the world. Seventy-six national participations and 34 collateral events complement the exhibition through Nov. 21. Photographer Malick Sidibe is the first African to be awarded the Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the Biennale.
Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 9 — July 2007 |
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