Matting And Framing

The Framing Process for Pastel/Charcoal Drawings

Pastel and charcoal paintings/drawings are some of the freshest and most interesting to be found.  There is something about their richness and the fact that the particles are barely attached to the surface that makes them seem nearly “alive.”   Artists are sometimes hesitant to coat with sprays or other materials because it changes the look and the color to do so.  It is, however, this very quality that gives them a reputation for being difficult to mount, mat and frame for your wall.

Quite frankly, the surface of both pastel and charcoal is very fragile.  All it takes is a puff of wind from a fan, an accidental swipe of the hand or any one of a number of accidents to mar the looks of a lovely painting or drawing.  However, with a little care, some thought before handling and easy guidelines to use when mounting, matting and framing, you can create a lovely piece of art that is perfect for display.

The nature of the medium is such that pressure applied to the pastel or stick of charcoal is all that holds it on the paper.  The tooth of the paper provides a friction that helps the powdery contents of the media adhere.  But, if you have ever worked in pastel or charcoal, you know that it is minute particles of color that are barely held together so that you can draw with them.  Once you realize the fragility of the materials involved and keep that in mind, the steps toward display and framing are much more understandable.

Mounting the pastel/charcoal is the most challenging part of the process and should be done with one of three methods.  First, you can use a set of corner holding devices.  Special corners designed to fit over the edges of the artwork corners are available at all art material dealers.  They are triangle shaped with acid-free (A.F.) sticky backs.  Once the A.F. triangle is slipped over each corner of the art, it is then placed upon an A.F. backing.

Hinges are made of hand-torn rice paper and are attached with a special adhesive that is removable and A.F.  These are easy to make, easy to install and will provide completely archival quality holding power.

Lastly, you can hold the painting in place with A.F. corners and use an A.F. mat that barely covers the edges of the art to hold the drawing in place.  This holding around the entire parameter is needed for larger art pieces.  The hold-down mat will then be topped with the final mat, extending over the image at least one-half inch.  This method requires that about one inch of the image is covered all the way around.

Matting of a “crumbly,” powdery art material such as pastel or charcoal requires an added step.  Because the powder will release with the slightest movement, there is a professional “trick” that can keep the mat clean and your artwork viewable for many years.  By elevating the matting or, more correctly, dropping the art behind the mat and away from the glass, you have a space into which the particles will fall.  That way, the matting stays clean and perfect.  Elevate the mat with strips of A.F. foam board and use A.F. adhesive to attach the strips of foam board to the back of the mat around the outside edge.  These strips should be at least 1-½ inches wide to provide proper support. 

Once the mat is elevated and settled over the art, clean the glass and set it onto the top of the mat.  Then add the frame.  Close the back of the frame by pulling the art off the edge of your work surface and working from the back side.  If you turn the art over, face down, and do any jarring at all, the particles will fall and you will have to redo.

This all may sound difficult, but it is not.  Just take it one step at a time, take your time and remember to work from the top as much as you can.  The less you disturb a pastel or charcoal work of art, the better.

The Artist’s Marketplace

Gagne – New Craftsmen Desk

Gagne’s new Craftsmen Desk by Porta-Trace is a unique 24” x 24” solid oak table in the craftsmen style. It features the best lighting available; an energy efficient, high frequency ballast; flicker free and instant start; steel lighting cabinet with powder coated finish; and red mahogany stain with Craftsmen style legs.  Gagne’s new desk is perfect for art, drafting or décor!  See your retailer and visit www.gagneinc.com.

Art Competitions & Opportunities

—Drawing Discourse – Jan. 12-Feb. 2 - As part of an ongoing commitment to promote drawing practices in the visual arts, the U. of North Carolina, Asheville, is seeking artists to submit entries to a national juried exhibition of contemporary drawing.  It’s open to all artists living in the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older.  Any two-dimensional media applicable to the practice of drawing including, but by no means limited to, traditional drawing media is acceptable.  $500 in cash prizes will be awarded.  Juror: Deborah Rockman.  Prospectus:  http://www.unca.edu/art/home.html.  Deadline:  Nov. 20.

—30^th Hunting Art Prize – Open only to legal residents of Texas 18 years of age (as of Aug. 1, 2009) or older, the prize is sponsored by the international oil services company Hunting PLC.  The 2010 art prize is limited to paintings and drawings and one winner will be awarded a cash prize of $50,000.  Sign up at www.huntingartprize.com. Deadline:  Nov. 30.  Winner to be announced during the May 1 gala and exhibition.

—30^th Annual College Photography Contest – Sponsored by Photographer’s Forum magazine and Nikon, this contest is open to all high school, college and university students worldwide.  Both full- and part-time students may enter, and you are also eligible if you have graduated within the past six months.  Subject matter is open and there are no categories.  $4,000 in cash grants and two Nikon cameras will be awarded, and winning photos will be entered into Nikon’s Emerging Photographers Hall of Fame.  www.pfmagazine.com/E/Contest.aspx. Deadline:  Nov. 23.

—Internships – NGA – The National Gallery of Art welcomed 20 graduate students and recent bachelor’s degree recipients to participate in its 2009 summer internship program.  Interns from 12 different states, one U.S. Territory and two countries (Canada and China) received paid professional museum training during this nine-week full-time program.  Interns are chosen based on a strong interest in museum work, outstanding academic achievement and letters of recommendation, among other relevant criteria.  Information about the summer internship program, as well as other Gallery internships and fellowships, is available at www.nga.gov/education/interned.htm or by calling 202-842-6257.

Holiday Gift Selections

A Gift for All Artists

Sure, a gift card is a great way to give artists what they want, but there are items that you can actually select yourself that will delight any creative person.  Many of today’s manufacturers have great products that make thoughtful gifts and might open a new avenue for the artist on your list.  New fibers, new products, cool kid’s art projects…there is literally something for everyone.

—Let’s begin with the Grumbacher brand of art materials, developed by generations of artists and engineers who have mastered the techniques that produce one-of-a-kind, high quality products. This long-standing company offers three types of paint: rich and buttery oils (Academy, Max-Water Miscible Oil and Pre-tested); sumptuous, vibrant acrylics (Academy) and luminescent watercolors (Academy and Finest).  Their artists’ brushes for oil, acrylics and watercolor have been handmade since 1905, and they excel in producing a vast range of quality oil color mediums. Visit www.grumbacherart.com to see the full line of paints, brushes, mediums and accessories.

—Gagne, Inc., offers a complete line of lightboxes and light tables in stainless steel, solid oak and baked enamel. The company also offers a quality line of opaque art projectors in four different sizes: Mini-Sketch, The Projector, Trace-Master, and Trace-Master Deluxe. Lightboxes allow artists to work with slides, do tracing, etc., while The Projector and Trace-Master allow the artist to enlarge and transfer images easily.  Visit www.gagneinc.com to see their complete line and compare the value they offer.

—In the area of airbrushes and specialty paints, Iwata Airbrushes and Medea Com-Art Airbrush Colors work together to create a fantasy of opportunity for anyone interested in this exciting media. When teamed with the Iwata line of compressors, any artist--from beginner to professional, fine artist to custom auto painter to pastry chef--is set for creative horizons that exceed all expectations.  Quality and longevity work in tandem to make airbrush creative work a dream with the Iwata-Medea line of materials.  A gift choice may include an airbrush or compressor, the Table-Top Cleaning Station, a selection of the new wide mouth jars, cool shirts from the Speed Shop and much more.  Review their complete line of high quality products at www.iwata-medea.com. 

—When in the art supply store, stroll the paper aisle and see the selection of Strathmore papers for every conceivable art application.  New green fibers are being used for drawing papers, greeting cards and other art materials.  Find full sheets of printmaking papers in a wide range of surface textures, watercolor papers in pads and full sheets, inkjet paper and even post card and greeting card packs and the popular new artist trading cards--every need has been met.  Check the selection and descriptions out online, too, at www.strathmoreartist.com.

—For standard and larger capacity compressors investigate Silentaire Technology at www.silentaire.com to see a large variety of units of extreme quality and longevity.  They are created for heavy duty use and carefree, quiet operation and are offered in oil lubricated and oil-free applications.  Also available from Silentaire is the unique Spectrum 2000 Color Changer.  This revolutionary product for airbrushing makes it quick and easy to change or blend colors and create special effects—a virtual rainbow at your fingertips!

—Artool Products Co. is a manufacturer of innovative art materials including tools and airbrush accessories for fine art, illustration, T-shirt art, body and fingernail art, sign and automotive art and graphics. At http://www.artoolproducts.com you’ll find the Artist Bridge for painting and drawing with soft and wet mediums; flexible Cutting Mats; low-tack FriskFilm; airbrush templates of all shapes and sizes; Hobby Mask, Stretch Mask, Art Mask and Ultra Mask; the Cuttingrail; body art and fingernail art accessories and paint—surely a tool or material for every artist on your list!

—A manufacturer from Taiwan since 1978, SPARMAX designs and manufactures efficient and powerful oil-less mini air compressors. With a variety of applications, these ultra-quiet and lightweight products have a proven track record of quality, durability, and reliability. SPARMAX also supplies airbrushes/spray guns for multiple purposes as well as airbrushing-related accessories. Visit www.sparmax.com.tw to see their complete line.

—For 90 years the American Art Clay Company (AMACO) has provided quality materials for both the professional and beginning clay artisan.  AMACO remains an industry leader by providing great products for all aspects of clay work.  Artists, teachers, students, craft artists and professional potters have huge options in clay, tools, prepared glazes, potter’s wheels, molds, slip, chemicals, kilns…right down to the smaller items such as brushes and miscellaneous supplies.  At www.amaco.com you can explore the hundreds of items that make the company one that artists have come to trust and you will find many large to small gifts for the potter/ceramic artist.

—Printmakers have a bonanza of materials available through Graphic Chemical and Ink.  Visit their website at www.graphicchemical.com for the online catalog of materials available to artists working in silkscreen, etching, monoprints, lithography, wood and linoleum block printing.  Every item from hand scribes to inks to presses is explained in detail and all specs are available for materials and how they should be handled.  Graphic Chemical and Ink is the premier printmaker’s supplier and has every material needed for the serious and novice printmaker—since 1920. 

— www.artograph.com is the web site for Artograph, a company over six decades old that offers a wide range of reproduction projectors.  Projectors cut time off the creative process by allowing the artist to transfer designs directly to canvas, walls, panels or other surfaces.  Eliminating the need for hand drawing, the image is quickly applied for completion by the artist. Every artist, working large scale or small, would appreciate such a magical device to assist in completion of his/her work.  Also see Artograph’s unique light boxes and spray booths as well as their new Open Studio line of sleekly designed functional furniture and accessories.

—For ideal gifts and stocking stuffers for artists and crafters, see the line of products from General Pencil Company.  Choose from graphite, charcoal, watercolor pencils, multi-pastel chalks, colored pencils, The Masters Brush Cleaner and Artist Hand Soap, Factis Erasers and sharpeners as well as two acclaimed How to Draw Cartoons! kits from Matthew Luhn.  General Pencil has been manufacturing writing/drawing instruments for 120 years and you can depend on them for excellent gifts for any artist--whether professional, student or beginner. See www.generalpencil.com for descriptions and ideas.

—Ampersand has a fantastic line of high quality prepared wooden panels and accessories that they have manufactured since 1994.  Their acid-free signature painting surfaces inspire great art in every medium, from oils to watercolors.  From the beautiful clay finish of Claybord to the fine canvas texture of the Artist Panel, artists are invited to explore, imagine and create without boundaries.  Select from Aquabord, Artist Panel, Claybord, Claybord Box Kit, Gessobord, Hardbord, Pastelbord, Scratchbord, Stampbord, tools and accessories, the Art Shadow Box and instructional items.  Ampersand also has sample offers available so that you can select materials for your artist to try.  See examples and explanations at www.ampersandart.com.

—DaVinci Paint Company’s product portfolio includes watercolors (with 22 new colors), fast dry alkyd oil, gouache, oil colors, semi-professional colors, heavy-body acrylic, artists’ color sets, mediums and gels and their unique new Fluid Acrylics. Their entire collection of colors is formulated exclusively using ASTM International approved pigments for artists’ quality. DaVinci combines over 68 years of experience with modern technology and the use of the finest raw materials available to offer the best possible fine art materials.  See www.davincipaints.com for the full scoop!

Plan a visit to your local art materials retailer where you can find gifts in every price range for every application and for all media.  Take time to explore, investigate and poke around.  You will find that perfect “special” gift just waiting and have fun researching and selecting it—and, hopefully, we have given you some ideas.

Art Events

Schedules sometimes change, so please confirm events.

—12^th Editions and Artists’ Book Fair, X Initiative, 548 West 22^nd St, New York, NY – Nov. 6-8 - This annual fair is a premier showcase for contemporary publishers and dealers presenting prints, multiples and artists’ books.  Proceeds from the Opening Night Preview on Nov. 5 will benefit the annual exhibition fund at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center.  http://www.ps1.org/calendar/view/95

—Wreathing of the Lions, The Art Institute of Chicago, IL – Nov. 27, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.  Kick off the holiday season with this annual family event at the Michigan Avenue Entrance.  After the ceremony, watch performances by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago or visit a drop-in workshop to create a wreath inspired by the exhibition Playing with Pictures:  The Art of Victorian Photocollage.

—Tree Lighting and Holiday Concert, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO – Nov. 28, 3-3:30 p.m. in Kirkwood Hall.  The Museum’s 25^th annual tree lighting ceremony will feature a concert of holiday music from the renowned Kansas City Chorale and family caroling.  (On view through Jan. 3)  Also join the Luminary Walk in the Sculpture Park from 5-9 p.m.

—Art Miami 2009, Midtown Miami Arts District, FL – Dec. 2-6 – This prestigious contemporary art fair will celebrate its 20^th anniversary, proudly showcasing a wide variety of art from more than 80 leading national and international contemporary art galleries and prominent institutions. www.art-miami.com.

—Victorian Wreath Making, Olana (Home of Frederic Edwin Church), Hudson, NY – Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m. - Learn the art of Victorian wreath-making in this hands-on arts and crafts workshop.  Exquisite natural materials will be provided as well as fun add-ons. Free, adults.  Register:  coconnell@olana.org; 518-828-1872, Ext. 110. In addition, Holiday House Tours will be conducted Fri.-Sun, Dec. 4-Jan. 3 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (admission) and on Dec. 5 enjoy Victorian Caroling 2-4 p.m. and an Annual Holiday Bonfire from 3-4 p.m.  Olana is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

—Film: “Christmas Story,” National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. – This film by Juha Wuolijoki (Finland, 2007, 80 min.) will be shown Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. and Dec. 6 at 11:30 a.m., for ages 7 and up.  Free.  202.789.3030.

—YUKO SERIES:  Felting Projects for the Holidays, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA – Express your creativity and unique style by designing your own piece of wearable art through the fun and modish technique of felting.  Choose Nov. 15 – Wool Slippers, Nov. 22 – Wool Bag or both.  Advance registration by Nov. 11.  Fee.  323.937.4230, Ext. 21; www.cafam.org/curiosity.html.

—Yuletide at Winterthur, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, Winterthur, DE – Nov. 21 – Jan. 3.  This highlights the holiday celebration of H. F. du Pont and his family in the first half of the 20^th century.  Featured are rooms decorated to reflect various seasonal vignettes and special peek-in displays feature toys, books, cards and other colorful memorabilia from the dawn of the 20^th century. Also, a full series of special events, performances and workshops as well as exhibitions are planned. www.winterthur.org.

Airbrush

Get a Grip!

Because of the popularity of kustom automotive painting, airbrush manufacturers have designed airbrushes that have pistol triggers on the bottom—identical to spray guns.  The rationale is to provide airbrushes that are already familiar to users in regard to handling.  With previous spray gun experience the artist is already well acquainted with spraying paint in this manner.  So the pistol grip airbrush was invented primarily to spray paints such as enamels, epoxies and lacquers. 

However, pistol-trigger airbrushes are also ideal for airbrush artists who work large or with heavier paints, e.g., artist acrylic colors; artists that are interested in varnishing their paintings by spraying a clear coat; artists that may prime a canvas by spraying on gesso; and artists that work on wall murals where bulk areas must be covered in a consistent manner.

What makes these airbrushes different from spray guns is that they have true dual-action triggering.  As you pull back on the pistol trigger, air is released, and the further back you pull the more paint is released, allowing you to change the width of the spray without stopping.  One particular model, the Iwata Kustom TH, comes with not only a mac valve to adjust the air at the tip of the airbrush, but a unique spray head system that allows you to spray either a round or a fan pattern.

Since these airbrushes were designed for the automotive industry, they are built with solvent-proof materials.  And they are available with either 3mm or 5mm needle tips.

The pistol grip brush is another tool to add to your repertoire of airbrushes.  Considering their unique and varied applications, you can never have too many!

ArtPourri

Artworks on Loan – The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present the marble sculpture Young Archer, attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, in its Velez Blanco patio beginning Nov. 3.  The work will be on view for 10 years as a special loan from the French Republic, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.  And Through Jan. 31 at The Art Institute of Chicago you have the rare opportunity to view Caravaggio’s The Supper at Emmaus, on loan from the National Gallery of London.

Artist Honored – Kiki Smith, one of the most influential conceptual and figurative artists of her generation, will be honored at the Brooklyn Museum’s seventh annual Women in the Arts luncheon on Nov. 19.  Smith’s career spans more than three decades and, although she has worked in a wide range of media, she is best known as a sculptor.

Prizes and Awards – Recipients of The Japan Art Association’s 21st Praemium Imperiale include Sugimoto Hiroshi (Japan) for painting and Richard Long (United Kingdom) for sculpture. Recognized for their achievements, for the impact they have had internationally on the arts and for their role in enriching the global community, each recipient received $158,000, a medal and diploma.

– And the winner of the ArtPrize ($250,000) is Ran Ortner of Brooklyn, NY, for his 19-ft.-long oil painting “Open Water No. 24.”  More than 1,200 entries were placed in venues around the city of Grand Rapids, MI, with the winner chosen by public vote.

Holiday Stamps Issued – Available now are the new Winter Holidays, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stamps from the U.S. Postal Service.  The Winter Holidays stamps feature a reindeer, snowman, gingerbread man and toy soldier by artist Joseph Cudd, who first sketched the designs by hand and then finished them on the computer using a graphics tablet.  The new Hanukkah design features a photo of a menorah with nine lit candles, designed by Lisa Regan of Tulsa, OK; and Lloyd McNeill of New York City created the new festive and highly symbolic stamp design that celebrates Kwanzaa, a non-religious holiday that draws on African traditions.

Milestone – Irving Penn, photographer renowned for his innovative contributions to portrait, still life and fashion photography, has died in Manhattan at age 92.  An exhibition at The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA, Irving Penn:  Small Trades, includes over 200 full-length portraits representing skilled tradespeople dressed in work clothes and carrying the tools of their trade—presented with dignity and pride.  Through Jan. 10.

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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 20 No. 1 — November 2009