Framing and Displaying Work

heatherzart · #1 09-19-2012, 05:12 PM

Hi everyone - haven't been on in a long time. I was wondering what some of you have done with your work when hanging in galleries. I'm going to be showing three originals and a LE print next month and the gallery owner doesn't want glass. Have any of you hung pieces unprotected? If so how did you present them?

Also I wanted to share a really exciting print process that I'm using. I had limited edition prints run on actual clayboard using solvent inks and a large format flatbed printer. We used absence of white ink - which sounds weird I know but the end result was a three dimensional print surface that looks like it was actually scratched. The ink prints anywhere there is color and avoids the white areas so the result is different layers of ink and hence the subtle 3-D appearance. I'm not finished tweaking the process yet but it has great implications for reproducing our work in a professional - and one of a kind - format.

Foxyheart2002 · #2 09-19-2012, 06:15 PM

How much are the prints costing you? Never heard of printing on board. Very interesting.

heatherzart · #3 09-19-2012, 07:35 PM

I don't have a price yet - my husband sells the machines so we've been doing the samples for free but he did say that the machine uses less than $10 in ink for a full size ( in my case 24" x 36") so factor in the cost of the board it just depends how much the mark up will be at your local print shop.
I also had professional photos taken of the work so I have 200 mg files to print from. - it made a HUGE difference in the quality and clarity of the print compared to my SLR photos at were only 12 mg.

Harry Seymour · #4 09-19-2012, 07:47 PM

If the gallery insists on no glass then I guess you have comply. Although I prefer to glass my work many don't. I would love to see our prints. Could you show an image.

**PatrickHedges** · #5 09-20-2012, 12:42 AM

Heather, that sounds superb. Wow, and your work would look sensational in print that way.

I always show my work without glass for the exact reason you said about the prints. That way people can see the texture of the board and people who know nothing about scratchboard can often be swayed towards a sale. I just sold my nine emus that way though I did get a phone call from the customer asking if I thought it would get damaged before the show finished (which was when she could pick it up). I told her that I've never had any real damage but that the actual boards are the most durable part of the art compared to the frame etc. The sale went ahead with no damage.

Of course the bigger your work (like yours) the more potential for damage so it's a choice you make if you wish to show in a place that wants no glass.

heatherzart · #6 09-20-2012, 12:51 AM

Hi Patrick!
What do you use to coat your boards? I wish I had paid more attention to this at the show but the whole thing was a little overwhelming. I use just a simple Matt fixative, I'm contemplating trying something a little sturdier.

**PatrickHedges** · #7 09-20-2012, 01:42 AM

I find that the fixative makes it look good, removing blemishes and evening things out, but doesn't really protect your work. I use about four layers of spray varnish and everyone has their favourite brands. I don't much care. I also use gloss because even after four coats, it's never actually gloss, more a satin finish. However, a lot of people like to start with satin. I like the gloss because it accentuates the texture of the scratching on the boards to some degree.

However, varnishing large pieces is much harder than smaller ones. Because of being in Australia, the largest I work with is 16x20 simply because the larger boards are ridiculously expensive to get here, but your large pieces might be more difficult. Try not to varnish in a cold room and keep away from humidity. People have complained about those things on here before. Maybe someone else will chime in but in South Australia, I don't really have those problems. I also make certain I work in my most dust free room because dog hairs and specks can be a pain to remove.

heatherzart · #8 10-03-2012, 08:05 PM

Picture the classic Peanuts character that walks around in a cloud of hair and dust and that's me as I walk through my life. Even my studio has hair everywhere so finding a clean surface to work on will be a challenge! But I did wonder about gloss vs matte so I'll try with few practice pieces and see if I can get a nice in-between finish.
Thanks for the help!

Diana Lee · #9 10-04-2012, 11:58 AM

I never use glass. It tends to blur the detail I have worked so hard to achieve. I don't worry about damaging the boards any more than I did about damaging my oils on canvas when I displayed them. I mean you always worry about your art, but you wouldn't put an oil painting behind glass.
All my work is uniformly framed in black frames. I am not saying you should necessarily use plain black frames, but I think they should be uniform.

Diana

pkdraws · #10 10-04-2012, 07:11 PM

Heather.. I love your website.. and your artwork very very nice. I can relate to it well as I like alot of the same things in my own artwork... the look the passion of the animal... the coloring and lighting.... so I am also intrigued about your printing on the clayboard.... is there any way I or anyone else can get more info on this printing... or for you to let us know when they get the bugs worked out and are ready for clients?? Soo interested!.. Thanks!

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