I mounted my "Fun Strawberries" onto a cradled gallery wood panel ( 8" X 10" X 1.5") then varnished the painting. I am very pleased with the result. I will probably use a wood varnishing gel in natural color to finish the sides. On one of my next varnished paintings, I think I will try staining or painting the sides black before I mount the painting. I have not screwed in any hooks at the back of the painting...it does not need a hanging wire to hang on the wall; however, for some of my upcoming shows, I probably will not have a choice.
I am quite pleased with the results. I am sure that I would not use this approach will all of my paintings ( one is not sure if is a watercolor), but I think I will enjoy having this finishing /displaying option.
What do you think?
On another note, I am currently slowed down tremendously by pain in my left shoulder and arm; the only time the throbbing pain seems to go away is when I am lying down:-( My doctor gave me some anti-inflammatory meds yesterday and hopefully this will relieve the pain quickly. I am now typing with one hand:-) I want to be painting and gardening!!!!
Looks very good!
ReplyDeleteWish your shoulder better xx
Hi Christiane. So nice to see your beautiful painting and the new way of mounting. I've not been blogging for a while now. Life changes quickly.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried waxing a watercolor? I've used Dorlands Wax medium and mounted the artwork on gatorboard. It is quite lovely when done. Must try the varnish and i like the depth of the cradle board. So sorry to hear of your
shoulder pain. Hope you are back at the easel soon. Blessings! Ross
Ross, it's so nice to hear from you. It's been a long time, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried the waxing. I will certainly have to look into it. As for the mounting, the cradled panel is great since you don't need a frame and it has a nice modern look.
The shoulder and arm are still very sore; typing is very painful:-( However, I think the pain is lessening with the medication I have.
Take care.
You're such a talented artist!
ReplyDeleteWatercolor is the hardest for me. :(
This is beautifully done and presented! I sure hope your shoulder pain goes away quickly.
ReplyDeletePeaceLoveandSharpies: you are really too kind:-) I find other medium much tougher than watercolor. I supposed it's what we are used too. I hope that you will visit again.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Rhonda. I am glad that you like this. As for the shoulder, it is still very painful,but I think there is a small decrease in the pain. I appreciate your concern.
Thanks for posting about varnishing your w/c. I've used the claybord/aquabord and varnish and it does make a nice presentation. Guess I'm still a purist, tho and prefer it on paper under glass! Good job with the strawberries, and hope you are feeling better. Seems like all of us "wimmen of a certain age" are falling apart slowly but surely!
ReplyDeleteTerrific painting and I like the presentation. I too have been experimenting with varnish and now must give the wax a try. Hope your shoulder responds quickly to the meds.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you are in pain. I am loving the varnishing as well, I have a few frames let so I will use them up but after that I will never frame behind glass again : ). I actually just stretched some paper onto stretcher bars and then I will varnish after I am done, I will post it on my blog when I am done. Great painting!
ReplyDeleteDeb, I agree that watercolors under glass are quite different from the varnished WCs. I really like both effects - some paintings may be better candidates for varnishing than others. I will probably use both options. I bought half a dozen Ampersand cradled boards (the thinner 3/4 " ) when I was in NYC in April; however, they are not only hard to get in Canada, they are also almost twice the price I paid in NYC. I can prepare my own surface from cheaper 1.5"cradled boards that are readily available here. As for falling apart, you are right:-) I literally feel as if my left arm is ready to fall right out of its socket. I am comfortable only lying flat on my back ( what I am doing now while trying to type on my laptop:-)
ReplyDeleteVicki, thank you for your concern and I am very pleased that you like this presentation. I know nothing about the waxing that Ross mentioned in his comment, but it does sound interesting!
Krista, the stretched paper over stretcher bars approach seems like a super solution. Accessible, flexible, affordable! Have you seen Ona's thread on WetCancas about this approach? My only concern is what can eventually happen to the paper in the corners - could it rip etc with age? Please let me know how you like this approach.
Thank you dear friends. I love this online sharing.
Christiane, I'm so sorry you are in such discomfort. My dizziness pales in comparison (and thankfully this bout is going away!). Heat? Ice? Advil? anything help? I hope it's something that can easily be fixed. My husband has had 3 shoulder surgeries, the last for torn rotator cup; I really hope that is not your problem.
ReplyDeleteNow, for art related info: someone I know took a workhop from Joyce Faulknor and she stretches her 300# Arches over a canvas stretcher. It felt quite sturdy - and the woman said she will then exhibit it in one of those "floating frames" we see canvases exhibited in - that would protect the corners and edges. Maybe several coats of varnish does the same? I don't know, but am curious about it.
Feel better soon.
Deb, you are so kind! My problem seems to start near the neck ( I had a severe whiplash some ten years ago and this has a remain a weak spot for me). I am on strong anti-inflammatory meds for another 9 days - this morning the pain seemed somewhat less...but I can't sit at my computer ( I am starting to think that may be part of the problem-meanwhile I am balancing my od laptop on my knees while lying on my back) or remain standing very long. Surgery? Yikes, I hope not!
ReplyDeleteCheck Ona Kingdom's threat on Wetcanvas:http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=928200
She is indeed using a floating frame. Krista Hasson is also experimenting with this approach. We should be getting good feedback soon,
Thank you for the info, Deb.
oopw, that should have been "Ona's thread", not threat:-)
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyed the painting of the strawberries and hated to hear you are hurt:( Hope the pain gets better soon. Follow Dr orders and hang in there. Seems like everyone is busy with lots. I am just catching back up myself!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy:-)There seems to be a slight improvement today with my shoulder!
ReplyDeleteI know that you have been extremely busy these last two weeks. Happy painting!
Hi Christiane. This is probably my 4th time to comment in the last few days so maybe Blogger will like me this round. Really like the presentation on that clayboard...or whatever you call it. I've not worked on it before. I think the frameless presentation is catching on better even here in Texas now...
ReplyDeleteMollie, I am so glad that you finally go through in spite of Blogger! Thank you for your patience!I did not use Clayboard, which is made by Ampersand and is very expensive in Canada. I used an inexpensive cradled board and basically reproduced a texture similar to the Ampersand: more labour intensive, but providing me exactly what I needed. I probably would not paint with watercolors directly on my surface, but for a surface on which to glue the wc paper, it seems perfect.
ReplyDeleteI showed this painting to friends last night and they all liked the presentation, although they agreed that for some watercolors the traditional under-glass framing remains preferable. This is just another option... I wish I had time ( and two good shoulders:-) to try a few more of these varnished paintings before 2 shows I have in June...I am off to visit your site - I see in my blog roll that you have posted a new painting!
Hi Christiane. Hope you do what ever it takes to get that shoulder working. It is so hard to work when confronted with physical ailments.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for again commenting on my art blog
Thanks, Gary!
ReplyDeleteHi Christiane. Thanks for stopping by my blog! It has been so inactive lately or rather i have been. And yes, i can see how doing flowers can be habit forming. I am planning my third! :) :) Hope you are well and happily painting. Ross
ReplyDeleteIt is always so nice to view your work and to hear from you, Ross! I am looking forward to seeing more of your florals. As for me, the sore shoulder is letting me paint only a few minutes at a time, but it is slowly improving...I think.
ReplyDeleteChris, Please feel better ... I am so sorry your hurting.. Love your paintings whether your sitting ,, standing or standing on your head, they are so good, BJ
ReplyDeleteBarbra Joan, your message is so kind and sweet that it actually made me feel a bit better:-)
ReplyDelete