DIY Network

Framing Valuable Art, Prints or Posters, Part 2 Embellishing the Mat With Paint From "Get Framed" episode DGFR-104

In this Get Framed project, host Shahnaz LaCaze helps guest Tyree McLyn frame a valuable serigraph. In this second phase of the project, Shahnaz shows how to create a super easy abstract paint border around the mat using the dominant colors in the artwork. This enhances the custom look of the presentation. Then we learn a professional technique (called hinging) for attaching the artwork within your newly made mat frame.

Materials:

transfer tape (double-sided)
removable tape
acrylic paints (we are using red and orange for this project)
paintbrush
anitique gold 'rub & buff'
sheet of paper
blow dryer
palette
gum eraser
white cotton gloves
japanese hinging tape
sponge with water
craft knife
acid-free foam core (cut to size of frame)

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B

Steps:

1. First measure the area you want to paint. We are putting a 3/8 inch border around the entire mat window. The border will start about one inch from the inside edges.

Tip: When painting a border on your mat, it is best to make it a thin border so that your customized touches never compete with your central artwork.

2. Place a strip of removable tape along the edge of the inside mat window. This will keep that one-inch area clean while you paint on your border (figure A).

3. Then place a strip of removable tape along the outside of your border area, leaving only the 3/8 inch strip of mat exposed for painting the border in a crisp, clean line (figure B).

	Figure C
	Figure D

4. Choose your two border colors and squeeze them onto your paint palette. You may need to mix some paints together to get your desired color. We are using red and orange as our two colors for this project.

Tip: You can use any combination of colors in the piece, but introducing new colors in your border that are not reflected in the central artwork will detract attention away from the artwork.

5. Using a paintbrush, paint the first color (red) onto your exposed mat strip for the border (figure C). You may have to paint a couple of coats to get the full bold color to appear on a dark-colored mat.

6. Next, tear off a small piece of paper and crumple it. The crumpled piece of paper will serve as our "brush" to apply the second or highlight color (orange) by dabbing the paint onto the border (figure D).

7. Finally, apply the gold 'rub and buff' with another piece of crumpled paper and the same dabbing motion (figure E). This final touch gives the border a rich, abstract look. (You can use gold paint but we are using "rub and buff" because it works on paper as well as metal and we'll also use it later when we embellish the frame.)

Note: To see results right away you can quicken the process with a blow dryer. Once dry, reveal the painted border by slowly removing the tape (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

Page  1 | 2