[Claire]

I read a pretty good article about framing and matting pieces in a art magazine the other day.
It was a Frequently Asked Question Article on Framing.

In it they talked about framing a canvas piece. Someone had asked about Stretching a Canvas piece of Art.
They wanted to know if the Canvas during stretching should be cut so it wouldn't be so bunchie. (I hope that makes sense)

The answer was No. That even the border around the image of the canvas is considered part of the art work. I am not disagreeing I was just wondering if you Artists Feel the same way.

Claire

[Thaibebop]

I am not an artist myself, but I would say that in the name or preservation the answer should be no. Cutting anything away is trouble for the work.

[Claire]

Thaibebop

I agree with you.

One of the other points that they had mentioned in the Article was that it leaves the canvas with strings that can unravel and it can keep unravelling.
I guess if anyones framer suggests cutting their piece tell them no.
Or if you have a canvas piece whether it is an original or limited edtion please tell your framer not to cut the piece
Claire

[Squirrel]

Thanks for the info Claire. I'm trying to frame my stuff myself and all info is welcome. As far as cutting the canvas goes, I know nothing, but in watercolor I butcher my paper as the mood hits me. I guess that's different though. Sometimes you just have to crop them though. I might get three different paintings on the same sheet. Sometimes I cut (RIP) them up and sometimes I just leave the commotion.

I think the canvas paintings are kind of cool painted all the way over the sides. No frame. Have you seen that? SQ

AND DON"T LET FRAMERS SPRAY FIXATIVE ON YOUR PASTELS!!!!!

[JoSBradley]

Squirrel is right. Don't spray fixatif on pastels or chalks. The canvas thing is up to the artist. If I like a piece that I have done on canvas I don't mess with it any more and neither should anyone else. Cutting it or messing with it alters it from the way the artist set it as final.

SQ- I have done that on a few pieces and I had a teacher who used to do that all the time. Great stuff.

[Violet]

Squirrel is right. Don't spray fixatif on pastels or chalks. The canvas thing is up to the artist. If I like a piece that I have done on canvas I don't mess with it any more and neither should anyone else. Cutting it or messing with it alters it from the way the artist set it as final.

SQ- I have done that on a few pieces and I had a teacher who used to do that all the time. Great stuff.

JoSBradley....why aren't you supossed to spay fixatif on pastels or chalks? I have a friend who was told she was supposed to do that and I want to let her know not to do it if that's the case.

[JoSBradley]

JoSBradley....why aren't you supossed to spay fixatif on pastels or chalks? I have a friend who was told she was supposed to do that and I want to let her know not to do it if that's the case.

The fixatif will turn you colors darker if you have it sprayed on heavily. I use a very fine mist of workable fixatif on my chalk and charcoal pieces, but anytime that I spray it on as prescribed it turns the colors, tone and value a lot darker. So I do use it very sparingly. Always test it on something similar to your intended target before you use fixatif too. I just don't like the stuff because of how it affects my work. So like I said I use it sparingly. I normally mat and frame or wrap my chalk pieces in a clear plastic to keep them from damage. I hope that helps and I don't sound contradictory. I haven't had any luck with the spray stuff. This is an example of a charcoal piece I did when I was in college. It has survived a fire and a robbery and still looks like this. The picture of it was taken two months ago. Skeleton in strong light I did not use any fixatif on this piece because I did not want to change the values on it and it has held up pretty well.

[Squirrel]

Violet, let me clarify what I said. I don't do many pastels but when I do I spray fixative between each layer to hold them down so I can add another layer on top. Highlights are put on last and I don't spray it after I put them on the painting. If the highlights are sprayed, they will disappear.

How's everyone doing? Painting? SQ