The Framers Forum

Happy new year all, I hope you all manage a good break!

I have had a few request from clients recently for a style whereby the frame (custom painted in a F&B type colour) and the mount are matching.

In both instances, the request has been for the artwork to be surfaced mounted.

Can I ask for some in-put please?

Is it simply a matter of painting a mount (anything specific, for example LJ's 8627 as a base)?

Any pitfalls that I should be aware of, for instance, paint type, would F&B chalk based tester pots be suitable and should the painted mount (if that is method) then have a coat of polyvine decorators varnish for example?

Many thanks

I'm sure Gesso&Bolle will chip in as I know he does this.
Only thing I can add is that with polyvine coat against the glass it will leave a contact mark with the glass (there is a technical term for this...), without the polyvine it should be fine.

Thanks Justin, the artwork is float mounted so the backing mount wouldn’t be in contact with the glass.

Cheers

If the mount is going behind ordinary float glass, this may cause a slight colour shift due to the glass. I'm not too sure how well this may work. I have painted mounts before without problems, but I was not trying to match the colour of the frame as well. I'm not sure how well this is going to work!

I do this all the time. I don't personally like the Farrow & Ball paints, but I do use their colours, I have them mixed at the decorators merchants. Johnstones paint is what I use, much cheaper!

If it's over A3 size I would use PVA to glue the mountboard to some foam core first, just so it doesn't bow, then water the paint down a bit, and use a foam roller, quick de-nib with 320 grit once dried, and then a second coat.

Yes the same colour does look slightly different under glass. Less so with AR glass, and less so if the frame is waxed but the mount isn't.

Jim, Many thanks for the overview, this all makes sense. I will give it a go.

Thanks also to Mark and Justin!