African Art

[DaveJ]

Hi guys, more help/advice needed!

I framed this African Art for a customer, I'm not sure what its painted on, I don't think it is canvas!?!, maybe some sort of linen, apparently from Africa, its green!!!
I mounted it with some Arqadia double sided tape but after a couple of months it went, wrinkly/bumpy...Not flat!!

I'm a bit nervous about stretching it especially as I'm not sure if its canvas!.. any advice on fixing it so it stays flat!! Thanks guys.

[DaveJ]

Another pic

[prospero]

I've had some more-or-less exactly the same. I stretched them on bars. But I had the luxury of a bit more margin.

Yours look a bit too fragile for that. Mounting with pressure-sensitive tape is not a good idea as you
can't really get enough pressure on. I would try wet-mounting with Unibond or even PVA glue painted on.
Unibond is essentially the same thing but a bit more runny. The main thing is work fast and sandwich the
board/glue/canvas between two hefty boards (I use 3/4 chipboard). Use release paper and a foam blanket.
Pile as much weight on the top as you can muster and leave overnight.

[DaveJ]

Thanks prospero, is there no danger of the glue seeping through and damaging?

[prospero]

It's possible I suppose, but if you spread the glue nice and evenly with a big brush, or better still a roller
the risk should be minimal.

[Roboframer]

..................... and let it go off!

[prospero]

............... but not too much.

[DaveJ]

OK cheers chaps, will have a go!...

[Not your average framer]

A few years ago a customer brought in an african painting on what I assume was deck chair canvas. Apparently the deck chairs from the hotel used to regularly go missing until they attached them to chains. That painting was not flat either and it was very glossy. Goodness knows what it was painted with. I had to glue it onto 12mm MDF, it was a real big PITA.

[DaveJ]

Thanks Mark!!