Asian Canvas on Cardboard Panel

[Keith Stewart]

To the very ancient and wise and the esteemed others. A client has brought in an "Artworks" Chinese brand Canvas 700mm x 600mm that has been factory wrapped on what seems to be approx 3mm 'acid free' cardboard. This has been factory primed with an acrylic gesso primer and the client has applied acrylic art paint onto it. The panel has warped about 7-10mm over the length. To support this canvas panel in a frame ready for an exhibition I thought of using PVA glue and backing it to 6mm or 7.5mm MDF. Also how do I stop any leaching from the MDF into the 'acid free' cardboard and canvas. I'm open to your pearls of wisdom on how to mount this work. Secondly the artist has intergrated areas of pastel into the acrylic and would like to seal the artwork without the need for glazing. Thank you for the advice, cheers.
Grumpy

[The Jolly Good Framer #1]

I think, from what you have described, it is a canvas panel. The size is quite big for a canvas panel, but not uncommon (well not here anyway!).
The simplest way to frame it would be to have a frame that is strong (heavy) enough to keep the board flat and then a good backing to keep it in place. If you use anything with acid in it (MDF?) then use some kind of barrier between the artwork and the backing, some mount board or a barrier board. There would then be no need to glue it.

As for sealing it, I never do it my self. If the customer wants to use a spray fixer to fix the pastel let him do it (it can discolour the artwork). You only other option is to use some type of glass, maybe something like reflection free glass but make sure that you use a spacer between the glass and the art.

Hope that helps

[Keith Stewart]

Thank you for your words of advice JGF, no doubt gathered through years of experience and learning. Every bit helps a newbie start gathering the knowledge that there may be more than one way of doing things. Living down here in the Shaky Isles downunder I have often wondered wether East Anglia is north or south of Anglia??? Cheers, Grumpy

[The Jolly Good Framer #1]

Anglia is the mediaeval name for England – so East Anglia is basically the east of England.
Anyway I thought you lot in the colonies were up to date on all things British.

You might like to add yourself to our map have a look at this - http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2394