Framing And Mat Standards For Watercolors

Often the artist has some focal point that contrasts with the background colors.

Framing and mat standards for watercolors.

Generally the top mat will be darker on a. The mat is the quiet that allows the artwork to sing a standard mat width is 2 1 2 to 3 although larger artwork will require something more substantial. Your eye can usually tell if your painting is out of proportion to the frame. Watercolors are a more delicate medium so lighter neutrals tend to work better.

For these dimensions a one to two inch wide frame would look fine. An 8 x 10 standard frame may come with a 1 1 2 mat which allows you to frame a 5 x 7 image as well. Currently there are several types of matting material acid free buffered or what is called regular matboard should last about 7 years before the buffering gradually turns acid. So a mat for a 5 x.

If a large portion of your paper is white mat with a light color and a darker inner mat in a complementary color. Matting your watercolors protects and enhances the look of your paintings by cleanly defining the image edges and isolating your image in a uniform neutral or complementary background. Cheap joe s art stuff offers a variety of matboards mounting board pre cut mats mounts and mat frames for framing and presenting your artwork. When in doubt keep it simple.

Mats are made from mat board which should be made from all cotton acid free fiber. Note that in many watercolor competitions they require a white mat so it is better to double mat in white. Think of the mat as a window drawing the eye in towards your work. Generally the mat will cover 1 4 on each side of the image.

Always mat your art 3 or wider. I almost always double mat my art. Any wider may look overpowering. In general using the dominant colors of the art in the mat draws the eye to the art rather than to the framing.

Matting and framing your work. We recommend a mat at least twice as wide as the width of the frame. The mat opening will be slightly smaller than the suggested picture size. If you ve added a four inch mat to a 16 x 20 inch watercolor your new dimensions are 24 x 28 inches.

This allows the mat to overlap the image slightly holding it behind the frame. Materials and tools needed to frame your watercolor painting frame kit from your local framing store should include frame mat board i use a double mat foam core backing board d rings and self tapping screws nylon hanging string glass front. Screwdrivers you will probably need both a flat and a phillips head type. Museum quality made with 100 rag should last 25 to 50 years.