Matting and Framing for Art Show
 

I am submitting two pieces for a juried art show in August, in a suburb of Cleveland. I am at a loss as to how I should matt these portraits. They are both on Canson Tiennes toned paper, one in gray and the other is blue. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate the input before going to the shop to look at matting. I know it is a longshot that these might get accepted but I feel it is good experience for me...you know working towards the dream!!

Thanks

Call the Show Chairman to see if a white or off-white mat is required, as is often the case for works under glass.

If you are certain there is no restriction, I would mat them in a gray black-core Crescent mat board, as close to the Mi-Tientes as possible, as long as the temperatures don't fight.. Use the same mat board for each piece, and then I'd probably put them in simple black wood frames.

When I have framed my "Prud'hon Blues" pieces, I 've used a similarly desatured blue black-core board. It stops the image from feeling crowded, and the black core, cut in a beveled edge, adds separation, without grabbing too much attention.

Your decision, though, might hinge on whether you see this primarily as a competition, or a sales venue. If you want to sell it, neutral (white or off-white) is probably safer.

In any case, with a mat it's unusual not to be able to mat to a standard frame size. Particularly if you are investing seriious money in the framing, you will want to have the option to re-use them. Or at least to make it easy for your buyer to change the frame without being forced into a custom frame.

But you will probably get as many strong opinions the other way.

Good luck! These drawings are beautiful, let us know what happens.

Thank you, Chris. I will call the chairman today. And then look at the Gray black-core Crescent mat board. I have several drawings at home on the Mi-Tientes paper, all waiting to be matted and framed!

...and of course you'll be accepted into the show. If not, then the judges are crazy!

Thank you, Michele! I have no sense of whether or not these are "good enough"! I really am looking at this as a learning process, but, oh would that be fun!!!