Cheapest way to present A3 watercolours for exhibition

February 29, 2016 3:56 PM

I need to be able to hang about 20 watercolour paintings that are mostly A3 size (297 x 420mm, or 11.7 x 16.5 in, with a couple of A2) very cheaply, but attractively.

A friend of a friend has offered to exhibit my art (see link in profile if you must) in her funky business in the city (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia). I don't anticipate selling anything (I am merely a Sunday painter), but I've always wanted to do this*, so I am. However, I don't want to spend $100s of dollars getting this stuff professionally framed and then not getting costs back AND having to store the frames as well (currently the paintings reside in a box, on a bottom shelf).

I know nothing about framing, matting, glass, perspex, and I have no tools to cut frames from things you buy at a hardware store. What can you tell me?

*It's one of those challenges that will take me way of my comfort zone.

posted by b33j to Society & Culture (8 answers total)

Is your work on paper? The absolute cheapest is to use clips or clothespins on a wire. Ikea has an attractive metal curtain hanger that is the same concept. It looks casual, but cheerful and outdoorsy.

You can also get perspex/Plexiglas in standard sizes from a hardware store, a drill, and some nuts and bolts. Either sandwich the plexi together with the art in the middle, keeping it all together with nuts and bolts. Or, you can get bent nails (looks like an L-shape nail) or mirror brackets to holds the art behind the plexi on the wall.

If you have more money to spend, get standard frames from your art store. Since you're selling the pieces or only displaying them temporarily, there is no reason to be concerned about conservation-- that is the buyer's long-term problem. If you want the matted and framed look, it is easy to put together if your frames are the right size, and you will not need a professional unless you absolutely must have a customized component.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:34 PM on February 29, 2016

First, the presentation of your art is important if you want people to respect your work, purchase it, as well as to protect the piece. Watercolor and art on paper is particularly fragile. The framing done for amateur artists often will be costlier than the art itself. I think you know all this but want an inexpensive solution in any case.

You'll need a backing and a hanger. You could buy foamcore boards, cut them to size with an xacto, and glue the wc to the board. Add simple hanger of wire & tape on back. But eventually these will warp and the wc pigments will fade.

Good luck. And congratulations with your first exhibition!
posted by artdrectr at 4:36 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Work is on paper. Paintings will stay up for 3 months so they need to be protected. It's a classy space too, so they need to look a bit okay, not school style.
posted by b33j at 4:52 PM on February 29, 2016

Best answer: That's quite a bit of framing! Ikea has 40x30cm frames for 4.99 and slightly nicer ones for 9.99. They will look fine for the duration of your show, and I don't think you're going to do much better than that, price-wise, even if you were to build yourself (glazing alone can cost that much or more). If things sell, just think of the frames as temporary packaging until the new owners can have them done up properly.

Alternately, using perspex and L-shaped nails or mirror clips to sandwich works on paper against the wall doesn't look terrible, but the price might not be much better.
posted by wreckingball at 5:04 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Oh that is super! Congrats. I came in to say Ikea frames also, but for the love of all that is holy, you need to mat them. For that reason I would suggest using the Fiskas and adding mats. You can order the matting online, too, often custom cut and you just specify the A3 aperture.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:11 PM on February 29, 2016

Here is a tutorial on how to make your own frames out of plexiglass and book corners.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:36 PM on February 29, 2016

Best answer: I agree that ikea frames are probably the best, cheapest bet. It may be worth your while to pick up a mat cutter. Once you have one of these framing becomes much easier, since you can cut your mats at home and frame up work for a very reasonable cost. There's a bit of a learning curve but it's not rocket science and you can do it on the kitchen table. Getting corners absolutely perfect is a challenge for the amateur, but frankly most people are never going to get close enough to the work to notice slight overcuts. Once you cut your own mats you'll also start noticing how many "professional" framers overcut as well.

It looks like this hobby size would do you. They have a link to a video so you can take a look at how it works.

Good luck! The work looks lovely - I hope you surprise yourself and sell a ton.
posted by Cuke at 7:16 PM on February 29, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. Just what I needed. Memail if you're local and want an invite.
posted by b33j at 8:50 PM on February 29, 2016