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Workshops

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Events and Competitions • Workshops
Classes • Plein air • Demonstrations
Presentation & Framing for competitions

Presentation & Framing for Competitions
Suggestions for presentation of pastel paintings for CPS shows

a) FRAMES: The frame must be sturdy, intact, and in good condition. Simple frames enhance your painting. Frames with lots of curlicues detract from your picture. Framing can get very expensive but in the long run, the better looking your frame, the more it will compliment your painting. Hopefully that will come back to the artist in sales.

b) MATS: A neutral mat no lighter than your lightest light will show off your work best. Cream or off-white are ideal and are the norm for most juried exhibitions. Avoid choosing a saturated color as it will distract from your pastel. Make sure the mat is perfectly clean, i.e. NO pastel dust whatsoever on the mat. If dust is on the mat, open up the back of the frame housing and use a kneaded eraser to remove any pastel or dirt, then reassemble the frame unit and replace the backing paper and tape This ensures a professional appearance.

The opening for the painting in the mat should be straight, crisp, and clean. Beveled edges look good and should be done with a mat cutter to give a professional appearance. Double or triple mats work best for pastels, as there needs to be a sufficient gap between glass and artwork. Many pastelists use a "spacer" between the pastel painting and the mat closest to the work, this is a thin 1/4" deep piece of plastic strip or card. This allows loose pastel dust to fall down behind the mats, and the mats remain clean and free from pastel staining. Alternatively, use a filet, a thin wooden or plastic mini frame that sits between the painting and the glass and acts as a spacer to keep the glass away form the art work, your framer can explain how this works. A "spacer" can also be used and the mat eliminated altogether if you choose a wide frame. Here the spacer maybe either a thin plastic strip about 1/4" wide X 1/4"depth X the length of each side of your frame or a filet that separates the glass from painting.
If you are concerned about the longevity of your work use Acid free museum mounting, matting, and backing.

c) GLASS: Pastels are best mounted under glass. Plexiglass is a good alternative, provided it is at least three mats away from the pastel. The disadvantage of Plexiglass is that it is statically charged and may cause the pastel to adhere to it over a period of time. This can cause a "bloom" or shadow of the pastel on the Plexiglass, and necessitates the opening of the frame in order to clean the inside of the Plexiglass. Regardless of whether glass or Plexiglass is used, make sure that it is clean and free of fingerprints, grease, or dirt.
Museum /non-reflective glass, while expensive, eliminates virtually all glare and lets the viewer see the pastel clearer.

d) HANGING: Make sure the picture is ready to hang with two screw eyes and picture wire. If the painting is not ready to hang, or if the frame and/or mats are damaged or dirty, the piece will be disqualified.

e) LABELS: Bring your labels with you - there are two parts to each entry.

Good luck.

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