How to Mount Watercolor on a Wood Panel: Cheap Alternative Framing Method for Watercolor Paintings

Рет қаралды 140,759

Күн бұрын

I love the contemporary look achieved by mounting a watercolour painting on a wood panel, and waxing it for a finish that maintains the integrity and beauty of the paper. Here I share my technique for mounting my paintings on wood.
Supplies Needed: (When you purchase using these links, I get a small commission. Thank you!)
Golden Extra Heavy Gel Medium [Scroll down the list to select the size you want]: bit.ly/2ghLfc6
Krylon Kamar Varnish Spray: bit.ly/2fS7XqM
Dorland Wax Medium: bit.ly/2ghPFje
Wood Panel slightly smaller than your painting
Sharp knife for trimming the edges, sandpaper for smoothing
Brushes for applying the medium
I find this method works best on 140 lb paper, as thicker paper might not adhere as evenly to the panel.
Learn with me! Mentorship for heart-prioritizing artists: angelafehr.com

Пікірлер: 269

@trishkempson8901 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for much for this. It inspired me to have a go and since I’ve begun doing this in the last Month, I find people Love the paintings on the cradled boards and these are selling like hot cakes. Theylook more contemporary than under glass and buyers don’t have to frame themselves with that extra cost. Buyers are willing to pay the extra for a mounted painting and the board mounting cost is less than professionally framing under glass. And bonus- I can do it at home. Win win!

@alexthe1cat 7 ай бұрын

This demo is hellpful, straight-forward and wonderful, Angela. I am doing my first such panel this next week, and you've further inspired me! ~Be well~

@adventurescalling7082 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this awesome tip!. I tried a scrap piece of watercolour paper and I did a mixed media to see if my pan pastels would work as well. So I dried my watercolour and then added pan pastels over top, to see if it would work with the pastels as well. I then sprayed about 3 or 4 light coats of Krylon UV-Resistant Matte spray which is a clear acrylic coating. I then tried the wonderful wax you suggested and I am so happy with the results! From this I am getting my old pan pastel paintings out and mounting them instead of paying big bucks for putting them behind glass. Super! Keeps cost down and looks awesome.

@LoraCreates 4 жыл бұрын

Holy Cow! This is a gorgeous alternative to framing behind glass. Watercolors displayed behind glass creates glare and it is difficult to see the painting as a whole. Thank you so, so much for this tutorial! I have an exhibition coming up and have been dragging my feet to frame them. I've been hoping to find a way to frame or display them without glass. I've even been considering just pinning them to the wall! Thanks again!!!

@elpasomark3069 3 жыл бұрын

Nice. Thanks Angela. Mounting on a panel and then putting in a float frame would be pretty cool too I think.

@angelfehr 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, it has a great look!

@elpasomark3069 3 жыл бұрын

@@angelfehr Oops! That should have been "Float frame" not "Float free." Edited and corrected :)

@lucymcconville7780 5 ай бұрын

EXACTLY the information I needed! I saw your name in my options for tutorials, and knew this would be the one! Thank you for being here for us, always!

@-davidolivares 3 жыл бұрын

Ok, don’t want to be a David downer but I worry about fading. Without the protective UV layer of good art glass or acrylic, I think the art could fade faster if near sunlight. Edit: Krylon Gallery series Archival varnish has UV protection.

@thefrugalcrafter 7 жыл бұрын

perfect timing! I just bought a small jar or Dorlands per another KZfaq's recommendation. I can't wait to try it! actually I wanted to ask how you did yours but I did not want to put you on the spot lol:) thanks again!

@judithgillam5074 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Angela. This is a a beautiful alternative to traditional glass framing, and your instructions are so clear and easy to understand. I really enjoy your watercolour tutorials also, so encouraging.

@davidhogan621 Жыл бұрын

What a great description, so easy to follow. Going back to the traditional method of displaying watercolours as used by Samuel Palmer in the early 19th century. Thank you for sharing this method.

@dorothysfriend 6 жыл бұрын

Love this method, framing is so expensive and reflects in the price that you have to charge. Brilliant solution, thanks.

@RhondaSawyer-ze4ix 2 ай бұрын

Can’t wait to try this! Thank you for sharing this technique with all of us.

@aprilcrawford-smith271 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Angela, my biggest challenge is the wood panels, where do you get them from and how do you get them the right size? I’ve got 100 watercolour mandalas to mount and this is the trickiest part for me! Thank you :)

@suemauer5965 10 ай бұрын

I did a Google search for cradled birch panels, and found a great variety available online - in has a variety of sizes!

@cmsommerfelt 3 жыл бұрын

A question for you - Do you feel that the acrylic medium that you are using to adhere the painting to the panel seals the wood and protects your painting from acid leaching through the wood to your watercolor paper? I watched another video where the artist sealed the panel first with a polyurethane before using the acrylic medium. Your thoughts?

@BrhodyWallisArts 10 ай бұрын

An answer to this question would be fab 😀

@barbaraelliott7078 5 жыл бұрын

Angela. I just finished my first attempt with this process with an 8 x 10 inch panel and am very happy with the results. I have wanted to do this for ages and your instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Can’t wait to try it on a larger piece. This will definitely keep my framing costs down. Thanks so much for generously sharing your knowledge.

@super9studioscommercialpho370 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Angela! I have watched your video several times while I learn how to do this for my work in cyanotype. Very cool results!

@stephboilard 5 ай бұрын

This is amazing, Angela! Thank you SO much for sharing this tutorial. I can't wait to try this on my own paintings.

@annettefournier9655 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Angela. I've seen this done without the varnish too. I tried it both ways. Without the varnish first I did see a slight shift in color to lighter. So a couple light coats of the varnish did keep the colors true. Thanks again Angela.

@Airbrush208 Жыл бұрын

Thank You so very much Angie,waxing over framing and glass I love the look and so much of a money saver along with time spent, an absolute Game changer for my paintings.

@catherinecatherine4889 7 жыл бұрын

This is especially useful for paintings that would be exposed to moisture such as in the kitchen or bathroom. Good presentation, thank you.

@evelynvanderlinde7357 6 жыл бұрын

Thankyou Angela! I think this method of sealing and mounting is a wonderful alternative to the traditional glass and framing. And, so much less weight to carry!

@cuneytu1 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful result on Michael’s boards. I left the edges as a frame as I don’t have a method for cutting the board yet. Thank you

@edrymes3653 7 жыл бұрын

What a great alternative to traditional matte & framing. I've been doing a series of small ink & wash and this would be an excellent way to show my work.

@francinetjones1814 7 жыл бұрын

Angela, I actually scored my paintings on the backside to the size of my panels. After that I placed on the panel and creased the edges. Then I cut a slit on the diagonal from the edge of the folds. So when I was ready to mount to the panel after applying the medium and brayering, it was very easy to line up. This ensures the painting is straight. :-)

@erikadonaghy9946 4 жыл бұрын

Do you then have paper (or part of your painting) covering the edges of your panels? Sort of like a wrapped canvas?

@SueBetanzos 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this video. I learned about a new product (wax one). This technique works for other mediums too. As long as the painting is sealed with the Krylon spray, it seems to work pretty well. Plus a nice Giclee' print of the original painting can be mounted like this for a cool different look. The cradled birch panels are so nice!

@victoriawaterswaters8805 7 ай бұрын

Hi fantastic 😊 ...I learnt recently that grease is on our fingertips and palms and if you ever need to brush off any dust on a piece of work you should either use the knuckles ie on back of hand as there is usually little to no grease..so when you press down your piece of work onto the board IMHO you should try using a barrier between your beautiful piece of work and the grease on your hands(which we all have btw) maybe put a lint free cloth or even a piece of paper between hands and surface when pressing.

@tarasden63 4 жыл бұрын

I really like this method. I do have to ask though if it increases or lessens the value of a watercolour painting? Also, it should be noted, if you really like the painting, you may want to make sure you have a digital copy for possible future prints before you mount it.

@jgtutors 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for teaching us this technique. I was racking my brain for a way to “frame” 3 small watercolor sketches as a gift to a friend. This was the answer and she loved them!

@trishkempson8901 3 жыл бұрын

Your video has encouraged me to try this method for the first time. So easy. And modern. Thanks for sharing.

@angelfehr 3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it! Enjoy!

@michaelannfitzgerald8742 6 жыл бұрын

Love how simple looking this is, plus all you see is the art..no frame. Thank you!

@terrilikens4975 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! What a great option. I'm just getting back into watercolor and was dreading the cost and fuss of framing. Now I have a better, inexpensive option.

@lstchcglch 7 жыл бұрын

thanks Angela...very helpful. I've used Dorlands on my watercolors in the past (a little onto an original that I'm mounting on a greeting card and it works well on Yupo paper and the like as well. I appreciate all your videos All the best to you

@mindofwatercolor 7 жыл бұрын

Cool! Thanks Angela. I learned something new. Gonna try this.

@LIAMKUMAWAT 5 жыл бұрын

The Mind of Watercolor coool to see you here steve

@shelleywhitehead8029 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Mind of Watercolor. Love your channel! Did you try this? How did it go?

@cynw1138 6 жыл бұрын

I know this is an older video, but I've been going back through a lot and I found this one. Amazing!! I am going to give this a try, I love it!! Thank you!! Just a beginner here

@debikistler5607 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I am not sure how I missed this as I have been looking for an alternative to framing in glass forever! Your tutorial is so clear and easy to understand. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your sharing!

@pambutler5437 7 жыл бұрын

Angela, this is a wonderful tutorial. I love the look of the bare panel as opposed to framing and wondered how to do it. Thank you so much!

@SuzetteG316 5 жыл бұрын

I love this!! I made perhaps the classic mistake of painting on whatever size paper I had available at the time, or just cutting/ripping into sizes that suited me at the time without thought of framing sizes. Now I have about fifteen odd sized paintings that I love and no way to traditionally frame them. Except now I do! I am loving this method and the look you get from it. I can't wait to get started... Thanks Angela!!

@tizianamarinagonzalezmengh8159 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. I have used comun paper glue to stick a watercolor painting on a MDF panel and it glued on very well. I did not not know about de wax! I will try!! Thanks!!

@jackiemiller1408 2 жыл бұрын

I've used Dorlands on several watercolors paintings now, and use it directly on the painting without varnish. The color doesn't budge. Varnish is an unnecessary step.

@maryschwarz8119 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing!!! So much easier than matting and framing for a nice gift! Can't wait to try it!!!

@anyagodwin5197 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this Angela. I am using it for my Christmas presents this year. It’s a very economical way of giving something to someone that is small and still very beautiful and looks professional. I’ve even manage to get the right kind of wax here in New Zealand miracles!

@krissullivan7080 4 жыл бұрын

This is a gem! I've been wanting to mount my watercolor project and this helped a lot. Thank you Angela!

@monicahoeffelmurphy3823 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, I am wondering if the wax attract dust over time? Thanks again for a great video.

@donnacarraway9182 5 жыл бұрын

I just found this tutorial and it looks perfect! Sometimes a mat makes a picture look better but if I have a good painting, (I’m a newbie) I love the idea of the panel! Plus my house is a very modern style so this goes perfectly with that! Thank you so much!! 💕

@colleencrowe8261 2 жыл бұрын

great video, I have watched others and yours is just simple and to the point. I am loving building these little paintings.

@LeighPogue 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video Angela. What a great idea to change up your paintings for a very nice look. Thanks

@JBranchStudio 7 жыл бұрын

Great idea! I've done varnish on watercolor murals, but I've never tried wax. Thanks for the inspiration and great tutorial!

@LindaUrsin 7 жыл бұрын

I like the look of that knife. It looks really easy to hold. With joint issues, it would be great to have.

@lauradains2734 6 жыл бұрын

Linda Ursin, that is a Fiskars product, and should be available at your local craft store, or online. Oh dear, I don't know why I thought this was a more recent video. I hope you have found what you were looking for by now.

@redheadlady2 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so very much. I have watching this wonderfully explained instructions. Starting on two paintings today. I love your exacto knife as well. Thanks again🥰

@watercolourlandscape Жыл бұрын

Looks amazing Angela! Thanks for sharing your method.😊🖐🏼

@kookatsoonjan 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks again Angela...for posting this...did not know that the varnish was a real necessity...since it is highly toxic, and needs to be applied out of doors. ...seems like just the wax and the heavy bodied gel medium may do the trick...Janis

@stalean0301 5 жыл бұрын

Angela Fehr New York Central Professional Watercolor Panels is selling already mounted watercolor paper panels before painting www.jerrysartarama.com/ny-central-watercolor-pro-panels. How do you think they might be accomplishing this without having the adhesive bleeding through? Maybe spraying the back of the paper with a Kamar-type sealant before mounting with a gel?

@sherylbrower7412 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this Angela! In reading the supply list, neither the Krylon Kamar Varnish or Dorland Wax list that they provide protection from UV damage in their description. This is one of the reasons I frame most of my paints with UV glass. Have you found fading in your paintings mounted this way being an issue? Do you use a UV protection spray on your finished paintings before this process? I love the look of this mounting technique!

@lynnrush7166 4 жыл бұрын

Sheryl Brower Krylon does make a ‘UV-Resistant Gloss’ spray. I don’t find it very shiny if applied thinly. Perhaps they have a matte also.

@annemorgan2928 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, just what I was looking for. Thank you so much for sharing! 🇨🇦

@krissullivan7080 3 жыл бұрын

Love this technique! Thank you so much for generously sharing the way to do it. I'm finishing up a series of birds I painted and giving them to my husband for Christmas. Happy holidays to you! Kris from Los Angeles

@hollybarton485 3 жыл бұрын

Angela, I love your videos and have been following you for years. After watching this one I was eager to try it. I followed your supplies links and ordered. You need to know that the link for the golden clear medium is actually for golden clear *granular* gloss medium. I tried using it and the results are not good. The grains made bumps in my painting and kept the paper from making good contact with my block. This is not a criticism, but a word to the wise. I know this is an older post, but I’m sure people are still accessing it, as I did.

@Joe_Maysky 7 жыл бұрын

This is super fun; I love the look of unframed canvases as well and this allows us watercolorists to get that look! I scrolled through most of the recent comments which answered a couple of questions I had on the panel, but here's one I didn't see: How big of a size differential would you recommend for the panel vs. the painting? It's nice that the panels are smaller because often our sizes for paintings are different than the standard panel sizes, but, for example, would a 9x12 panel work for a 10x14 or 11x15 quarter sheet painting, 14x18 for 15x22 half sheet etc? Thanks!

@Joe_Maysky 7 жыл бұрын

Good to know! Blick actually sells a raw wood panel that measures exactly 14 1/2" x 21 1/2" which is perfect for 15 x 22" half sheet size paintings which is one of the sizes I'd like to use this technique for because I think I''d like the look better than a frame for that size of a painting; for other sizes I'll plan to either cut a custom panel or have a slightly larger margin in the size. Not trying to get you to the work for me, but, for example, if you did a quarter sheet 11 x 15" piece and wanted to use a pre-cut panel, what size would you choose if you couldn't get 10 1/2" x 14 1/2"? Also, would you recommend to definitely use a wet, brush-on adhesive such as the gel medium over a spray adhesive? Just curious and thanks again for all you help! See you for tomorrow's live!

@seamus9305 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Angela.

@jessicajeffers2420 2 жыл бұрын

This was exactly in the info I was looking for! Thank you for sharing your expertise!

@Karenliseblack8147 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this lesson. I appreciate your classes and advice.

@free2danz1960 7 жыл бұрын

i absolutely love this! im thinking you could probably adhere a mat to that also if you wanted to. thanks so much for sharing this video. ive been trying to find a way to frame some of my art without going into the whole glass thing. blessings!

@beatriznewmark4979 6 жыл бұрын

Cool idea l definite want try this. Thank you for sharing

@dianachurch7463 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Angela thank you so much for showing us this method. I would certainly like to try it as I am always sad about my paintings being partly invisible because of the light reflection in the glass. I was wondering if I could use something else instead of Golden Extra Gel such as Mod Podge for example?

@shelleywhitehead8029 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this demo. I will definitely give it a go!

@conniekuhn5387 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Just what I needed to learn this technique.

@lynnramsey108 5 жыл бұрын

Love this technique. Makes a beautiful display of your painting. I want to try it!

@mariajackson8378 6 жыл бұрын

I was going to buy some of the wax but I wasn't sure about it because it was quite white. I noticed it does look white though. Thanks for sharing this

@ClaireandAnna 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this tutorial! Exactly what I was looking for!

@jaspermartin7444 5 жыл бұрын

this is excellent thank you. such a great alternative to expensive framing. Although, without more information, I'd probably only want this done on... medium quality artwork. Stuff that is good enough to hang but not necessarily needing to keep it in great shape for a hundred years or more. For high priced artwork or "show worthy" stuff, I'm afraid this method might prematurely damage the piece -- is that possible? Does anybody know? What do the professional artists think?

@bensontongue2183 5 жыл бұрын

Interesting that you ask. I've canvassed 3 of my professional artists friends - and none of them personally use this approach. All were aware of it, all knew that some people like it, some had tried in the past - all opt for untreated and framing behind glass. One remarked that it never stopped feeling sticky (used over acrylic) and attracted dust. Personally, I just ordered a tub of the wax medium - got it yesterday - and am going to experiment.

@imissmypencils 5 жыл бұрын

I've heard of complaints that the wood can contaminate the watercolor because of its acids. A layer or 2 of clear or white gesso over the wood should help keep any of that from ever getting go the watercolor paper over the years.

@EllenSails 4 жыл бұрын

I'm wondering if the heavy gel medium serves the same purpose of a protective barrier (between the wood and the back of the painting) that gesso would provide.

@TheDutchman58 4 жыл бұрын

I've used wax on floors, cars, furniture...it often yellows over time and you have to remove and re-apply...is this true with this?

@rebeccalyons1327 3 жыл бұрын

Now that several years have gone by ar3 you seeing any yellowing Angela?

@lydiashemain9746 3 жыл бұрын

Great idea. Thanks Angela.

@ebyn77 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! That is a lovely way to finish a piece.

@kathbiddle-dutton7069 4 жыл бұрын

Love this process, have used and shared often 🤗 Thanks

@evastovall4546 7 жыл бұрын

thank you very much I've been wanting to know how to do this

@maldoori238 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your skills and inspiring experience I will definitely try it .

@carolyn_r 4 жыл бұрын

I love this video. I love watercolor but personally think they lose some of their beauty behind glass. This is a great alternative. Thanks!

@jonisolis9645 3 жыл бұрын

Have you found that you can clean the dust off of the finished artwork through the years? Wax seems soft, I live in Louisiana, and it HOT here for much of the year. Would the wax always be soft and collect dust?

@brettblumenthalstudio Ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this, I was in a store this weekend and saw this application and wanted to use it on my own artwork. Question: Is this archival? Is there any concerns about the artwork changing colors or fading? Also, is this lightfast with this technique?

@VincentBurkardt 4 жыл бұрын

Just bought some cradled boards by DaVinci on Jerry's website. Crazy sale prices right now on these.

@lissaw.8205 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Angela! I didn’t know this was possible!

@robcoyle5011 4 жыл бұрын

well done! Waxed pencil drawings are great too! Just have to say, but it probably doesn't matter- but its a conservation nightmare in a hundred years or so....

@tonym7570 7 жыл бұрын

I will try it on my next one. Thank you.

@nicsluckytw1 7 жыл бұрын

how would you do something like this to preserve the rough edges of the paper? I love the rag edges of the paper,,, love your vids!

@germaicanlady 7 жыл бұрын

Oh, I love the look of the painting on the panel. Especially, for the tree it's very organic indeed. However, aside from the fact that it's not very protected by the varnish and wax, the downside is that you could never change the mounting/framing of the painting ever again. I'm not sure how your potential buyers would feel about that. But I guess they would accept your choice of presentation anyway! ;-)

@germaicanlady 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I must say, you have throught this through! ;-)

@cindysouza5017 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this great tutorial!!

@mrsd3424 Жыл бұрын

Love this method! Thanks so much for sharing. I have done this a few times now, and love the finished product . What do you use for lint free cloths?

@antheablackmore5838 5 жыл бұрын

Loved this idea, thanks so much can’t wait to try this !

@Marzyart 6 жыл бұрын

What is the name of that board? What should i search for in amazon?

@deerhaven3350 4 жыл бұрын

That was the first question I had also. Her husband may have cut it out for her...perhaps Michaels might have something? That's where I'm going to look....or Hobby Lobby?

@kerryengbarth1428 4 жыл бұрын

They sell them at Jerry's Artarama or Dick Blicks online. Also Amazon carries them. It's called a cradled birch panel.

@maylenbope5348 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this video!!

@lifestories3460 4 жыл бұрын

Such a valuable video. Thank you.

@kristas.gramens3430 2 жыл бұрын

Genius! Thank you.

@evastovall4546 7 жыл бұрын

thank you

@brendalazellestephenson2319 2 жыл бұрын

I'm back again Angela. I had great luck with my first painting. I painted the wood panel white and it looks great. Now I'm wondering about how to treat the wood without painting it. Would staining it work OK?

@sabrinalarson1526 3 жыл бұрын

Is this way of mounting the painting archival?

@christyprice6942 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing. I live in a humid environment. Do you fee this method would last and the paper not lift? Thanks

@barbjursic9300 Ай бұрын

Very nice...

@alinaedmonds 2 жыл бұрын

Fabulous! Thank you a lot!!!

@kediaritu Жыл бұрын

Hey Angela, thank you for the wonderful idea. Though does the wax make is waterproof or water resistant?

@morna45 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Angela, thanks for your excellent video. I just bought a jar of Dorland's because I wanted to try it on my watercolors. I, too, did not want to put the watercolor behind glass. Could you tell me, did you ever try just using the wax without first fixing the painting with Kamar's? I'd heard that the waxing itself does not hurt the paint. Again, thank you. I can't wait to try out my new process, and I realize that this is two years later. LOL