Friday 25th July 2025
A small area was set aside for new members and those who wanted to find out more about preparing to exhibit artwork for an exhibition.
What artwork can be exhibited?
(1) Framed Ready-To-Hang Oil, Acrylic, Watercolour and Mix Media paintings. Frames should be in good condition and fitted with D-rings and picture chord for hanging. Paintings should be clearly labelled with Artist Name, Title, Medium, Price.
(2) Unframed canvases, usually oil or acrylic paintings. It is good practice to ensure that the paint continues around the edges of a canvas. Unframed canvases still need D-rings and picture chord.
(3) Portfolios. These are mounted paintings which are ready to be framed. They should be wrapped in cellophane and labelled on the front rather than the back with Artist Name, Title, Medium, Price.
Where to get the different size cellophane pockets? Jacksons art supplies was suggested, as well as internet companies such as https://www.transpack.co.uk/gift-display/cellophane-bags/artwork-photo-bags. Liz Seward reminded people that a roll of cellophane also works and can be used on a variety of sizes. Longacres has florist cellophane that would also work.
Please note in order to submit Portfolios artists should have at least two Ready to Hang paintings in the exhibition.
How should paintings be framed? Liz Seward, FCSA President, has exhibited for many years. She admitted that framing is expensive but that if you are going to be exhibiting regularly it can be worth investing, although exhibition sales are not good at the moment.
Where to get the frames? Carole Head mentioned that she had used Memco in Camberely : https://www.memcoframing.com. and there is also The Frame Centre : https://www.theframecentre.com. There are also lots of companies selling frames on line but in order to avoid these relatively high prices artists often find frames in charity shops or buy photograph frames from places like Hobby Craft https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk which is much more economic.
It was important to ensure that the back looks professional even if you frame yourself. Photograph frames can be adapted but the metal clips need to be removed or concealed and the back sealed to the frame with gummed tape. D-rings and picture chord should be used to enable the painting to be hanged.
Can wire or screw rings be used? No, wire and screw rings are not allowed because they are known to badly damage other artwork and frames when they come into contact with these.
Craig Whitehead used an example of a charity frame that he discovered was just the right size for his painting. It has yet to be fixed into the frame. The wood used to make frames is often very hard so he demonstrated how he adds the D-ring using a power screwdriver.
How to adjust a frame to fit a painting? Craig demonstrated how a larger frame can be reduced to fit a given painting. He finds a corner vice a useful piece of equipment for securing the new corner.
How to make a mount? Lesley demonstrated how she makes her own mounts. She has created a useful steel rule and then she uses either a Stanley knife for the outer edge or a Logan Cutter for the bevelled interior edges. A full description of how she does this can be found here: https://fcsaonline.org.uk/mount-cutting-demo/
How to secure the picture to the mount board? Liz Seward warned against using Masking Tape to fix a picture to the mounting board because it deteriorates and moves. Acid free Mounting Tape is the best way to secure a painting to its mount.
If any members have additional questions please ask any committee member who will be happy to find the answers for you.