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Sierra
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 584
Location: Queensland
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 Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:14 am Post subject: Paint Canvass Edges? |
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Maybe there is already a thread for this, just would like to ask is there a rule how to finish the edges of an acrylic painting (canvass on 40mm stretchers)?
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The Pook
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 2904
Location: Tasmania
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:46 am Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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I don't know that there are any "rules" as such. Just preferences.
Your main choices are:
1. Leave them white. This is generally frowned upon by galleries I think.
2. Paint them a nice colour that complements the painting colours. Or black.
3. Paint them different colours on different sides.
4. Continue the painting onto the sides.
An example of 4. is this triptych I did recently:
[IMAGE TO WIDE FOR FORUM] http://www.dokimon.net.au/art/Triptych/YTT-Triptych.jpg [/img] |
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Omphaloskeptic
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 855
Location: Merimbula
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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Pook summed it up pretty well, here's a little more elaborate view from painting.about.com:
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There is no rule when it comes to dealing with the edges of a canvas. It's a matter of personal preference. If you're planning to hang a canvas unframed with the edges showing, consider painting the edges in a color that was used in painting itself. Leaving the edges white makes them stand out too much, as does painting them black (unless the painting is dominated by dark colors).
Some people continue the painting onto the edges, 'around the corner' as it were, sometimes in as much detail as on the front of the canvas. Personally, I think it's enough to just paint a single color (or perhaps two).
When I'm painting I do the edges at the same time as the initial blocking-in of shapes. That way I don't have to be extremely neat when I do it and stress about having paint dribble over the edge onto the painting.
It's also a way to 'use up' excess paint on a brush when I'm about to swap over to another color. Then when I've finished the painting, I touch up the edges carefully if needed. |
I paint mine black, but maybe that's just because I was a big Rolling Stones fan in my formative years...  |
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The Pook
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 2904
Location: Tasmania
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| Omphaloskeptic wrote: | | I paint mine black, but maybe that's just because I was a big Rolling Stones fan in my formative years... |
I would've thought black would've been more a Sabbath sort of thing. Always thought of the Stones as more psychedelic sort of colours!
Just as well it wasn't Deep Purple you followed...  |
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Omphaloskeptic
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 855
Location: Merimbula
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| The Pook wrote: |
I would've thought black would've been more a Sabbath sort of thing. Always thought of the Stones as more psychedelic sort of colours!
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From Wikipedia:
| Quote: | | "Paint It, Black" is a song recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1966. It reached number one in both the U.S. and the UK charts. |
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The Pook
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 2904
Location: Tasmania
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| ah, guess I was just too young for that phase of their career |
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AvG
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
Posts: 1912
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| Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| The Pook wrote: | I don't know that there are any "rules" as such. Just preferences.
Your main choices are:
1. Leave them white. This is generally frowned upon by galleries I think.
2. Paint them a nice colour that complements the painting colours. Or black.
3. Paint them different colours on different sides.
4. Continue the painting onto the sides.
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Never heard of option 3 - that just sounds plain messy looking.
I have seen all of the other 3. For option 2 I would steer away from bnlack as it is too strong against a gallery wall and would be too dominant a colour for most paintings, an earth colour or a grey will be a bit kinder to most paintings.
It does depend on personal preference, but there are also fairly well established conventions dictated by the nature of the gallery and the work. For example the type of painting that you would find in a rotary show like the Camberwell art prize will always be framed, whereas work in a contemporary gallery like Phillip Bacon and Jan Murphy (Bris) Dick Bett (Hobart) will either have minimal shadow box framing or be left plain at the edge and would normally not have the painting continue around the edge.
I personally go with option 1. I find that most paintings in contemporary galleries have white edges / unpainted canvas, and it is the option that (most of the time) suits my work and sits best with my galleries. It is only frowned upon if the artist has left a lot of messy paint on the edges. I think the reason this is popular in contemporary galleries is that the walls are always white and the edges therefore blend into the wall and are less noticeable.
But like all conventions, trends change over time and what is 'the norm' today might be quite different in 10 years time so find what suits you and the work.
PS As far as I know there isn't already a thread dedicated to this but some opinions are expressed in a few other threads like: "everything you ever wanted to know about oil painting" http://www.artforum.com.au/vtopic532-0-asc-70.html (near the bottom of page 8.
Cheers
Amanda |
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Sierra
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 584
Location: Queensland
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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I like 1. and 2. best. Thanks for all the info.
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The Pook
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 2904
Location: Tasmania
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| avangils wrote: | | Never heard of option 3 - that just sounds plain messy looking. |
Well, that would probably only be an option for certain abstract works I guess. I was only trying to cover all the logical possibilities, not necessarily what looks good! |
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Stephen
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Posts: 345
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| paint them black it always looks good and you cant go wrong. |
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SandyW
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Location: Victoria Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:57 am Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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I either paint them black or continue the actual colours of the painting around the edges.
Sandy |
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Erin
Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 84
Location: Queensland
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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| Stephen wrote: | | paint them black it always looks good and you cant go wrong. |
i extend the colour over the edges from painting. if i want a plain edge i usually go for paynes grey, as i find it still has a smart finish without being as oppressive as black. burnt sienna, ochre and similar browns work well too. depends on the painting. |
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Stephen
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Posts: 345
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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| Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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yes very true, in most cases white will do as this lifts the painting from the wall because gallery walls are white.
Did that just sound stupid....... |
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jasmine
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 663
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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hehe no it didn't stephen...
this might though - i had never really thought to paint the edges white. |
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Torvus
Joined: 06 Sep 2009
Posts: 36
Location: Bendigo
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| Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject: Re - Paint Canvass Edges? |
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I paint the edges black, sometimes with acrylic paint, or enamel spraypaint.
I never used to do it. I used to leave them all scratchy and messy, but I think this was because of laziness, until a friend pointed out that it looked awful.
It depends upon the picture and the artist though.
I think that it tidies up the pictures nicely though. |
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