Mounting Work

What to Do with Older Work
     Sometimes a piece of mine just doesn't speak to me any more. Instead of burning them as the artists of old did, I choose to rework them.
     I have gone back into a piece and painted over it, or I'll paint gesso over parts of it and add collage items, incorporating parts I like or I simply cut out the areas I like and mount or frame them.
Mounting
     For this post, I will mount a section of a work onto a birch board panel. I like the panels because the wooden surface can really be pressed onto for glueing the new work. I have used individual stretcher artist bars and pre-stretched canvas before but these work best for this particular process.

find them here

 To determine what areas of the older work to cut out for the newly mounted work, I use a pre-sized window. I cut these out of old cardboard from cereal boxes, insides of picture frames, etc. This is economical and saves more garbage from going into the landfill.
     Here is a 9x9" cardboard square with a 6x6" opening. This works for me in 2 ways. If I wanted to wrap around a canvas or stretcher bar set up, I would use the 9x9" area to cut out. You need the extra fabric for wrapping.

   
     If I want to mount a piece on 6x6 wooden panel, I use the inside of the window. I move the window around the piece to choose the best design areas to cut out for these for smaller works.  I draw my lines using the inside as a guide to use to cut out the new piece.

     You can also use a cut out a solid piece of paper, no window, to outline where you would cut out but I like the window to see exactly where the design is I like. I'm sure there are pre-made products 'out' there too.
    After cutting my selection out. I prepare my panel by painting the sides and back of the it. Most of the time I use flat black gesso for this step.

After the panel is dry, you're ready to mount!

I use Bindex by Peblo for mounting. It sticks faster/tacter than gel medium. 

I use a foam brush to spread onto panel and than flip my piece over onto it.

Press firmly from center out to remove bubbles and wrinkles. Wipe off any excess medium off from the sides with a damp cloth. Paper towels will leave lint.
I flip onto plastic and weight it down to dry. Why plastic? Nothing sticks and the piece will peel off nicely.

I like to finish the edges of the front sides with paint, usually metallic. This creates a 'frame' and seals the fabric edge. Lastly, I paint a clear glaze, slightly diluted, on the top to seal and protect the fabric. This has an added benefit of deepening the colors, which I love!

 Finished and ready to add a hanging wire!