How to Display Watercolor Paintings

Watercolor paintings are a beautiful and delicate form of art. They can be displayed in a variety of ways, depending on the size and style of the painting. There are several ways to display watercolor paintings:

1. Frame under glass: Watercolors are best off when you frame them under glass, as paper deteriorates very fast if left in the open.
2. Use a free-standing display stand or a painter’s easel: This is a great way to show off your watercolor painting.
3. Use a floating mount: Pair deckled-edge paper with a floating mount to present watercolor artwork with a raised or “floating” look.
4. Add a matboard: Adding a matboard to your piece gives it a decorative touch, accentuates your artwork, and gives your frame a finished and sleek look.
5. Present without glass: For larger paintings, you can try applying a coat of acrylic medium to both sides, which seems to even things out pretty well. Or, better yet, use heavier paper or board to paint on.
6. Lean your watercolor along a wall: You can lean your watercolor along a wall, in a corner or on a shelf for display. Use heavy objects like books to anchor it in place.
7. Attach a magnet to each corner of the back of your painting: This is a great way to display your watercolor painting on a refrigerator or a metal file cabinet.
8. Tack ribbon or string along a wall: You can clip your watercolors to the ribbon at equal intervals with clothespins or bulldog clips.
9. Mount your painting to a panel: This is a non-reversible process, so start with a small sample painting while you learn and test the process.

What type of glass is best for framing watercolor painting?

When it comes to framing watercolor paintings, it’s important to use UV-coated glass to protect the painting from sunlight and the elements. Both glass and Plexiglas come in varieties that offer this benefit.

Watercolor paintings are especially vulnerable to sunlight and humidity, so it’s essential to use glass to protect them from dust, damage, and humidity

How to choose a frame for a watercolor painting

Choosing the right frame for a watercolor painting involves considering the medium and support of the artwork, as well as its style and color. Here are some tips from the search results:

1. Consider the medium and support: Watercolor paintings on paper can be fragile, so it’s important to frame them with a mount or “mat” to protect them. Works made with mediums such as graphite, charcoal, or pastel are more delicate and require a deeper frame to accommodate the thickness of the artwork.
2. Choose a simple frame: Frames with simple, clean lines or small patterns are usually best for watercolor paintings.
3. Draw out a dominant or subtle color: Take a look at your painting and choose either a dominant color or even a subtle color seen throughout the painting to draw out and compliment.
4. Consider the style of the painting: Paintings with a classical subject matter are well suited to a traditional gold-leafed frame or an attractive dark wood frame. Lighter or more abstract paintings usually look best in less ornate frames, such as a box frame with a thin border. For paintings with a subject matter somewhere in between, you could choose a frame that combines traditional and contemporary styles.
5. Choose a black, white, or natural wooden frame: These colors will go a long way in complementing your watercolor painting. If you’re looking to make an art gallery wall, it’s often better to keep the eye moving by using a variety of frames.

What are some tips for hanging watercolor paintings on a wall

Here are some tips for hanging watercolor paintings on a wall:

1. Choose the right location: Avoid hanging watercolor paintings near windows or in direct sunlight, as this can cause fading or damage to the painting.
2. Use a frame: Watercolors are best off when you frame them under glass, as paper deteriorates very fast if left in the open.
3. Use a free-standing display stand or a painter’s easel: This is a great way to show off your watercolor painting.
4. Use a floating mount: Pair deckled-edge paper with a floating mount to present watercolor artwork with a raised or “floating” look.
5. Attach a magnet to each corner of the back of your painting: This is a great way to display your watercolor painting on a refrigerator or a metal file cabinet.
6. Tack ribbon or string along a wall: You can clip your watercolors to the ribbon at equal intervals with clothespins or bulldog clips.
7. Lean your watercolor along a wall: You can lean your watercolor along a wall, in a corner or on a shelf for display. Use heavy objects like books to anchor them in place.
8. Use templates: If you’re hanging artwork by yourself, cut paper templates to size for each piece of art and attach the paper cutouts to the wall with painter’s tape. This will give you a chance to see how the painting will look in the space before you commit to hanging it.
9. Hang at the right height: According to experts, 57 inches from the center of your picture to the floor seems to be the sweet spot for standard height. If you’re hanging a series of paintings, consider hanging them in a vertical line.

In summary, no matter how you choose to display your watercolor paintings, be sure to take care of them so that they will last for many years to come.

FAQs about How to Display Watercolor Paintings