ACEO backs

[ozarkgypsyart]

How do you keep your art cards clean on the back ? I try so hard not to get paint on the backs and some always shows up. I've seen the backs of some that are so nice and neat but I just can't figure it out or I'm just a really messy painter :) Juli

[artistjillian]

For slick or difficult backs I use labels. But it MIGHT also work if you gesso then lightly sand them, then write.

[artistjillian]

Playing cards need to be sanded before use, too - and gesso'd if painted. I bought a painting a while back, and wondered what the speck of red was in the middle, - I brushed it - and more came off. Revealing a HEART of the hearts card it was obviously painted on. 😞 Too bad, as it was a lovely painting by a great SRA.

[art-by-darla-h]

Ok Thanks alot Jillian I will sand and gesso before I paint I would hate to have that happen. I have been wanting to try this since I started ACEOs but have wondered about the backs and also have wondered about the finish so you answered an unasked question. Darlene

[artistjillian]

I haven't done it personally Darlene, so not sure how to sand lightly. I would suspect a fairly fine grain sandpaper, followed by an even finer grain.

[d-baron]

A trick I used when doing an ACEO is I would put painters tape along each side of the back of the card so that roughly half was stuck to the back of the card and the other half would be left as overhang with the sticky side facing the front, then I would lay the card down on my work surface and use painters tape again to tape the over hanging tape to the work surface. This seemed to accomplish two things- 1, it held the card in place and kept it from moving around while I was trying to work on it, and 2, nothing got on the back. Oh, and I didn't have to worry about my brushwork going off the card, because the tape would catch it. Then, when I was done and the paint was dry, all I had to do was peel the card off the tape, and then peel the tape off of the work surface. Seemed to work for me, anyway.

[jgoden]

A Question, what kind of glue is best for mounting a card? I do not like the surface of matboard for drawing and painting, I prefer vellum or brisol (the papers I have now are thin and I would like to put them on a support. Any tips on how to do this are appreciated. thank you joyce

[artistjillian]

I have heard that 'yes' glue is best. Run a discussion search on 'glue' as there have been quite a few previous discussions. :) ~Jillian

[irishkelly74]

If using playing cards would you not need to apply gel medium to make them archival?

[artistjillian]

I don't know. I would consider the spray 'make it acid-free' by Krylon.

[fairfeatherfriends]

Hi everyone! I am new to making the ACEO's. Right now I am working on watercolor paper cut to size. Should I mount these? Being the small size they tend to want to curl slightly. I am worried about them becoming too thick if I mount them but I want them to look professional. Any insights would be gratefully received. One of my latest:

[artistjillian]

I think people are more concerned with orginal work than with a slight curl. I know some that use a cool iron and iron dampened watercolors from the back - experiment before doing that, thought. :) Great work.