Framing a Sketch Without Glass

 Glass and acrylic cause glare that interferes with viewing of the artwork and museum glass is expensive, is there an alternative for framing works on paper such as pen and watercolor sketches?  There is and I'll share with you my process right here.

I did this sketch a couple years ago, it is pen and watercolor on paper.  Normally something like this would be framed under glass with a matt.  The reason for that is watercolor is susceptible to damage with contact from moisture and paper is fragile as well, it can be easily stained and damaged by contact with water or just high humidity.  

To remedy this situation I gave the sketch two heavy coats of archival UV satin spray varnish by Krylon.  After the varnish was dry I mounted the sketch to a piece of hardboard that I cut myself.  I used a table saw but this can be done using a box cutter as well, it will just require multiple passes with the knife to make one cut, or alternatively matt board would work as well.  

I mounted the sketch to the board by first applying a layer of wood glue to the board.  It is important that you work fast so the glue doesn't start to set up before you apply the artwork.  Make sure the board is thoroughly covered in a thin, even coat of glue.  Next, line up the artwork with a corner of the board and carefully lay it down straight and lined up with the edges.  You will have time to make adjustments but not much.  Next it's a good idea to smooth out the paper with pressure to remove any air bubbles and make sure the artwork lays flat.  I used a brayer but something hard with a well rounded edge would work as well.

Now the art can be mounted in a regular open frame just like an acrylic or oil painting without worry of it getting damaged.  This works best with smaller artworks, such as this 8x10, the larger the artwork the more challenging it will be to get it lined up with the board and to avoid air bubbles, or even just getting it flat without damage. In my case I made a frame myself out of used pallet wood with a couple coats of gray stain for that rustic look.  If you have a table saw and a miter saw you can make one too, it's not difficult at all.