72 - Planning and logistics

 Notes from today's Trello board

Trello is a web based organiser app which I make use of. I also type a lot into Mac Notes which updates via iCloud onto my phone.

Here are some of today's notes:

Check whether solvent based varnish will work on the acrylic parts of the mixed media piece.

I still have to test the magnetic strip - so this might change to metal magnets.

I have to settle on the right thickness and substance of board. Currently going with birch face plywood (poplar centre is soft and lightweight - birch is harder for the surface).

Also need to practice applying the gel primer and glueing on the watercolour paintings.

Jacksons suggest I don’t need an isolation coat - it’s intended for oils or acrylics.
Can you make a watercolour waterproof?

Adding varnish makes it a mixed media piece but it is anyway.

Do I need to prime the gel side first?

"If you wish to seal your watercolour painting on paper and then mount it onto a panel, this blog post about mounting canvas onto panel will help as the technique is the same. Making a Canvas Painting Panel. The only difference will be centering the finished artwork on the panel. If you need to crop the paper a bit, do it leaving a few millimetres evenly all around, lay it face down on the table, place the panel with adhesive facing down on top insuring you have the same amount of paper all round. Then when you have smoothed it, weighted it and it is dry, you can trim the edges even with a knife."

With regard to this guide Making a canvas painting panel I am going to use a 4mm birch face plywood. Should I seal the edges and back? The front will have the acrylic gel glue on it and the watercolour painting.

Jackson's • AI Agent

"Yes, you should definitely seal the edges and back of your birch plywood panel. This is important because: Sealing prevents moisture from drawing up colour, acids, glues, etc. from the wood into your artwork. Without sealing, liquids can be absorbed into the surface and cause swelling of the veneer if the panel gets too 'wet'. The glues in plywood and resins in wood panels may be water-extractable and could cause discolouration. You can seal the panel with a quality glue size or an acrylic-based primer. Products like Golden GAC 100 work well to prevent Support Induced Discolouration (SID). After sealing, we recommend priming with acrylic gesso and sanding for a smooth yet slightly absorbent surface."

Quotes

I wondered whether I should buy cheap A4 plywood sheets and find a company to cut them down to size for me. The local art framing shop? They haven't returned my call yet.

I got a quote from a company called Lightning Laser who keep the plywood in stock and cut it to size for you. 

6mm less likely to warp. Birch face plywood with poplar centre is best as the surface less likely to dent.

20 bits at 20cm sq or 199mm would be £108 inc VAT. Postage £6

4mm thick would be £84 inc VAT.

Turnaround is 3 business days.

All of these variable make my head spin. The lists straighten things up a bit.