Acid-free matting and UV glass aren’t just jargon. They’re the secrets to preserving your art for decades.

Matting – Beginner’s Guide

Also called mount board, matting is a thick, archival-quality card used to frame artwork on paper. Mats come in various colours and thicknesses (typically 1.5-3mm), with a bevel-cut window to highlight the art. A well-chosen mat elevates presentation, adds depth and can even complement your artwork’s colours. Placed between art and glass, it creates a protective border preventing condensation (see below).

Purpose: It enhances the visual effects of your works and prevents the art touching the glass. This is particularly useful when making chalk pastel paintings, but you don’t want your watercolours coming into contact with the glass, either. Paper breathes, expands and contracts with the moisture in the air. Works can easily stick to the glass, damaging them permanently if allowed to touch each other. Acid-free matting is non-negotiable as it prevents yellowing to the matt or mount and prevents damage to the paper you have created your artwork on.

When to skip it? Acrylic paintings should not go under glass nor should oil paintings. In the past, oils were placed under glass with a mount or matting board to protect them from the dirty, industrial age, pollution. The air is cleaner these days so it’s not necessary and could cause the paint to grow mould if confined behind glass. Box canvases do not need it, but I will cover this further another time.

Glass Choices

UV-protective glass: Essential for sunny rooms as it prevents fading but don’t worry too much when you first start out. A simple framer’s glass works just fine.

Avoid Plexiglass or Perspex. It scratches really easily, so doesn’t look good for long and then there are environmental concerns when disposing of it.

If you are making artwork which requires glass, then be extra careful when storing or transporting your artwork.

Pro Tip:
 Match the mat width to your wall space – wider mats suit minimalist decor.

Coming up:

Framing canvases – floater frames v. traditional styles.

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