ArtistsNetwork.com 13T
ired of the standard matted and
framed watercolor? Consider an
alternative way to frame your
paintings—a faux photo border.
Photo borders provide a nontradi-
tional display for your watercolors
and are easy to create in your studio.
A few years ago, I considered
incorporating photo borders into
my watercolor paintings, and a
quick internet search yielded tons
of fi lters that emulated traditional
photo borders. While I’m not adverse
to using technology in my art—
Photoshop is, after all, a powerful tool
for creating compositions, cropping
and checking values—creating a
photo border on the computer to use
in my work felt like cheating.
I’ve always been partial to photo
frames, as I started my art career as
a photographer. In the darkroom, I’d
enhance my photos with a decorative
black border by using scuff ed-up mat
board placed onto the photographic
paper to create a black edge against
the white of the paper. Th is contrast
framed the subject and created sepa-
ration from the rest of the surface.
Remembering this technique,
I realized I could just use paint and
masking fl uid or other simple materi-
als to create borders for my watercolor
paintings. I sat down and got to work.
THE FAUX FRAME-UP
A drybrush method is key to creating
the look of an irregular photo edge
and adding visual interest, as well as
suggestions of detail, to specifi c areas
of the painting.
To create a faux border, you’ll need
drawing gum or masking fl uid, tape,
a snap-blade utility knife and black
paint. I recommend using a strong,
staining black paint, such as Winsor
& Newton sepia, that won’t lift
when you’re working on the rest
of the painting.
Th e technique involves using a lot
of paint on a barely wet brush. Skim
the loaded brush over the surface of
your paper (see photo above), creating
the characteristic scratchy eff ect syn-
onymous with the technique. You’re
not aiming for a smooth wash;
instead, you want the marks to be
irregular. Th is technique works best
on textured paper and requires
some practice.
Th ere are many ways to create
photo borders using the drybrush
technique; try one of these options
to frame your work.Black border. To create a black photo
border, apply sepia to the edges of
your paper using unevenly spaced
brushstrokes. When the border is dry,
continue with the rest of the painting.
Th e paint won’t lift because it’s a
staining color. Easy peasy.LEFT
A dry brush loaded with paint—
preferably sepia—creates the
characteristic effect that works
best for a painted photo frame.BELOW
As Close As It Gets (watercolor
with paper, 11x15) features a
faux photo border created with
a drybrush technique using
sepia paint.WWW en e
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