Portrait Backing

[garyleed]

What do most people use to back their portrait art? Please give your reason for you choice, I trying to learn from people with experience. My goal is to make some nice Xmas gifts for family and friends.

Thank you,
Gary

[JohnB]

G'day Garry,
Have a look here.
Backing Material ??

[Jim8Mad]

I like to use whatever I think would look best. Of course this also depends on what is prefered by whoever it's being made for. I've used the soft felt, hard felt, plain paper, colored tissue paper, painted wood, unpainted contrasting wood, plexiglass, cloth fabric, and a couple others I can't think of right now. Basically it all depends on your imagination. Try experimenting with a couple different mediums and you'll be surprised at how well they can look.

[jigsue]

Hi

I usually use painted MDF, make the frame from window beading and paint that the same colour (to contrast with room decor, if for a friend). I have also used felt, fabric and for Christmas, I am thinking of using hoographic glitter paper for some of the stuff I am doing.

Whatever seems right - good luck

Sue

[Minnesota scroller]

I started with black posterboard and graduated to black acrylic (plexiglass). My customers have agreed that the acrylic looks much richer.

[Mick Walker]

Gary, I use 1/8" luan plywood painted or stained. The frames I try to match the backer board. There are many different things to use, let your imagination guide you.

[earlinjax]

I use "art paper" from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Color and texture depends on what I am backing.

Earl

[lucky788scroller]

Depending on the cutting, I use acrylic sheet (usually black), matt board (usually the black velvety looking one),baltic birch plywood (stained however looks best to me), or material (again,to suit my tastes). The only picture I have of some using material are posted here http://www.wooders.com/SSGallery4.html , both are different Statue of Liberty's What it boils down to is personal preferance. For most I think the darker the backer the better it looks. Dale

[Capt Weasel]

I use black felt pretty much exclusivley. It is much richer in color than black matte board. Tried different colors to suit portrait but nothing works as good as black. I get the stiffer pieces from Hobby Lobby that are about 11x14 or so, not the small flimsy ones. I have also used on occasion a mirror cut to size. It works for people portraits best that aren't cluttered by other things in background etc. I do however like the black acrylic idea though. Haven't thought of that. The darkness of the black along with the shine might add a different perspective. Gonna have to check into that.

[I-saw]

Taking a blow torch to a sheet of wood & burning it to use as a backing is an idea. You can experiment with how much you choose to burn it, but whatever result you get looks "natural".

Another thing I've tried is using wood dust. If you save the dust you generate through sawing, you can use it like children use "glitter". Spread glue on a the piece of backing you're using & sift the wood dust over it. It gives a sand like effect. Different woods produce different colours of dust & the dust varies according to the blade you use.