I would like some advice on how to make an archival painting on a 48″ x 48″ x 2″ two-layer hardboard or canvas support. I plan to cut a symbol thru the top layer and fill the void back 1″ to a back layer.
In the 2″ framed canvas, I plan to polyurethane glue 1″ thick Expanded Polystyrene Sheet (EPS) foam to the back of the canvas. I would then cut the symbol thru the canvas and EPS. I plan to polyurethane glue & SSTL staple a tempered hardboard backer to the back of the EPS. Looking at the front of the canvas, you would see the canvas with cut-out symbol and hardboard backer.
In the hardboard support, the look would be the same, but the procedure would be the opposite. I would polyurethane/staple a ¾” cradled hardboard surrounded by 2″ plywood frame. I would then polyurethane glue the 1″ EPS foam and inset into the 1″ cavity between the hardboard flush to the top edge of the 2″ frame. I would then cut out the symbol and polyurethane/staple the hardboard top to the 2″ frame and over the EPS. I would then wire-cut the EPS foam following the edge of the symbol down to the back hardboard and remove the EPS. Looking at the front of the hardboard support, you would see the hardboard with cut-out symbol and hardboard backer.
I would prefer the canvas support, primarily for weight which would be about 32 lbs. over the hardboard support which could be about 50 lbs. I would follow the best practices for sealing/priming all surfaces prior to applying acrylic paints. They both present archival issues and need further development and testing. I have seen canvas cut thru without back support and know that this will be future archival nightmare.
Thank you for your advice.
If I understand the situation correctly, I would recommend the double hardboard over the canvas. There are just too many different materials in the first scenario and each would react in a different manner to changes in the environment. The glued fabric would react very different from unglued areas; the fabric would react differently than the hardboard, etc. It could probably be done, but the situation is not ideal.
I wonder if there is a lighter substrate that would work as well for your needs but without the extreme weight. ACM would be difficult to cut but would be structurally sound.
Others likely have other ideas that I have not thought of.
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