Mounting and storing watercolor paintings can be tricky, especially when they’re not framed yet. After years of painting and selling original watercolors, Jane-Beata has learned exactly what works best for protecting artwork without unnecessary cost or stress.
In this post, Jane-Beata walks you through how she mounts and stores her original watercolor pieces—safely, affordably, and without needing a professional frame.
Let’s dive in and keep those paintings protected and looking their best!
Contents
Why the Artist Doesn’t Frame Watercolors Before Selling
Framing sounds like the obvious choice, but in the artist’s experience, it often creates more problems than benefits.
Framing paintings before selling them causes several issues:
- Shipping becomes risky: glass can break easily.
- Postage becomes expensive: framed pieces are bulkier and heavier.
- Framed art lacks flexibility: customers may not like the chosen frame.
Most buyers prefer selecting their own frames so they can match their home or office décor. Only a few ever request professionally framed work.
Mounted but Not Framed: The Artist’s Preferred Method
After many trials, the artist discovered that mounting the painting—without framing it—is the most practical method.
This keeps the artwork neat and polished while still allowing the buyer to choose their own frame later.
It is also ideal for anyone planning to frame the artwork using simple, ready-made frames from IKEA or similar stores.
Step 1: Flattening the Painting
Before mounting, the artwork must be completely flat. A buckled painting will never look right once mounted.
Here’s what the artist does:
- Uses strong masking tape to stick the watercolor paper firmly to a painting board.
- Presses the tape down well before painting.
- Paints on at least 300 gsm paper—anything thinner buckles too easily.
Even with all this preparation, slight buckling sometimes still occurs. If that happens, the artwork is pressed under heavy books or boxes for a few days until flat.
Step 2: Mounting the Watercolor Artwork
Once the painting is flat, it’s time to mount it—an important step that makes the artwork shine.
Why Mounting Makes a Difference
Mounting gives the painting a professional, finished appearance. Even when the artwork already has clean white borders, a mount elevates the presentation.
However, store-bought mounts and frames rarely fit the artwork properly:
- A4 mounts are too small for many pieces
- A3 mounts are too large
Because of this, the artist prefers making custom mounts. It offers more flexibility and is more affordable than constantly purchasing ready-made ones.
How the Artist Makes Custom Mounts
This may sound intimidating, but the process is simple. Thick watercolor paper (300 gsm or 600 gsm) is used to make the mounts. This creates a small gap between the painting and any future glass frame, allowing the artwork to “breathe” instead of being pressed tightly.
That way, the paint doesn’t get pressed against the glass—it can still “breathe.”
Here’s how the artist does it:
1. Measure the Outer Size
The desired mount size is 30 × 40 cm. The artist uses an existing mount of that size as a template and cuts watercolor paper to match.
2. Measure and Cut the Window
Next, the artist measures the actual painting. Let’s say the painted part is 35 cm long, and the mount is 40 cm long. That leaves 5 cm of space in total. The artist divides that evenly between the top and bottom—or sometimes leaves more space at the bottom for balance.
For the width, maybe the painting is 25 cm wide, and the mount is 30 cm. That’s another 5 cm to divide between the two sides.
All of this is marked out with a ruler and pencil, then the window is carefully cut using a craft knife.
Please be careful here—always cut slowly with a ruler as a guide. The artist prefers keeping all fingers intact!
3. Attach the Mount to the Painting
Now for the fun part! The artist:
- Lines up the artwork with the mount
- Starts by taping down one long edge
- Then moves on to the other sides
It’s essential to press the tape down firmly and make sure the painting stays aligned.
Just like that, the watercolor is mounted!
Step 3: How the Artist Stores Mounted Watercolors
If the painting isn’t going straight to a buyer, it must be stored safely in the studio.
Best Tips for Long-Term Storage
Here’s what works well:
- Always store paintings flat
- Keep them in the dark to avoid light damage
- Place acid-free paper between each piece to protect the surface
A drawing cabinet works well if available, or even a regular drawer that fits the size. Plastic bags are not used for long-term storage—they block airflow, which isn’t good for paper or paint.
When the Artist Does Use Plastic Bags
The studio also functions as a classroom, meaning people often go through drawers and touch the paintings—this happens all the time.
So in this case, cellophane sleeves are used. They aren’t ideal for long-term storage, but they keep curious hands from damaging the artwork. And when the painting is nicely mounted and protected in cellophane, it looks super presentable, too.
This method works perfectly for displaying and storing originals in a shared studio environment.
Final Notes on Fixing Watercolors
A common question is whether the artist uses a fixative on watercolor paintings. The answer is no—and here’s why.
Why the Artist Doesn’t Use Fixatives
Other media, like pastel or charcoal, need a fixative because they’re dusty and can fall off the paper. But watercolor behaves differently:
- It stays on the paper
- It doesn’t need fixing
- A fixative can change the colors
- It may also damage the paper over time
So fixatives are avoided completely.
How the Artist Preserves Paintings Permanently
When keeping a watercolor, the artist gets it professionally framed—but always ensures two things:
- The frame uses glass or UV-protected plexiglass
- The artwork is never displayed in direct sunlight
Glass provides excellent surface protection—more than any fixative could offer.
Final Thoughts
Mounting and storing watercolor paintings properly keeps them safe, flat, and professional-looking. This method is simple, affordable, and reliable for selling and preserving artwork.
A clean mount and thoughtful storage can make all the difference in how watercolor pieces are protected and presented.