How to Hinge Paper Art to Keep It From Buckling

Hanging paper artwork is difficult at times. Humidity changes can make the paper expand and contract. These changes can cause your artwork to buckle and look unattractive. Using a hinge to hang your paper artwork is a good way to help keep your art in place. Make art hinges from wet paper and glue them to the artwork using wheat starch paste.

Things You'll Need

• Japanese mulberry paper
• Wheat paste
• Paintbrush
• Backer-board
• Blotting paper

Instructions

1. Brush water along the lines of your handmade Japanese mulberry paper. Fold the paper along the wet line to create a crease. Unfold the paper and tear along the line, leaving the edges rough and feathered. All sides of your hinge should have the same feathered edging. These strips of paper should measure one inch thick and two inches long.

2. Dip a soft brush into the wheat paste. Press the brush to the end of the paper hinge and brush outward to the edges. Moving your brush from the middle to the edge of the hinge splays the feathery sides effectively. Only apply wheat paste to 1/4 inch of the hinge. The end of the hinge should be the only part painted with wheat paste.

3. Lay your picture face down. Stick the hinge to the art once the wheat paste has dried. The hinge's end should overlap 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch of the artwork's edge. Press the hinges to the back of the piece of artwork. This way the hinges will not interrupt the picture and the hinges can support the image discreetly. You have just made a pendant hinge. Stick two of these to the top of your paper and two to the bottom of the paper.

4. Flip the paper so that the picture faces you. Completely cover another hinge in wheat paste using the same brush method used for the other hinges. Press this new hinge over the end of your pendant hinge. This second hinge should not be in contact with your artwork, only the top halves of your pendant hinges. To avoid buckling, place the upper left hand hinge and the two bottom hinges an inch away from your paper. This makes a hinge called a "loose T." Place the fourth hinge in the upper right hand corner 1/4 inch away from your paper. This makes a "tight T" hinge.

5. Set your paper face up on a piece of backer-board. Place blotting paper over the hinges and piece of artwork. Place a weight over the blotting paper to hold it down; this gives the hinge and paper time to stick together without wrinkling. The weight also helps promote a strong bond between the hinge and paper. The "T" part of your hinge should mold onto the backer-board.

Tips & Warnings

• The wheat paste loses gloss when it dries. Attach it to your artwork when it becomes dull.

References

• FrameTek