I sometimes get clients asking me how the artwork is assembled in a suspended "glass" hanging presentation. After all, the viewer is peering through a 1/4" of clear acrylic to the painting on the backside. Its a logical question from a durability and archival perspective.
The best way to describe the process is in a series of assembly steps with some pictures to go along. Once the image is complete (after flipping over the panel), I let the panel cure for 2-3 days, at least. This time allows most of the moisture content in the acrylic paints to dry sufficiently. I may even turn up my studio thermostat to usher along the drying process!
Once the acrylic layers are cured together, I start by sealing the back of the painting. I use Kilz, an inert, thick, white surface preparation paint. It's commonly used as a stain-and-odor blocker and allows subsequent paint to adhere/bind easily. The paint also has excellent chemical resistance, which we will see is important to me. I apply 3 coats on the back to seal the painting, see picture below:
The next step is to assemble a frame. The acrylic panel as a lot of flex on its own but can be made very rigid like glass if a frame is firmly affixed. The use of cross braces is also important to ensure no warping.
Once the frame is produced, the next step is to glue down the frame to the acrylic panel. The adhesive is critical on many fronts. First, it must be strong yet flexible. The flexibility allows for thermal expansion when joining two dissimilar materials. Secondly, since the back of the panel can have texture of thickly applied acrylics, an adhesive that settles thickly within the textured surface is important for bond strength. I use a special polyurethane adhesive recommended by the chemists at 3M!
Previously I mentioned applying Kilz as a sealer. The reason is to protect the painting underneath from the chemical binding process. To bind the frame tightly, I apply soft rubber-tipped clamps all the way around for 10-12 hours. A picture best illustrates below: (Note: apply black paint beforehand to panel as this will be the finishing coat)
Following the cure process, the next step is to paint the frame black and attach the hardware. I use strap hangers on each frame side as pictured below. The artwork hangs on simple nail driven 35 lb. picture hooks (typically). Also, attached are wall bumpers to prevent wall scraping. The hardware is hidden by the panel extending 2.5-3" when hung on the wall.
The total assembly reflects the care and quality in order to preserve the artwork behind the acrylic panel as shown below. Remember for care, use a micro-fiber cloth to polish/clean and never use glass or solvent based cleaners. That's it to ensure your artwork will last a lifetime!
