How to Mount Chinese Painting or Sumi-e with Silicone Paper

[Krystinell]

hi henry. i have two questions:

1. what happens if we don't mount the rice paper (wet or dry) and we just wet it, iron it and frame it (with glass in front of it)?

2.what kind is the silicone paper- with film on just one side? what is the minimum gsm (weight) needed? any other special conditions?

p.s. thank you for sharing with us your knowledge, you have so many useful videos. i'm a regular viewer and i guess you have a bunch of other regulars :D

[blueheronarts]

@Krystinell 1. Good question! Mounting is not only to make the paper flat, but also to bring back the values and tones of the color and ink back to their wet stage. You know when the ink or paints are wet they look brighter, when dry they fade. But by mounting they come back, as if they are still wet! Flatten it along does not help in that regards. 2. Silicone mounting paper is single sided with film. It is a special kind designed to mount rice paper. For more info, please check BHA site.Thanks

[xocieira]

Thank you for this tutorial! I have limited space for the wet mounting, and it always made my colors bleed; I would have to wait months to let them dry thoroughly. I can't wait to try this!

[blueheronarts]

@xocieira Yes, you should try it. There is no bleeding, and takes only a few minutes. Silicone dry-mounting paper solves the bottleneck in the sprerad of Chinese brush painting.

[xocieira]

@blueheronarts Actually I have tried it after purchasing the paper, and the color inks DO bleed when lightly sprayed with water. I had let it dry for about 2 weeks before attempting the dry mounting process. Guess i'll Have to wait longer.

[blueheronarts]

@xocieira If you use western watercolors or whaterever that cause bleeding when wet then do not spray with water. Just iron it directly to see what happens. Or you can do it right after you paint it and before the paints get dry. No, you don't wait to wait for two weeks to dry mount it.

[JuSeo91]

SHAMMWOW

[marzil]

have u ever got burned?

[blueheronarts]

No. The temperature is 170 deg Fahrenheit or 77 degC. It won't burn anything.

[flederbug]

The silicone paper works exactly as shown on the video. It is also very 'forgiving' in that you can re-iron areas if necessary. SO much easier than the wet-mounting process. Thank you for introducing an excellent product.

[seahunter1]

Perfect

[purecalli]

Cool!

[christentze]

awesome job! and that's such a unique water bottle. ive never seen one like that. it looks like it sprays so evenly.

[aznmessenjah]

i imagine this works for calligraphy pieces as well

[conibear45]

you are an excellent teacher. every time i would think of a question, in your very next sentence, you gave the answer!!!

[shoshanna53]

Where is a good place to purchase the paint color chips?

Thank you so much for your instruction. You have helped so much. The paintings are beautiful!!

Shoshanna53

[shuukichan]

Can you tell me how archival this method is? Also, I wonder why your paper is wrinkling when you apply your ink and color. I use traditional rice paper and Marie's Chinese Painting Color from the Shanghai SIIC Marie Painting Materials Company, and my paintings do not wrinkle. Thanks!

[blueheronarts]

The silicone release paper is very commonly used in photography and library in the West. Rice paper is easier to get wrinkling and waving compared to watercolor paper, and in fact that is considered a advantage. You always need to mount it before framing.

[blueheronarts]

I use both Watercolor and traditional Chinese painting chips and tubed pigments. Silicone is better than traditional wheat paste because it does not penetrate through the original painting and does not cause bleeding espacially with Western watercolors.

[shybuttcute]

thank you for such a good information. Now I just have to paint something which is worth to be mounted! ;) 5 stars

[blueheronarts]

You are welcome! Test on a less worth painting or smaller piece first.;-)