To help keep the design light and unobtrusive, Charlie extended the white paper with two museum acid and lignin free rag mats that matched the thick watercolor paper the enso was painted on. In order to bring the top mat level with the top of the fillet, multiple layers of acid free foam core were used to build the mat up to the fillet’s level.
Conservation is Frame of Mind's highest priority for every art piece, so to mount the enso Charlie used archival mulberry paper strips and rice starch paste for the float mount. A float mount was chosen because the watercolor paper had deckled edges, something he wanted to show for added character.
To protect the piece for years to come, TruVue conservation clear glass, which offers 99% UV protection and excellent clarity, was used.
He knew this design was going to be good, but Charlie was completely blown away with the finished piece. Specifically, he was impressed by the depth added by the fillet and how it accentuated the movement of the circle. When the customer came in for pickup, they happily shared a wonderful moment, struck by the beauty of the piece and a exceptional frame design to match!