I often said that I prefer Aquabord™ to watercolor paper. One reason for this preference is that a varnished watercolor on Aquabord doesn’t require a mat or glass, just a frame like an oil painting.

But soon I realized that a mat contributes a lot to a watercolor painting. It offers a nice quiet surrounding area that sets off the central image.

I wondered how I could present a painting that has the advantage of a mat but does not require glass for protection. I came up with two possible solutions to this problem.

Can you help me by voting on which treatment below you think is the better one? To share your opinion, please click on this POLL.

**1. Add a “painted mat” to the surface.**

Use pale washes of watercolor to paint a 1- to 2-inch-wide area that gives a matted effect. A thin frame completes the look.

**2. Use a wide (1-1/2 to 2 inches) frame to set off the painting.**

This comes close to the effect of a matted work. If I decide to use this kind of frame, I’m afraid I will have to search high and low for just the right one!

NEW AND UPDATed WORK

There’s nothing like an adorable chihuahua to make a lighthearted birthday card!

I have posted this cameo painting before in the form you see above. We had an assignment in the Ali Cavanaugh patreon to revisit an unfinished painting and add paint to it until we were satisfied. I added a frame and a watery blue background.

***Cassie en Camée***, 12×9 inches, watercolor on Aquabord

“Secret santa” portraits

***Kaia***, 10×8 inches, watercolor on Aquabord

A LITTLE SWEETHEART

Ali Cavanaugh organizes a “Secret Santa” activity every December. Each participant submits three photographs of her/himself or of a loved one, and another artist in the group is randomly chosen to paint a portrait from one of the photos.

I received three adorable photos of Kaia from her grandmother, and I selected one that gave me a reference for this irresistible smile!

Everything is kept secret until time comes to unveil the portraits. So much fun! It was a pleasure to paint this little sweetheart.

SUSAN FRISBEE’S PORTRAIT OF ME

I wanted to see what it was like to be someone else’s muse for a change, so I submitted photographs of myself.

Susan Frisbee was assigned to paint me, and I am very pleased with what this talented artist did with the assignment. I have been told I look quite dignified in this portrait. I love it.