Competition question
 

I have a painting that just got accepted into a competition. It's held not far from here, but it is national (it's not widely known though). Anyway - the painting accepted was in that NYC show and they put a little name plate on it that has the organization's abbreviations and the award won. It is somehow glued on there - and they put it on noticably uneven. I wish they had asked first. I understand it's an honor, but unless someone was really familiar with the organization - they wouldn't know what it means anyway.

My questions: any suggestions how to get this off without ruining the frame?

Do I need to remove it? Im thinking it would be bad form to leave that there advertising that I already won an award with this painting. There is no rule (like some competitions) saying you can not enter a painting that has been shown before. I just feel like it would be....just in bad taste maybe? Not only that - but like I said - it's badly slanted.

Kim,

Get a new frame for the upcoming competition. ( Is the painting a standard size?)

I definitely think you should see about removing the plaque, and either replacing it evenly, or if the frame is damaged after removal, get another slightly larger one made yourself. When you show this painting in the future, you most certainly want the honor to be evident to a potential client.

As I recall, when I won a couple of awards from the Pastel Society some years ago, they glued the little plaque to the glass (easy to remove), but perhaps because the frame molding was curved, and unable to support the little plate. I think that it would be better for the group making the award to give the plaque separately to the artist, than to place it on the frame, but I don't know if there is some kind of protocol on this.

Kim,

What is the finish on the frame? Is it gold leaf, paint, varnish or something else. If the frame has a lacquer finish, your could have some problems. Knowing what you are working with may be important.

I suspect that the label might be applied with adhesive film of the peel off the plastic paper and stick on kind. If so, the heat from a hair dryer might soften the adhesive to the point where it could be gently slid off the surface of the frame. Then you have some residual adhesive that would have to be remove using mineral spirits or such. Test a hidden spot on the frame to see that the solvent used does not remove the finish also. Wish you success.

Thanks Chris and Richard!

It is a standard size, so I guess I can replace it and then try to get the plaque off. I will try the hairdryer trick to start with - thank you.

Chris, I think it's a great idea to show the award in certain situations. It's a figurative and I want it to sell. I suppose the award may be impressive to potential portrait clients, but what about an actual collector? I would think it would be impressive to them as well, but when someone is buying art - do they want it displayed right on the frame like that if it's won an award? Or would that maybe be a decorative no-no for their home? Just wondering out loud.

Kim,

Did you try asking the source of the problem what to do? This would accomplish two things. First, you might get the exact remedy to disolve the glue and second, you would bring to their attention what they did and the trouble it caused and pass it on to the people applying the sticky thing to do so with more care in the future.

Good luck and congratulations on the award.