Notes on matting

• It's harder than it looks.
• If step 1 goes well, don't be overly optimistic about step 2.
• Start out with 10 or 12 sharp pencils. If the phone rings or the cat wants to go out, you're gonna lose your pencil.
• Measure twice, cut once. Be prepared to start over.
• If for some misguided reason you're double-matting with black over white, find some way to keep your hands clean (the black rubs off on everything).
• Expect to drink more coffee (or beer, depending on the time of day) and smoke more cigarettes than usual.
• Do not, repeat DO NOT put your drink down near your workstation.

This is a field sketch of Bill's dated 1951. I "float-matted" it on white to reveal the ragged edges characteristic of a field sketch. Then double matted it with off-white over black.

I like the result. If I don't use it for the show we're mounting at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, I'll use it in my bedroom.

Other pictures that may make it to the show: