Framing Basics

If you’ve been following my blog, you may remember I’ve talked about the importance of having art in your home, different mediums that artists use, the difference between originals and reproductions and where you can display art in your home. For this blog, I’m going to talk about framing.

Framing is very important not only for highlighting the artwork, but for protecting it as well. There are lots of options you have when framing a work of art, so here are some tips to help you.

Sometimes you will buy a work of art, often from a gallery, and it is already framed. That’s great! You can just hang it on your wall. More often than not, however, you will purchase art that is unframed, or you don’t like the frame that came with the art. What do you do then?

The first thing you must consider is on what substrate the artwork is created. Meaning, is it done on paper, canvas, board, etc. The answer to this question will take you in two possible directions. If the work is on paper, it will need to be framed under glass to protect it and it will need a mat so the paper doesn’t come in contact with the glass. A mat is a heavy board that has an opening cut in the center so you can see the artwork. It provides a border around the artwork and is a buffer between the art and the frame. It is important to pay attention to the opening size of the mat. It should be the size of the image or a little bit smaller – but not too much! You don’t want to cover much of the actual art.

Some examples of precut mats  

Here is an example of a gouache painting on paper. You can see the border around the image. The image is 6 ¼ X 6 ¼ “. I would want to find a mat with an opening of no more than 6 ¼ X 6 ¼ “

This brings me to your second consideration. Is the artwork a standard size? Standard sizes are typical sizes of frames and mats that can be purchased together or separately. They are convenient and generally less expensive. Some places to find standard sized mats and frames (also known as ready-mades) are Wal Mart, Target, or Michael’s.  Some standard sizes are 5X7, 8X10, 11 X14, and 16 X 20”. These are not all standard sizes, so you should check the store’s selection to see what is offered. Just be sure to pay attention to the mat opening size – that is ultimately the most important part.

If the artwork is not a standard size, you will probably need to have a custom mat and frame made for it. While this is more expensive, the quality you will get as well as the wide range of options available, will make it worth every penny. Most cities have a frame shop in town. There you will find knowledgeable people who can help you with the colors of mats and styles of frames. Take advantage of their expertise! If the artwork is going to be hanging in a bright location, consider getting UV protection glass to prevent the artwork from fading. Your local frame shop should offer that as an option.

If your artwork is on stretched canvas or canvas board, you won’t have to worry about matting or glass. Paintings on canvas or board are usually acrylic or oils and don’t require glass, so they don’t require mats. Now there are always exceptions to rules. You may have an oil painting on paper, which would require glass to protect the paper it is created on, so it would also need a mat. Or you might have a watercolor on canvas, which would require a mat and glass to protect the pigments, not the substrate. If you are unsure, you should take it to a professional framer to be sure you are protecting it properly.

OK, so you know whether you need to take it to a professional or not: if it is standard size, you probably don’t have to, if it is a non-standard size, you will need to. (Or, if it is an unknown medium, you will want a professional’s help.)

Now comes the fun part – picking out the mat and frame! Most ready-made frames will come with a white, off-white, or black mat. If the artwork is overall a “high key” work, meaning it is mostly on the lighter side, you probably wouldn’t want a black mat as it will overwhelm the artwork. If the artwork is “low key”, meaning it is on the darker side, a black mat might look great. It is best to bring the artwork with you so you can better judge which will look better.

If you want a wider range of colors, then you will want to go the custom route. When picking out a colored mat, you will want to have it reflect some of the less forward colors in the art, but it shouldn’t overwhelm it. The frame shop will have corners of mats in all the colors they have available so you can see exactly how they will look with your artwork. Listen to the suggestions the framer offers you – they have experience! But also, beware – if they are trying to sell you on a double or triple mat, be sure it is for the purpose of making the art look better and not to make you spend more money. Generally, a single simple mat is all an artwork needs. Some places offer fancy cut outs on the mats, but again, it should be for the purpose of making the art look its best. Often, I find the cut outs a distraction.

When it comes to the actual frame, think about the subject of the artwork. Sleek, modern art might look best in a simple, metal frame. Art that is showing nature would probably look best in a natural wood frame. Consider the feeling of the art and try to find a frame that matches it. Larger paintings generally look best in wider, heavier frames and smaller works in thinner, lighter frames – but again rules can be broken! I remember a friend’s home that had a work that I always admired. It was a very small, probably 2 X 2”, painting of an apple framed with a molding of 8 or 9” wide which made the actual frame about 20” across. It was very ornately carved with gold leaf. They say that the frame shouldn’t overwhelm the art, and you might think that was happening here, but it really brought attention to the tiny gem of a painting.

You will also want to consider the style of your home. If you have a modern home with lots of metal and glass, go with a frame that reflects that. If your home is more traditional, then a wooden frame might fit in well. Or you can always be eclectic and mix things up (that is my preferred style).

When choosing a frame remember the bottom line is you want the artwork to look its best. There are various ways to achieve that and the frame you choose should compliment the artwork and reflect your tastes. Frames also are not permanent and as your style and décor changes so can your frames. A different frame can bring a whole new feel to a work of art.

If you are looking for some new art for your home, be sure to browse my collection of originals and prints. All my work comes unframed so you can add your personal touch to it with the perfect frame.

I hope this introduction to framing was helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions – I will be happy to answer them!