Method of framing

[Anne H. Ward]

can't believe in this HUGE community of plein air painters, no one has any information, suggestions, help on way they frame their paintings. if you change your mind...I am still interested.

[Robert A. McMillen]

I only do watercolor and use wood frames, and some metal for small paintings. I assume custom framing costs are very expensive in every part of the country. I do my own matting and framing. I use pre-assembled wood frames or assemble metal frames. I size my paintings, when matted, to fit standard frame sizes. My main source of frames these days, is from estate sales. Here in Wichita, there are estate sales just about every week. Most have framed paintings or prints for sale at prices much less than the cost for a new frame of the same size and quality. I keep the frame and pitch most of the art. The sales usually run for 3 days, with paintings not sold (which is most of them ) reduced 50% on the last day. I see many frames that are suited for oil paintings. We also have two art and hobby stores that have mat board and open wood frames that go on half-price sale regularly. I buy my glass from the hardware store.

[Anne H. Ward]

Thank you Robert. I have mostly used custom frames but have found this to be costly. Estate sales seems a great alternative. I shall keep my eyes open for the opportunity to attend one. Thanks again.

[Kath Schifano]

My best suggestion is to always paint in a standard size, & switch artworks in and out of good frames. Not that I always follow my own advice but when I do it works easily. Standard sizes are quite extensive so you won't be limited. Nice, reasonable frames are available in art catalogues.

[Hank Buffington]

I haven't done a plein air worth framing yet. My other paintings are framed mostly with off-the-shelf frames from the craft store. A few are custom framed.

[Tony Robinson]

I frame professionally, Anne, and I know custom framing IS expensive.
But I'd echo Kath's advice if you want to exhibit several works together, it looks better to have a consistent style of frame and it makes less work for you and your framer. On the other hand, if you are just showing the odd piece in a group show or giving them to friends and relatives, take advantage of Robert's suggestion to use an assortment of cheap recycled frames.
It should be easier for plein air painters insofar as our paintings are usually small and in a set size that fit a pochade or wet-carrier. If your set size suits standard ready-mades, so much the better. Here in Ireland, however, where the market is small and in recession, wholesalers are now loath to make the big orders necessary to order inexpensive chinese frames which are in scarce supply.
But you should talk to your framer, explain the look you want, what sort of quantity over a 3 month period and whether there could be flexibility to add/remove a 1 inch fillet or liner turning, for example, a 10" x 8" frame into a 12" x 10". Such a liner offers the flexibility to customise with a coat of acrylic to suit a painting while staying within your overall 'look'. Framers often have access to discounted or discontinued moulding and if your framer is confident you won't leave him/her stuck with a batch bought in specially and you are prepared to be flexible in your design of frame, your framer will be keen to do business and make a deal.
You will then have a stock of, say, 20 frames to reuse and you can order a replacement 10 when (?) you sell some. If you choose a colour such as white, off-white or black, It is a simple matter to retouch inevitable scratches and scrapes and your framer can give you a small pot of his paint stock to do that.
To summarise, if you want to exhibit and don't fancy DIY, you have to look on your stock of frames as an investment but try to make it as flexible, consistent and economical as you can.

[Anne H. Ward]

Kath Schifano said:

My best suggestion is to always paint in a standard size, & switch artworks in and out of good frames. Not that I always follow my own advice but when I do it works easily. Standard sizes are quite extensive so you won't be limited. Nice, reasonable frames are available in art catalogues.

[Anne H. Ward]

Hi Kath. I, too, have used catalog sources some. Have noticed that in some instances they shoe "plein air" frames. Have you ever framed with any of those?

Kath Schifano said:

My best suggestion is to always paint in a standard size, & switch artworks in and out of good frames. Not that I always follow my own advice but when I do it works easily. Standard sizes are quite extensive so you won't be limited. Nice, reasonable frames are available in art catalogues.

[Anne H. Ward]

Tony...Wow. I must be living right to have you answer my discussion question. Thank you soooo much for the good info. I have never thought about framing all my painting I would show in the same manner/type of frame. Great tip.
I am not sure I understand the liner and its use; i understand the dimension part only the painting o the liner. When time, could you expound please.
I have copied and saved your message and know i will refer to it time and again.



Tony Robinson said:

I frame professionally, Anne, and I know custom framing IS expensive.
But I'd echo Kath's advice if you want to exhibit several works together, it looks better to have a consistent style of frame and it makes less work for you and your framer. On the other hand, if you are just showing the odd piece in a group show or giving them to friends and relatives, take advantage of Robert's suggestion to use an assortment of cheap recycled frames.
It should be easier for plein air painters insofar as our paintings are usually small and in a set size that fit a pochade or wet-carrier. If your set size suits standard ready-mades, so much the better. Here in Ireland, however, where the market is small and in recession, wholesalers are now loath to make the big orders necessary to order inexpensive chinese frames which are in scarce supply.
But you should talk to your framer, explain the look you want, what sort of quantity over a 3 month period and whether there could be flexibility to add/remove a 1 inch fillet or liner turning, for example, a 10" x 8" frame into a 12" x 10". Such a liner offers the flexibility to customise with a coat of acrylic to suit a painting while staying within your overall 'look'. Framers often have access to discounted or discontinued moulding and if your framer is confident you won't leave him/her stuck with a batch bought in specially and you are prepared to be flexible in your design of frame, your framer will be keen to do business and make a deal.
You will then have a stock of, say, 20 frames to reuse and you can order a replacement 10 when (?) you sell some. If you choose a colour such as white, off-white or black, It is a simple matter to retouch inevitable scratches and scrapes and your framer can give you a small pot of his paint stock to do that.
To summarise, if you want to exhibit and don't fancy DIY, you have to look on your stock of frames as an investment but try to make it as flexible, consistent and economical as you can.

[Tony Robinson]

Hi Anne.
Maybe this will be more trouble than its worth unless you enjoy fiddling with frames but by a 'liner' (sometimes called a fillet, I think in the US?) I mean a plain, small, inner frame. These sometimes have a metal foil inner edge and used sometimes to be covered with linen or even velvet although those are, thankfully, out of fashion these days. If you can get a plain bare wood one about 1 1/4 inches wide, with an inch of it showing inside the main frame, it allows you to increase the overall capacity of the frame by 2 inches each direction if you remove the liner. Eg. a 10 x 8" frame WITH liner becomes a 12" x 10" WITHOUT liner. The barewood liner can also be painted a tint of some matching colour in acrylic if you want to customise a frame to match a particular painting.

[Anne H. Ward]

GOTCHA! thanks much for the explanation. I didn't know linen liner is out of date. Hmmmm! Thanks for that info as well.

Tony Robinson said:

Hi Anne.
Maybe this will be more trouble than its worth unless you enjoy fiddling with frames but by a 'liner' (sometimes called a fillet, I think in the US?) I mean a plain, small, inner frame. These sometimes have a metal foil inner edge and used sometimes to be covered with linen or even velvet although those are, thankfully, out of fashion these days. If you can get a plain bare wood one about 1 1/4 inches wide, with an inch of it showing inside the main frame, it allows you to increase the overall capacity of the frame by 2 inches each direction if you remove the liner. Eg. a 10 x 8" frame WITH liner becomes a 12" x 10" WITHOUT liner. The barewood liner can also be painted a tint of some matching colour in acrylic if you want to customise a frame to match a particular painting.

[Diana Sanford]

You might check out pictureframes.com. Their frames are pretty good for the price and they have "plein air" frame styles and discounts on quantities.

[Anne H. Ward]

thank you diana...have already checked out the site since you sent it to me and am glad to have this information. the plein air frames seem to be exactly what i am looking for. does anyone reading this know if a linen liner is used with this type of frames?

Diana Snford said:

You might check out pictureframes.com. Their frames are pretty good for the price and they have "plein air" frame styles and discounts on quantities.