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.

[Steven A. Simpson]

Anne, the best deal I have ever found in framing is a series of gold, ready-made frames that are sold by AC Moore. They only have a few sizes, and they are rather plain, but are finished in a gold-colored metal leaf and look great with a plein air painting. I keep an eye out for AC Moore coupons in my local paper that give me 40% off one item. I will pick up a frame size that I know I can use in the future. They look like the frame in this jpeg:

[Marilyn Rose]

Hi Anne,

I will chime in with those who say if you're painting in oil, best to use standard size canvases or panels and standard size frames. That way you can pop your paintings in and out and reuse them if they don't get banged up. I've always like www.sandiegoframeco.com for gold plein air frames, and right now in Northern California the black or espresso- colored plein air frames with a little antique gold fillet are very popular. I like Omega molding for these, and I get them from a local art center that buys them wholesale & resells to customers. You could google Omega mouldings & see if you can get some kind of quantity deal.

[Raya]

I rarely frame my canvas work now. Since I began selling “direct to the public” at local art shows in Santa Fe NM I got tired of pulling about 50% of my canvases out of frames that clients didn’t want. Plus the damage a frame receives as it get hauled around weekend to weekend.

I’ve also noticed a trend in the Galleries; they are only accepting canvases unframed on 1 ½ inch stretcher bars. Which is causing grief for many artist who have been using the more affordable 1.25 inch bars, myself included. Anything under 12 x 16inches I tend to use the ½ inch bars.

Please note that I do a temporary stretch of canvas over a hard board to carry out to paint on, I can really beat it up if I want and I use up my scrape canvas this way. Once it’s dried I stretch it and paint the edge my chosen “trademark” color which changes every decade or so. That’s just how I was trained (made it easier for my agents to roll and ship the work around). If you want to try this I suggest you give yourself an extra ¼ - ½ inch in the H x W so when you do stretch it you’re not having to go back and touch up an 1/8 inch sliver of unpainted canvas showing on the front…

[Keith Thirgood]

I was unhappy with the somewhat gaudy commercial frames I find in most art stores. As I paint in a rather rough manner, I felt I needed a simpler style frame than available. I decided I would invest in saws, nailers and a guillotine for cleaning up the miters and begin building my own frames. Even though I make my own frames from pine and poplar, I try to paint in standard sizes. It makes building the frames easier.

Here's one of my frames:

People seem to like them enough that a couple of local artists are now having me frame their best paintings.

Keith
www.wilsonstreetstudio.ca 

[Bill Bonham]

There are so many options to presenting your work that my response is too long to expound upon here. In my work shops " Presenting Your Art" there is a consistent thyme and some basic principles must be followed. What is the purpose of framing your work? We call it PPC. Protect, Present and Compliment your work. The mistake that so many artist make is they don't accept that the presentation of their work as part of their responsibility. Spend a few dollars and subscribe to Picture Framing Magazine for techniques and design principles. Weather you want to accept it or not, the frame becomes part of your art.

[Marilyn Rose]

Well-said and so true. Another good idea is to visit galleries where you wish to exhibit your work and see what styles are currently popular in that region for the type of art you create.

[1fvkjsxx57aoy]

Lets face it, as far as professions (hobbies) we gat away pretty cheap and when we sell, our profit margin is pretty good. I consider frames just one of the expenses I have to deal with. People like nice frames and I've seen junk in good frames sell and good paintings in crummy frames not sell. There's no secret place on line you don't know about. As others suggested, it helps if you can swap things in standard sizes but sometimes I do a strong horizontal and just have to buy a custom frame. Most of what I sell has gone in nice frames. Many people are not just buying art but home furnishings as well and want it to look good incl. the frame.

 

You have to find places that cater to artists not the public. sometimes I have picked up some decent ones at places like Michael's Craft stores and others. Jerry's sometimes has nice sales but for more upscale frames they just cost more.

[Bill Bonham]

Hi Jay, there are so many options. I spent several years as a professional framer. Today I build very custom frames for artist to present their work. I'm a second generation artist and my father built nearly all of the frames he used in his work his early framing books that he passed to me have a wealth of information in them. As I said earlier, the artist is not finished with their work until they have properly presented it. The website doesn't allow promoting my business but for those interested, you can message me directly.

Jay Babina said:

Lets face it, as far as professions (hobbies) we gat away pretty cheap and when we sell, our profit margin is pretty good. I consider frames just one of the expenses I have to deal with. People like nice frames and I've seen junk in good frames sell and good paintings in crummy frames not sell. There's no secret place on line you don't know about. As others suggested, it helps if you can swap things in standard sizes but sometimes I do a strong horizontal and just have to buy a custom frame. Most of what I sell has gone in nice frames. Many people are not just buying art but home furnishings as well and want it to look good incl. the frame.

 

You have to find places that cater to artists not the public. sometimes I have picked up some decent ones at places like Michael's Craft stores and others. Jerry's sometimes has nice sales but for more upscale frames they just cost more.

[Chris Gillis]

I really enjoy using Franken Frames - their floating frames are very reasonable.

[Lynne Haines]

I do watercolor mostly Anne and my husband mattes and frames my work.  I know I'm so special!!!!!  Just lucky I guess.  But if he didn't I was considering shopping at the Hobby Lobby and other art supply, or even Shopko type stores for standard sized frames.  They would come with pictures in them which I would throw away, then make my canvas to fit it.  Otherwise it gets very spendy, as you well know.  My husband and I bought the matting and framing equipment and it saves money if your time is worth nothing, Chuckle.  Lynne

[Bill Bonham]

Hey Lynne, that's great and that makes the presentation part of your responsibility as the artist. Matt cutters and frame materials are very reasonable, plus you are not locked into standard sizes and frames made in China. Have you considered a tech publication like Picture Framing Magazine?

 

Bill.

Lynne Haines said:

I do watercolor mostly Anne and my husband mattes and frames my work.  I know I'm so special!!!!!  Just lucky I guess.  But if he didn't I was considering shopping at the Hobby Lobby and other art supply, or even Shopko type stores for standard sized frames.  They would come with pictures in them which I would throw away, then make my canvas to fit it.  Otherwise it gets very spendy, as you well know.  My husband and I bought the matting and framing equipment and it saves money if your time is worth nothing, Chuckle.  Lynne

[Lynne Haines]

Thanks for the magazine tip Bill.  My husband would love it.  How would you like to come and PA with us out west?  Click on http://www.pleinairartistretreat.com for details.  It will be a very inspiring fun weekend and it's cheap: $149 w/meals.  

Bill Bonham said:

Hey Lynne, that's great and that makes the presentation part of your responsibility as the artist. Matt cutters and frame materials are very reasonable, plus you are not locked into standard sizes and frames made in China. Have you considered a tech publication like Picture Framing Magazine?

 

Bill.

Lynne Haines said:

I do watercolor mostly Anne and my husband mattes and frames my work.  I know I'm so special!!!!!  Just lucky I guess.  But if he didn't I was considering shopping at the Hobby Lobby and other art supply, or even Shopko type stores for standard sized frames.  They would come with pictures in them which I would throw away, then make my canvas to fit it.  Otherwise it gets very spendy, as you well know.  My husband and I bought the matting and framing equipment and it saves money if your time is worth nothing, Chuckle.  Lynne