Hi, I’m Mike Kontz. In this blog I’ll be taking you through the basics of how to frame a painting. If you’re a homeowner who is interested in doing it yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
If you are looking for an art appraiser or framer please check out my website at www.artappraisersandframes.com*
Art comes alive and pop out of the canvas when you frame it. Framing a painting is an art in itself and there are many things to consider before framing a painting. The quality of the frame can either enhance or ruin the art work. Here are some simple steps for framing a painting:
Step 1:
The first thing that you need to do is decide on the size of the picture that you would like your artist to paint. A picture that is too big for the frame tends to look clumsy and a picture that is too small for the frame looks cramped.
Framing a painting can be done in many different ways and is a very important step in presenting art.
Besides framing, you might also consider mounting. Framing a painting is the process of adding mat board and glazing to your work of art, while mounting is the process of attaching it to a rigid backing (such as wood or foam core) and then framing it.
Framing consists of four basic steps: choosing materials, cutting frames to size, inserting artwork, and preparing for hanging. This blog will walk you through the steps for framing a 16×20″ piece of artwork using 2 1/4″ deep mats with a double-mat opening.
In framing a painting, the most important thing is to make sure that you leave ¼ of an inch of clear space between the edge of the glass and the painting. This will allow for expansion and contraction as well as protecting it from dust and dirt.
The next thing to do is to make sure that you have enough matting. You need a top mat (the piece in front of the painting) and a bottom mat (the piece behind the painting). The top mat should be ¾ of an inch larger than the picture on all sides. The bottom mat should be 1 ½ inches larger than the picture on all sides. This is so that there can be no light shining through any part of your frame when looking at your picture.
You will also need to buy spring hinges in order to mount your picture and to keep it steady. These are available in different sizes, shapes and colours so that you can find one which will work best for your home. In addition, if you want your artwork to look professionally mounted and framed, you may want to consider buying a hanging wire for your frame.
The final step for mounting artwork is attaching it to a wall or board with nails or screws. If this is something that you do not feel confident about doing yourself,
The most popular artwork for framing is still oil paintings. Oil painting is certainly a classic type of artwork and you can achieve a great effect by framing it in the classic way.
The important thing to remember with oil paintings is that they are not particularly flat, even when they have been stretched. As such, you should avoid hanging them too close to the wall. A few inches away from any wall will be just right, this will also give the illusion of depth.
You can also look into getting an expertly made frame for your oil painting, it will make all the difference. A wide range of frames can be found on the Internet but there is nothing quite like having a professional take care of it for you. There are many websites that offer this service, so finding one shouldn’t be an issue.
Framing a fine art painting is not difficult, but it requires some care. The framing process is an opportunity to compliment your painting, and in some cases a good frame can make the difference between a good painting and one that is mediocre.
If you aren’t sure how to pick out frames for your paintings there are a few things you should know:
1. Framing is an art, not a science—there are no hard and fast rules. As with many other areas of collecting, the best advice is to buy from reputable dealers and ask for help if you need it.
2. Frames will always be more expensive than the cost of the actual art work—be prepared for that expense.
3. Frames can help make a good piece of art great, but they can also hurt the value of a piece that is less than excellent in quality—make sure your picture deserves the best frame possible (if it doesn’t then it probably isn’t worth framing at all.)
4. Bear in mind that any framing materials you use will change over time—if your choice doesn’t complement your artwork through the years that could affect its value as well.*
When I first started framing art, I did not know what I was doing. I had a BFA and some studio art experience and was framing the occasional piece for a friend. I knew how to build a mat. My first attempt at floating a photo on foam core was a disaster. It should have been fine, but the photo was warped from being pressed against the glass with tape, and even though it was just a 4X6, it was too heavy for the foam core backing.
Tape will always warp your art unless you insert it between two pieces of glass and then tape that between the mat and the frame. Always press your artwork up against the glass with your hands when you are attaching it with tape. If the artwork is large or heavy, you might need something in between the artwork and your hands; if so, don’t use anything abrasive like paper or cardboard because it will leave lint on your work. The best thing to use is a clean T-shirt because you can control how much pressure you are applying.
The simple fact is that most people put their photos in frames that are too small for them to begin with because they think they are saving money by buying a smaller frame than they need. Think about this: If you buy
