Framing

PICTURE FRAMING - ELEMENTS OF DESIGN:

a.    The Right Framing.

It is important for artists to approach their art in a professional manner.  This extends right through the artistic process and includes the framing of your artwork.  Choosing the right framing is critical for the artist.  You have to have a frame which both presents your artwork in the best lights as well as being in tune with current fashion and decor.  Ask any gallery owner and they will tell you that it is very hard to sell a badly framed painting.

b.    Colour.

Colour is only one of the elements used in the principles of design.  All the elements should be taken into account when choosing framing combinations.  Picking out a particular colour in work being framed and finding a mount board of exactly the same shade is a staple of the custom framer.  This sometimes results in a wonderful framing design.  It also often results in a framing design which draws too much attention to the frame.  A second mount of blue looks good with the blue highlight in the painting; but is it forcing you to notice the mount rather than draw attention to the artwork?

Colour balance is also something to which you should pay particular attention.  Is the painting cool or warm?  Is it a fine balance between the two?  What effect will your mount have on this balance?

The purpose of a mat is to separate the glazing from the artwork.  Mats should always be a different width than the moulding and should create a sense of balance. A wider mat will give the subject matter breathing space and help balance and draw attention to the artwork.  If the artwork looks evenly balanced, an even border works best most of the time.  An artwork that appears unbalanced looks best with a bottom weighted mat.

c.  Shape of the Moulding.

A traditional scoop moulding will lead you into a painting and works well with landscapes. A reverse moulding will pull the work towards you and works well with still life compositions.  A flat moulding can create a more contemporary look.  The objective is obviously to enhance the image, not detract from it.

Framing Components:

The correct materials you should be using according to today's minimum standards for the framing of original artwork are:

·        Foam Core Board, acid free backing.

·        White core conservation board

·        2mm float glass

·        D rings and wire to hang.

The piece should be sealed at the back with Framers Tape - PACKING OR MASKING TAPE SHOULD NEVER BE ANYWHERE NEAR  FRAMED WORK regardless of whether it is an original piece or a budget priced print - the damage these can cause is immediate and there is no excuse for using either of them - EVER.

All components are available at ArtLand for the DIY enthusiast or we can custom frame your work.