Some advice on custom picture frames

[Tartansparkles]

I know some PSers have a fabulous eye for interior design and I could do with some advice please. I'm finally getting around to framing some prints that I bought over the years (nothing fancy, two limited editions that I like and three that I bought from local artists when visiting Skye.)

I'm trying to choose frames, buying online and limiting myself to plain aluminium (I'm not really into ornate frames).

The two bigger prints will go on the same wall, all the prints will be in the same room - so do I choose frames that are all the same to match each other in the room or do I choose them to match the print?

For example the bronze frame goes well with the bronze picture but not with the gingerbread man - do I choose bronze for one or black for both?

And is there a correct frame width? For example should the three smaller pictures have less thick frames or do everything in the same size?

Help! (Oh and excuse the stains on the gingerman print. A tantruming toddler, drinkable yogurt and unframed art don't mix well!).

 

[Snowdrop13]

I don’t think there’s any hard and fast rule about this. Personally, I don’t like really thick frames. If there’s a decent size mount surround, a thin frame is fine. I’d always suit the frame to the picture, that way, the picture can go anywhere. I’ve used easyframe.co.uk with great success- you can upload a photo and play around with different colours and widths. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Matata]

I was having the same dilemma. We're redecorating living and dining rooms and painting everything white (which is a hyuuuuuge change for me because I used to hate white walls). I took all the stuff needing reframing to a frame shop and decided to do all black frames and for things that need a matte, to have the matte complement the picture. I want an easy on the eye art gallery look and that's why I choose all black frames. The thickness of the frames differ depending on the size of the picture/painting.

Example (I love ravens so just had to buy this.)

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Ive had a few things framed over the years
ive always gone with the framers recommendation and what suits the picture rather than what suits my decore
They still look good more than 25 years latter

 

[Tartansparkles]

Easyframes is one I haven't come across yet, I'll give them a go. (I actually bought frame samples 18 months ago (that's how long this project has been on the go!), off course I can no longer find the website I bought them from and the one I *think* I bought the samples from, no longer has those frames.

 

[Tartansparkles]

I was having the same dilemma. We're redecorating living and dining rooms and painting everything white (which is a hyuuuuuge change for me because I used to hate white walls). I took all the stuff needing reframing to a frame shop and decided to do all black frames and for things that need a matte, to have the matte complement the picture. I want an easy on the eye art gallery look and that's why I choose all black frames. The thickness of the frames differ depending on the size of the picture/painting.

Example (I love ravens so just had to buy this.)

I love your raven . The gallery style is kind of what I'm aiming for but I find black quite harsh, which is why I'm struggling. I might even go 'cobalt blue' which matches with nothing.

 

[Tartansparkles]

Thanks @Daisys and Diamonds everything is closed right now so asking a framer isn't an option. Mind you, the pictures have been behind the sofa all this time so waiting another (fingers crossed) 4 weeks is doable. (There's a local shop not far from here, I've used them before, I hope they survive lockdown and are able to open back up again).

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Thanks @Daisys and Diamonds everything is closed right now so asking a framer isn't an option. Mind you, the pictures have been behind the sofa all this time so waiting another (fingers crossed) 4 weeks is doable. (There's a local shop not far from here, I've used them before, I hope they survive lockdown and are able to open back up again).

I hope they survive lock down too
Its such a worrying time on every level

My framer had a studio above an embroidery supply store
He loved doing my pieces because he kind of got over doing all the cross stitch but it no doubt put food on his table

His work was a million times nicer - both visually and quality wise, than the time i used a framer from a gallary - who was my freind's dad, so i was really disappointed

 

[Tartansparkles]

@Snowdrop13 you're a life saver - easyframes is where I bought the frame samples. Yeah

 

[Tartansparkles]

@Matata if you ever visit the Isle of Skye, I would recommend visiting this lady, a lovely local artist who works from her home gallery and has original prints of all types of animals, including a raven.

RAVEN - vintage yellow

This is an exceptional giclee print from original artwork by artist/printmaker Denise Huddleston on the Isle of Skye. Professionally printed on archival quality, textured art paper with Epson, non-fade Ultrachrome inks. Signed by the artist and pr...

www.cuckootree.com

 

[Garnetgirl]

Whenever I’ve had anything framed, the framers always said to go with what suits the piece of art.
Because of this, I’ve ended up with lots of different frames over the years, but always chose something plain and simple, so it all harmonizes.

 

[Snowdrop13]

@Snowdrop13 you're a life saver - easyframes is where I bought the frame samples. Yeah

 

[Tartansparkles]

Whenever I’ve had anything framed, the framers always said to go with what suits the piece of art.
Because of this, I’ve ended up with lots of different frames over the years, but always chose something plain and simple, so it all harmonizes.

Thanks @Garnetgirl I'm going to have another look at all the prints today and try and make some headway. I like plain and simple.

 

[kenny]

I have no opinion regarding the aesthetics.

But if your priority is the long term protection and preservation of your art ...
I advise you to insist, and verify, that anything that directly touches your art is acid free, aka archival, aka museum quality.
Make they show you the packaging of everything that will directly touch your art.

For instance ...
Whatever (likely mat board) touches the back and front of your art.
Whatever adhesive/tape touches your art to secure it to the back mat board.
Make sure they only apply the adhesive material to one side of the art, the top, then when things expand and contract with variations in temp and humidity everything will stay in place instead of breaking loose, possibly damaging the art.

Insist the mat or layers thereof is/are thick enough (your art on paper is far enough away from the glass/plexiglass) so if things ever warp, the mat (art to glass space) is great enough to prevent the art from being ruined by humidity because it ends up touching the glass/plexiglass.

Also for works on paper I'd insist, and verify, they use a glass or plexiglas that blocks damaging UV rays .. AND ... it is installed in the correct direction! It doesn't work if installed backwards. Lexan is a plexiglass that does this. BTW, for this purpose it looks as clear as real glass.

If the person/business responds with, "Huh? What?" walk out and find a competent pro.
If your art is important to you I'd present and pick up in person instead of trusting any shipping/insurance.

Don't worry about any of this if you're just looking for the lowest price or you are not very concerned about the safety and long term preservation of your art.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I have no comment on the aesthetics.

But if you care about the long preservation of your art I do recommend you insist, and verify, that anything that directly touches your art is acid free, aka archival, aka museum quality.
Make they show you the packaging of everything that will directly touch your art.

For instance ...
Whatever (likely mat board) touches the back of your art.
Whatever touches the front of your art, also likely mat board.
Whatever adhesive/tape touches your art to secure it to the back mat board.

Insist the mat or layers thereof is/are thick enough so if your art on paper ever warps, the mat is thick enough that the art will never be ruined by touching the glass/plexiglass.

Also for works on paper I'd insist, and verify, they use a glass or plexiglas that blocks damaging UV rays .. AND ... it is installed in the correct direction! It doesn't work if installed backwards. Lexan is a plexiglass that does this. BTW, for this purpose it looks as clear as real glass.

If the person/business responds with, "Huh? What?" walk out and find a competent pro.

Don't worry about any of this if you're just looking for the lowest price or you are not very concerned about the long term preservation of your art.

Very good point Kenny
My Aryton Senna ( formula one world champion) limited print is on conservation acid free backingpaper and with special glass that protects it from fading
We had it hanging where it got direct sunlight for at least half the day and 15 years latter when we took it down to move it looked exactly as it did when we hung it
i think that stuff cost more than the actual custom remu (NZ native red pine) frame but it was so worth it

 

[Tartansparkles]

Thanks @kenny for your great advice, unfortunately none of my 'art' would be deserving of such protection, sadly. (In fact my favourite piece has been behind the sofa for more than ten years, gathering cobwebs. But I'm on the case and frames have now been ordered online then we'll have the fun of trying to frame everything while keeping the dust out from behind the glass (although it's not glass, it's a type of perspex).

 

[marymm]

^ acrylic is often better (more protective) than glass anyway, so perhaps happy choice there