Things to Know to Frame Your Art

The art itself is only 50% of how good it looks hanging on a wall. The other 50% is its presentation. Choosing the right frame is just as important as choosing the right-sized art for your wall. While the display of a painting consists of everything from picking the right wall, lighting, and position that’s relevant to other artwork or objects, the frame is the most critical part of its presentation. 

The Importance of Choosing the Right Frame for Your Art

You are urged to never overlook the importance of choosing the right kind of frame that draws the maximum potential out of a work of art. Whether you’re an artist or a collector, putting some thought into framing your art is vital to improving the general aesthetics of an art piece. You want to make an observer feel the emotions you want them to feel when they gaze at your fine art.

So, rather than setting the task of framing your artwork as a trivial postscript, you’d be better off thinking of the frame as part of the art itself. If you’re an artist, you must simultaneously work to decide on the frame you want to adorn your work. Or, if you’re a collector, you should have in mind the right kind of frame that would go perfectly with the painting you want to buy as well as the room you want to hang it in.

Here’s a simple and brief exercise to help you realize the significance of choosing the right frame for your art. As an art enthusiast, you must be an avid art gallery and exhibition visitor. Reflect back on a piece of art that really made an impact on you. That particular work would have a special frame that helped bring out its potential, which in harmony with the art itself, flattered you.

The frame in question may be a grand golden frame, a rustic metallic one, an inconspicuous wooden border, or no frame at all. Whichever type it was, it played a considerable role in impressing you, or we can say, the frame is a part of the art.

How Framing Helps Preserve Your Art

Every artist or collector wants their art to look as fresh as it was just finished today. Having the right frame not only helps present your art in its best position but also protects it and keeps it in its original shape for many years to come.

One of the greatest elements that threaten to ruin your artwork is moisture damage. In moderate-high humidity, atmospheric moisture can get absorbed into the canvas or paper, wreaking havoc on your beautiful art that would’ve stayed just fine if it was not for moisture damage.

The effect of moisture damage leads to the growth of mold on the surface as well as warping. Paper warps when it absorbs humidity, and expands and contracts randomly, creating an undulating appearance rather than laying straight. Moreover, water damage can also make the acids present in the surface break down, making it brittle and predisposed to mold growth.

Choosing the right frame and having your paintings framed correctly preserve them forever. Having your art sealed fully with acid-free materials inside the proper frame and glass protects it from water damage and all the other external elements, such as extreme temperatures, UV rays, dust, and more.

Factors to Consider When Framing Artwork

1. Does the Frame Suit the Art?

When choosing a frame, you have to see if the frame accentuates the painting and allows you to get immersed in the art or if it’s acting as a distraction. The frame should be coherent with the art. It should serve to enclose the painting in such a way that highlights the main scene rather than overwhelm it.

You should also observe the general feeling you experience when looking at a work of art and whether the frame supports it. For instance, if a painting has joyful vibes, a solemn dark frame won’t suit it. Instead, opt for a frame that looks cheerful, with colors that contrast nicely with the painting. Use color theory to decide on the right frame for your art.

2. Artistic Frames

Sometimes, frames can contain artistic elements that complement the style of art they enclose. Such frames are considered as the extension of the artwork. Much care and time are dedicated to the selection and preparation of artistic frames.

For instance, grand paintings of great kings or members of royal families are framed with lavish mounts featuring intricate decorative work. Often featuring floral designs, such frames are used to denote the veneration with which the personality in the painting is regarded.

3. Does the Frame Protect the Art or Not?

You might think enclosing a work of art in a sealed frame with glass on top will keep it safe. This is only partially right. See, some types of artwork like paper art, sketches, and photographs will benefit from a protective glass covering. Care must be taken to choose UV-protective glass and not just any other glass to maintain the artwork’s colors for a long time.

Oil paintings, on the other hand, will not do very well under the pressure of the glass cover. Some distance must be in place between the surface of the art piece and the glass to preserve it best.