Framing paintings for galleries

Pam Powell · 09-15-2007, 12:11 AM

I've hit a pothole on the road to success and need to plumb your vast stores of knowledge. I know that many of you show in galleries as well as do commissions, so I'm sure some of you have faced the same dilemma as I'm facing now.

I am represented by a couple good galleries who are doing a fine job of selling my paintings, but two of my artist friends came over a few weeks ago and told me that my frames did nothing to enhance my work. I called the gallery owners and asked them if they were happy with my framing. One said, " Your frames aren't horrible but they don't make your paintings seem important." The other said, "Well, they're not awful but not great either." Yikes!

I've been buying ready-made frames from JFM and thought they were good quality for the price. To tell you the truth I want to paint, not shop for frames, so I found two or three styles and slapped them on everything. My friends dragged me off to a custom guy, who builds beautiful supports that fit perfectly in the most incredible shadow box frames you've ever seen. It's really fine furniture making....and its not cheap! I ordered a few as an experiment.

I framed one of my paintings with a new shadowbox frame and I thought the painting looked stunning. Then I invited family and friends to give me their opinions. A few loved it, a couple hated it, and some were of the opinion that it looked OK. ...OK?...for all that money?

I then realized that there's no way to get a frame that will please everybody. So here's the question: Do you put high end frames on your work because it will enhance the value (even though some people might not like the style) OR do you frame in a less expensive (not cheap) way so that the buyer will feel freer to take it home and re-frame it?

Thanks for your help!

Julie Deane · 09-15-2007, 04:02 PM

Are these oil paintings, Pam?

I think I've read somewhere that common practice for watercolors is a nice mat and a very neutral (inexpensive) frame) so that the buyer later can choose what they want.

I'm about to have a local framer frame a larger pastel of mine (not a portrait) so I'm interested in hearing other peoples' responses to your described dilemma. In my case, I know that I am unlettered in the art of making a beautiful presentation, so I want an expert to do it for me - at least this time. I did a quick bit of research last night on framing, and learned a lot about how the presentation can "date" a good picture or make it look quite contemporary.

Pam Powell · 09-17-2007, 11:58 AM

Julie, thanks for the feedback. Your right about how a frame style can influence how a painting is perceived, or just seem out of tune with the subject. My paintings are pretty modern looking because of the urban architecture and contemporary dress of the people in them. My friends thought that the frames I've been using weren't modern enough.

Your comments made me think. Maybe if I'm willing to take the step of showing my work off to the very best advantage, then I should find a framer that I really trust and just spend the money (within reason) and have them all framed individually.

I'd like to know how many people buy paintings in frames they intend to replace.

Pam Powell · 09-17-2007, 12:00 PM

Opps, sorry Julie. Yes these are oil paintings.

Julie Deane · 09-17-2007, 05:23 PM

I like JFM frames, too, Pam, but the thrust of their inventory seems to be towards a conservative buyer who likes a "lush" frame.

I do best when I can take the painting in with me and hold it against a frame sample, but even then, I can make mistakes over what width of frame to choose. So this time I'm going to my local expert.

We have a sort of informal trade agreement - I hand out discount coupons for her shop when I do my annual event at our Christmas marketplace, and she gives me deals on supplies and frames.

Maybe you can arrange some sort of deal too. Frame shops do give artists discounts fairly frequently, I think hoping to establish a relationship so that you do business just with them.

Chris Saper · 09-17-2007, 05:58 PM

Dear Pam,

I've never worked with a gallery, so my thoughts are worth as much as my gallery experience

I do agree that you should have a cohesive appearance to all your gallery art, so that compatibility of frame design is important, since I would presume a gallery would group your work together on a wall. It's impossilbe to guess at what a buyer's taste is... of course there are many artists who feel no is better qualified than the artist hiself to select a frame.

I don't consider myself paricularly good at framing, and I don't want to become good at it.

I have had consisitenly excellent experiences with http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...+gallery]Abend.

The frames do not show a mitered seam, which I think makes them look much more expensive than they are; I always order the extra depth, so that the frame sits flush on the wall when it is hung, rather than canting forward.

Good luck, see you soon!