Cohesive framing?

[Chris Saper]

PS Sorry Jen, I didn't answer your question completely.

Mainly I don't impose my taste on either presentation frames for commissions or for inventory for sale pieces (which are really rare for me anyway). I leave it to clients to impose their own taste on the frame that they ultimately buy, since I don't get into frame decisions with people.

As to style, I can't really say. In general a simpler paintng can support a more decorative frame and vice-versa.

That being said I know that there are many artists who make framing decisions for the client based on what the artist thinks is right for the painting. There's no right or wrong answer, just what works for you..

[Linda Nelson]

As Chris said, it's whatever the artist thinks is the right mix for their work and business. Personally, I am at the other end of the spectrum from Chris - I not only frame every display portrait to what I think is the most flattering for each peice, I also offer my wholesale framing account to my clients, and either bring a selected frame corner sample to their house when I show them the finished painting, or invite them to meet me at the frame shop and we can pick something together.

This way I can know that the the the most flattering frame is going on the painting (since it's wholesale there's no guilt to go for whatever is right), my client is happy cuz I'm following the project to it's end by being helpful, saving them $, and taking the time to provide my "artistic opinion" which many seem to appreciate. In fact, EVERY client I have had in the last 4 years have chosen this option at the end.

[Lacey Lewis]

Thanks, Chris, for your input as well!

I have a lot to think about and I am going to try and take my time exploring my options.

For my pastels, I have decided to give them all a simple black mat with a black gallery metal frame. I have some paintings in simple black gallery wood frames; they are thin faced and have no detail at all. I feel like these are maybe too simple for paintings, especially once they are large.

I've been looking around and can see some frames that would look good on individual paintings, but am not sure I've found something that I'd like to be my standard frame. When I get back into town next week, I am going to take a trip to a frame shop that a friend reccomended and have a look around.

I would still love to hear any and all input about frames, especially for hanging as a show.

[Michele Rushworth]

I'd suggest you might want to keep three things in mind as you frame pieces for a show: they need to look like they are all of a high quality (not necessarily BE expensive, they just need to look like it!), they need to go well together as a group, they should be simple and classic enough in style that any client could envision them in their home.

I would get the very best frames you can afford and avoid the metal ones completely. Presentation is everything. I really mean that. A great frame can make a so-so painting look terrific and a bad frame can make a terrific painting look really crummy.

Check out www.jfmenterprises.net for some good quality standard size frames for paintings at great prices. You need to have a tax I.D./wholesale number to get access to their price list but as a professional you should have one of those already anyway.

[Sharon Knettell]

Lacey,

I have invested in a good canvas stretcher and taught myself to do my own gallery wraps.

It takes a bit of doing but you can ALWAYS hang it in a pinch or have what is called a float frame placed on the outside. They are relatively cheap, but quit effective. Both these approaches are quite contemporary so consider if they will work for your pieces. I don't mind some of my more flora-dora ones framed simply; as a matter of fact, most of my large pastels, ribbons, bows and all are framed in plexi boxes.

I have had frame companies send me catalogues with this kind of frame in it, they are probably available on the net as well.

Just a quick note, make sure your wrapped sides are thick, about 1 and 3/4' is good.

[Lacey Lewis]

Hi Sharon!

Yes, I gallery wrap all of my canvases. But, some are the deeper gallery wrap style, others are the standard depth, and then some are pastels. It's really tough to decide on frames that will all go together!

A few I think would look great in floater frames, and I painted the edges of these canvases black in anticipation of doing so. But then I worry that they will seem very out of place next to something framed much differently. I may need to stick with floater frames and plain wood 'gallery' frames.

I'm still going back and forth here, but I need to decide very soon because I just got a call this morning and 2 libraries would like to hang my work ASAP!