The Love & Hate of Framing Art Works

"Picking the right frame can make bad art good and good art great! " says every framer in the world!

WHY are you taking the time to frame your art properly? One has to think that art is more than furniture or more than just mere decoration, and that the art you now own is a treasure for many generations. So it's more than just a pretty painting, but also a part of history and portrays what is essential and inspirational for the collector. Artworks collected & purchased should convey something that resonates with the heart of the art collector's life.

'Come Play with Tess & Penny in the Garden'
pastel  by Minaz Jantz
Commissioned and framed by art collector Alyssa

Love the art, but hate the framing? There are so many overwhelming choices, terminologies, and GASP for air when you get your framing bill!

First-time collectors will be in shock when they receive their first custom framing, and many will say, "But I ONLY paid this price for the art, so how can the framing be so much more expensive?" This statement has been expressed by many art collectors to date when looking to get art framed, dating back as far as the 13th century. Framing not only adds decoration to a room but also makes the art more protected, more transportable, and directs ambient light onto the art.

'Anytime for a Walk, Clam Harbour', 
pastel by Minaz Jantz

Years ago, I had the experience of assisting in framing artworks for two Fine Art Galleries. I would see a variety of items framed from tapestries, 3D objects, & original fine art. I have learned many valuable tips along the way as an assistant framer and have seen artworks transformed into the beauty they deserve.

1997 Minaz Jantz, 'Goddess of Wisdom',
 Multi-media, Ink, watercolor, acrylic. 

The frame is a recycled frame attached to foam core 
with a decorative frame detailed with jewels, cording, and acrylic paint.

As an artist with limited funds for custom framing, I have developed my own creative style of framing, utilizing recycled frames and incorporating foam-core board, where the frame becomes an integral part of the art. I will write more about my creative framing style at another time.

My recommendations in this article are for artworks that could be described as contemporary, modern, and newer art pieces. Suppose you have older paintings that need framing & conservation concerns, such as cleaning a dirty oil painting or addressing water damage. In that case, it's essential to seek out a certified framer/conservationist who specializes in working on older works of art.

To find the best framers, one must hunt them down. You want a framer who will have a dedicated place to store your art out of harm's way until it's framed.

Talk to your local Art Museum and ask who they recommend. Then, look for an art gallery that sells expensive paintings with lovely frames. Ask someone who they hire for framing services and if he/she is an in-house framer or independent. Could you please provide their name? 

Sometimes great framers are kept secret from the public cause the galleries want to keep them busy with their own artworks, so you might have to do some sleuthing!

Once you get a trusted framer, you will want to keep them FOREVER! I have a few bad experiences to share with you, which involve art that has been mishandled. For example, one framer actually vacuumed my pastel painting, removing the last layer of my thick Schminke pastel. 

Another framer left a BIG GREEN thumbprint with pastel from another part of the painting and left it showing up clearly on a red background, also in pastel, then framed it just like that and told me, "Tell the art collector that this is what I intended to have shown the thumbprint and tell them it's art." I was gasping with anger, to put it mildly. These are just two situations I personally have had with inexperienced, neglectful, or disrespectful framers.

The first tip for contemporary art is to enhance the original fine art, rather than detracting from it.  Keep the frame simple so that the art stands out more than the frame, which is supportive with subtle nuances and not flashes.

Of course, like any rule or tip, you can ignore it and intentionally choose a flashy frame, yet still be very suitable & unique to the collector. So, for those more daring personalities, go ahead and break the rules and go FLASH!

2001 Minaz Jantz, ' Portrait of Robbie Montgomery',
Ink on Paper, Simple Thin Black Wood Frame

Historically, only elaborate frames were offered, serving as a showcase for the framing artisan who performed detailed carving and gilding. Each frame was designed individually, incorporating influences from the buildings' architectural details and stylized to suit the painting's intended display. You can still find these old, gorgeous frames sometimes at furniture auctions. Today, there are still a few molding craftsmen who can be ordered through a high-end frame shop, but be sure you will pay premium prices for this gorgeous style of handcrafted carved framing.

Visit the Metropolitan Art Museum's website to learn more about the history of Italian Renaissance frames.

ADVICE: TO SAVE $...Invest in a well-designed, high-quality frame that can withstand various eras of interior design. Frame the art rather than the furniture, so there is longevity with keeping the art in the same frame as it merges with the changes in home fashion.

Choosing a frame that enhances fine art can be easier said than done for the new art collector. For most of us, budget is king, so state the top amount you want to spend, and the framer should help you aim for that total.

There are so many choices a frame shop will present to you, with a wall filled with right-angle pieces of wood & metal samples that are all lined up neatly, beckoning you to buy the most expensive ones. You have to feel trust in your framer's guidance to help sift through it all and narrow down the choices.

Link here for some design tips and more about mats & frame choices at Larson Juhl Framing.

ADVICE: Aim to have a framer who has extensive experience in fine art framing and is certified in various framing techniques. You want to be dealing with someone who handles original artworks every day and not just mass-produced commercial prints on paper and cheap canvas. Ask him/her all kinds of questions, and they should be able to explain and educate you on your choices. You also want someone who will take the time with you and not try to rush you out the door. 

ADVICE: Start looking at the background walls everywhere to see how they present art in places such as interior and architectural magazines & TV shows. GO to art museums and art galleries just to browse art and how it is framed. If you buy your art directly from an artist, they may have suggestions on what could look best for the art. 

Often, the person handling your project at the frame shop may not be the same person who works on your art framing. Still, they may have interior decorating talents and some framing experience that can also be very helpful in guiding you through the possibilities.

Second tip: When buying original fine art, the collector should get as much information about what the art is constructed & intended to be displayed: 

1. What mediums, such as oil paint, acrylic, pastel, encaustic, charcoal, pencil, pen, etc., are used to make art? Each medium has to be framed accordingly to preserve the art properly. This is essential information to the professional framer.

2. Does the art have RETOUCHING Varnish on it, and does it still need a final varnish at a later date? Oil paintings can take over a year to dry, so a Retouch Varnish is put on to protect the painting while it dries. Many oil painters will sell the painting while it's still drying and then have it returned when it's dried thoroughly so as not to create the crackle on the surface when the final varnish is put on too soon. For artists who use mediums such as pastel, some will put a spray varnish over their art, and some of us don't. Bottom line rule for framers: never touch the art except for the edges. This is especially important for those who work with pastels, pencils, charcoal, photography, and other mediums. The art should have its own shelf spot to store, so nothing else will smear or touch it. Art varnish information here.

3. Is the fine art mounted on a board already from the artist, or does this service have to be added to the cost of framing? Typically, this is used for fine art photography, but other types of artists may also use it. What is fine art mounting? Click here

4. Is the surface painted on wood, paper, canvas, etc.?

5. Does the art need to have glazing, which is another term for glass or plexiglass, to protect it? Then there is the choice of what kind of glass, such as UV-protected, non-breakable, non-glare, or museum glass. Link here to read about the various glazing types.

Fine Art Framers may encourage you to spend more than you expected, but make sure it's genuinely the best choice you can afford. Get them to explain all that they are suggesting, as they have had many years of seeing good art become great with framing.

When it's cool to be square...see you around! Minaz!