Should i frame an oil painting

You are now subscribed. Framing Ideas for Gallery-Depth Paintings Tuesday, June 17, Original oil paintings that are painted on gallery-depth canvas look beautiful hanging directly on the wall without a frame, especially if the painting is continued around the edges of the canvas, creating a three-dimensional illusion as you view the painting from the side.

To set off a gallery-depth oil painting, while still preserving some of this three-dimensional effect, you can use a floater frame.

Floater frames come in many different colors and finishes which can set off colors within the painting or complement the furniture in the room. Here is an example of a painting that was framed in a metallic pewter floater frame to match the metallic accents on the fireplace. To set off a gallery-depth oil painting, while still preserving this three-dimensional effect, you can use a floater frame. A floater frame is a cost-effective style of molding to create an elegantly modern look to your artwork.

The selection of moldings with a deeper rabbet is both slim and costly. The choices in framing an oil painting are endless. Factors to consider are once again to note what the dominant colours are and how a frame can compliment the overall composition of the artwork. However, this all comes down to personal preference. There are arguments that glass should not be used in the framing of oil paintings as it might trap moisture behind it.

Mixed media works are amongst the most elusive as they have the capacity to span across all mediums. Take into account entities from all the mediums that have been mentioned so far, and apply it when you decide on what frame to pair it with. In some cases, mixed media works have three-dimensional characteristics to them, and the bulkiness or lightness of frames should be considered alongside this. Look into how the artwork at hand has been framed in the past, and take into account how it has been presented by galleries, curators or artists.

How was the work presented when you decided to purchase it? From Old Masters pieces to contemporary pieces, research is paramount in deciding on the most complimentary frame for your work. Some works that come with huge historical contexts should stay in their original frames, such as the aforementioned Old Masters. However in such unique cases, these artworks might have incurred damages from sitting badly in their original frames for extended periods of time, and should be assessed by a professional accordingly.

Selecting a frame is not all about choosing a right colour and material. Besides aesthetics, frames also protect the artwork in the long run from damage and degradation. Prints, photographs and other works on paper are a good example as they are delicate in nature and therefore require a little more care when choosing the right frame.

Where the artwork will be displayed is also an important consideration when choosing the right frame. Think about the decoration of the space and how the frame suits not only the artwork but also the setting. Perhaps a monochrome frame would suit a modern space of grey and white hues or a natural, nautical space could do with a frame made from driftwood-like whitewashed timber for a perfect pairing.

If your artwork were going up in a rustic setting, natural wood tones would compliment not only the artwork but also the overall interior. Sometimes, a frame might not even be necessary if you decide to go bare and display your painting unframed, on a tabletop against the wall. There are no hard and fast rules in framing, but the best frame or even no frame at all is simply the one that puts your artwork in the spotlight!

This should only apply to paintings on sturdy platforms such as canvases, as it is crucial that works on paper or more perishable mediums are sealed and protected from external factors that might degrade them. A framer should never be afraid to say when a work does not need a frame. Do make sure that the piece is stretched properly, and that it has the right depth and shape to sit on the wall you are intending for it to go on. Whilst it might require a frame one day to provide it with additional protection, you should trust your taste and how the artwork is presented from a visual point of view.

However, when in doubt, go black or white — they work well with most interiors. Simple black frames have the potential to add a dab of drama and define territory to your artwork, whilst white frames work well with coloured works and white walls. Together with glass, frames should also be used to create an artificial environment where your artwork can thrive.

If you live in a humid country with high levels of light, frames with glass should be used to counter such factors that might change the quality of your work. The last thing you want is for your work to depreciate in value! Creating this protected environment for your artwork also allows for further protection if and when it has to be moved between locations, say if you find yourself moving home or even countries.

Make sure that your trusted framer has applied the appropriate sealing techniques. The frame should isolate interior and exterior conditions.

The materials chosen in this framing process attribute towards managing the climate within the sealed environment. Choosing the type of glass should be done carefully. Now, look at the other picture where a mount of a little over 3" about 85mm has been selected. Added to that is a double, inner frame of a similar blue to the boy's shorts, which gives a bit more definition and space.

Only then is the frame size measured and cut accordingly. You can now see how much bigger it needs to be to show off the picture at full value. Enough said. This is, in effect where an additional frame is set inside the outer one and is often a lighter colour, perhaps with a small texture, which acts in the same way as a mount or mat card for a watercolour. Note too how the picture is on a light coloured wall, even though it's textured.

No question of fighting with wallpaper there The quality of a product is remembered long after the cost is forgotten.

Actually, canvasses and watercolour pads are sold in most of those standard sizes so the decision may be made for you. Just beware if your frame is sold in Metric measurements though and your canvas is in Imperial measurements, or vice versa. If you tend to paint in one medium, say watercolour, and you produce enough pictures, then you can also save considerable amounts by ordering your frames in bulk.

But most framing companies will offer discounts for buying even as few as five frames at a time. These can then be framed and sold at a more attractive price than many people would be prepared to pay for an original. Non-reflective glass is great if your painting is opposite a window or other light source that makes it difficult to see it without the light getting in the way.

It can, however, dull the image slightly, but it certainly cuts out most of the unwanted reflections. Plain old picture glass is fine for most purposes and the cheapest option. However, once you get much above about a 20" x 16" area about 50cm x 40cm , including any mount, think carefully about where it's going to be hung, from a safety point of view.

So hang it well out of the way of children, the elderly or vulnerable, or indeed anyone who could fall against it. In fact, you can buy simple picture hanging kits in art stores, framing stores and DIY stores, etc. A really heavy piece of work, especially if it has glass in it, or where it's on public display, may need several of those brass plates that screw to the wall and the back of the frame, to properly secure it.

The safest but usually the most expensive option is to look at the various types of plastic or acrylic sheet. They're also a lot lighter than glass so offer reassurance on the safety issue. They can, however, scratch more easily and if polished with the wrong substances, can frost or fog over and from there, there's usually no way back other than replacement. Well so be it. I've displayed a number of suggestions for framing tutor's paintings that they've done on the site and I've tried to use as wide a range as possible.

They deserve nothing less. Oil Painting Lessons Want to learn how to paint stunning oils? Take a look at our step-by-step video lessons covering everything from the basics to advance landscapes, florals and portraits Well, there are a few things for you to think about and not every frame will involve considering every single one of those factors.

And I must mention again the excellent on-line framing sites that allow you to upload a photo of your work and play around with putting a vast array of mounts and frames around them.

Such was the selection of mounts and frames available that I spent far longer trying out different combinations than I did actually writing these notes! An oil painting needs to breathe, so finding the perfect frame should not include glass. Glass will suffocate the art and possibly damage the paint. If you prefer glass for your art, a frame with a spacer between the art and the glass. The colors in an oil painting should be kept from prolonged exposure to light, especially the sun and its UV rays.

Your oil painting will inevitably accumulate dust over time. Dust can be removed easily with a soft duster, using a light touch. If possible, vacuum behind the painting as well. The principal purpose of picture framing an oil painting is to more than to hold on the wall or an easel. It is to keep the focus on the art and create a unified whole, standing alone and separated from all that is around it.

It encourages one to enjoy an undisturbed contemplation. Much like choosing the right setting for a beautiful diamond, the right frame for a beautiful oil painting should complete the work, elevate the piece, present it in the best light.

Framing is an art as well, and while a good choice in a frame can significantly enhance the art it holds, a poor choice in framing can severely detract from it as well. For instance, an oil painting with a classical subject or a period of art would suggest an elegant gold-leaf frame that is timeless and traditional.