by Jan Haga The Howard Gallery - Myrtle Beach, SC
Today, I would like to talk to you about the concept that
“framing matters”. There
are two basic ways that framing matters…one is the visual appearance of the
artwork, the other is preserving the integrity of the artwork.
First, let’s talk about the visual appearance of the
artwork.
When
considering how to frame a piece of artwork you probably would be wise to
answer a few questions first…Is it a fun piece? Is it a decorative piece? Or
is it a serious piece? The
answers to these questions should help you decide how you want to present
the piece. For example, if it is a child’s painting you probably would not
want a big, fancy gold frame.
However, if it is an elegant print of flowers… a fancy gold frame may
be perfect. The way you frame a
piece shows how important the piece is to you.
It does not have to be an expensive piece of artwork to be important
and worth framing nicely. Often,
a piece that is poorly framed indicates the artwork has little value to you.
In starting my design, I usually work from the inside out.
I like to pick the mats first.
I always try to find a color (or colors) that really compliment the
colors in the artwork. Whether I
am using white, cream, black, or any other color, I want it to be just the
right shade. Many people think
that white is white and black is black. I’m sure that you, as artists, know
that is not the case. So, if you
want to use a white mat…make sure it is the correct white for the artwork.
If you want something with more color…again, make sure it is the
correct color and does not overpower the artwork.
Remember, the main goal of a mat is to lead your eye into the
artwork. If you see the mat more than
you do the artwork …you have the wrong color!
After I have a pretty good idea of which mats I like on
the piece, I then work on the frame.
Most of the time there is more than one frame that looks nice on the
piece. To narrow down the frame
choice, I decide which frame enhances the artwork and fits my idea of how I
want to present the piece. A frame that is too small or too large for the
artwork is probably not the right one. The
frame needs to be in the correct proportion to the artwork. In talking about
the size of the frame, you must consider the actual width of the molding as
well as the total size of the frame, such as an 8 x 10 or a 16 x 20.
Once again, just like the mat, the frame needs to lead your eye in to
the artwork.
The other main component in the visual package is the
glass. Clear glass gives you a
crisper image while non glare glass has a milky appearance and sometimes
distorts the image. There are
other types of glass to consider that will come when we talk about
preserving the integrity of the artwork.
I almost always prefer clear glass.
One exception to that is a wedding portrait that looks softer with
non-glare glass. I have two
displays that show you different types of glass.
Now, let’s talk about preserving the integrity of the
artwork.
Once again you may want to start by asking yourself some
questions…Is this a fun or seasonal piece that would not hang very often?
Is it a piece that you love and think you will keep forever?
Or, is it a piece you already know is valuable?
After answering these questions, you will have an idea of
how you want to take care of the piece.
Some people think every piece should be treated to the highest
conservation standard because you never know if it may become valuable.
I don’t really agree with that because there are many things I frame
for customers that have little or no chance of becoming valuable.
For example, if it is a piece that fits their décor and something
they will use for a short period of time, I see no reason to use
conservation quality materials.
So, let’s look at the different framing components and see
what the different choices are.
First, let’s consider the frame.
Frames can be made of many different substances.
They range from wood, metal, plastic, foam or resin, and basically
sawdust (or pressed wood), to something that looks like pressed or molded
paper. I only sell frames made
of solid wood or metal. Many of
the frames you see in the furniture stores or Big Box stores are not wood.
They may look very nice visually but are not a good quality and could
be very hard to work with.
In mats, there are basically two choices:
The regular mat, or paper mat, that
makes no claims of protecting your artwork; and the other is a rag mat or
artcare mat. Different companies
use different terms to signify conservation quality.
I use a product called Artcare. The artcare mat claims to protect
your art for generations.
Artcare technology protects art from being aged, faded, and deteriorated by
harmful pollutants and acid by-products in the environment and within the
framed piece. Many times you can tell if the mat is acid free by the color
of the bevel, or inner core, of the board.
If it is a bright white bevel there is a good chance it is acid free.
If the bevel is a dull white, or a yellowish color, it is probably
just a paper mat. These two
statements do not always hold true because some conservation mats are made
with a black core while others have a core that is the same color as the
face of the mat. There is also a
mat made by one company that is called a Select mat, which has a bright
white core, but is not conservation quality even though it is better quality
than a paper mat. The Artcare
matboard comes in approximately 200 different solid colors.
There are another 200 mats that include faux finishes, silks, linens,
suedes, parchments, precious metals, and various other styles. With so many
to choose from, it takes a little time and effort to find the mat that is
perfect for your piece.
Next, let’s talk about the mounting board or backing
board. There are many different
products that can be used ranging from corrugated board (which we all know
is horrible) to the Archival boards. My favorite mounting board is foamboard.
It is available in what I call “regular foamcore” and also acid free
or conservation quality. I like
foamboard because it is sturdy, yet light, and has a nice smooth surface.
It is also available in several thicknesses.
Black foamboard is also available when you need a dark surface to
mount on.
Along with the type of mounting board, you also need to
use the correct products to adhere your artwork to the mounting board.
There are many types of tape… from masking tape to archival tape.
Masking tape should never be used to secure artwork because it
becomes brittle very quickly and also because it will discolor your artwork.
Conservation quality tapes come in different widths, thicknesses and
materials. A little knowledge is
necessary to know which tape would be the correct tape to use for different
pieces of artwork and different applications.
Glass is another product to be considered.
There are many different types of glass on the market now.
There are many different glass companies but the one I use
exclusively is Tru Vue. I use
Tru Vue because it is a very good product in all the different types of
glass. Tru Vue offers six
different types of glass. They
are Clear Glass, Reflection Control, Conservation Clear, Conservation
Reflection Control, Reflection Free, and Museum.
All the different kinds of glass and their properties are a little
mind boggling so I will give you the basics.
The bottom line, a glass with good UV protection is a must for
conservation framing.
Clear Glass:
45% UV protection
Reflection Control:
45% UV protection
Conservation Clear:
99% UV protection
Conservation Clear Reflection Control:
99% UV protection
Reflection Free:
78% UV protection, clear glass
Museum: 99% UV
protection, clear glass, no reflection
In addition to glass, you can choose acrylic, also known
as Plexiglas. Acrylic also comes
in reflection control and museum quality. I have never used anything but the
regular clear acrylic.
At last, when you have everything picked out and your
artwork secured in the frame, a dust cover of paper should finish the back
of the frame. A dustcover
protects your artwork from bugs or dirt entering your frame.
HELPFUL HINTS
When framing artwork for competition there are several
things you should be aware of:
A
white mat is sometimes required.
Even when white is not required, you probably want to use something very
neutral because judges do not like colorful mats.
A neutral wood is sometimes required.
Just like the mat, even if there is not a certain requirement, a
simple frame that is very basic is probably your best bet.
Acrylic or Plexiglas is sometimes required.
Especially if the artwork has to be mailed, acrylic will be required.
Other times it is required because glass can be broken when trying to
hang a show which is not only a liability but also a nuisance to deal with.
Other hints:
A piece of artwork should not be framed to match your
décor. However, it is perfectly
acceptable and wise to make a choice in framing that will fit where you are
planning to hang the piece. As
an artist, when you are framing artwork for sale you may not have a clue
where it will hang. In that
case, your design will depend solely on how you want to present the piece.
On the other hand, if you know you
are planning to hang the piece in a very formal living room, you probably
would not want a very simple metal or rustic frame. If the overall
presentation of the piece looks odd where you hang it, the artwork has not
been treated kindly.
The other component to consider is the size of the mat.
For example, if your artwork is small and the wall you would like to
hang it on is big, you may want to considerate a wider mat than you would
normally use. The opposite is also true, if the artwork is a little large
for the wall, you may consider a smaller mat width and a narrow frame.
A simple tip for removing dust from a framed piece is to
use a feather to reach in and remove the dust.
When being conservative with framing costs, finding a
frame first and designing artwork to go in the frame can often be done for a
fraction of what it would otherwise cost.
I, like many other framers, use all my small pieces and discontinued
moldings to make frames. Many
are great frames but not necessarily a standard size.
Therefore, if you find a frame you like, you can design a painting to
be the correct size and feel for your frame.
Make sure that your hanging method is adequate for the
size of your frame. Whether you
use screw eyes and wire or a sawtooth hanger, make sure it is sturdy enough
for the size of your picture.
Frames that are not wood or metal are almost impossible to
work with. While they may look
nice initially, when you try to work with them, there are all kinds of
problems. The problems range
from no way to attach a hanger to no way to secure the artwork in the frame.
Double mats and mat liners are a great way to add depth
and enhance the overall look of your framing package.
Big box stores, even with 60% off custom framing, is not
necessarily the most economical way to go.
I have had many of my regular customers confess that they have taken
a piece to the big box store because of the discount, but after getting a
quote they have brought it to me.
My full price was better than the discounted price at the big box
store.
Now that I have talked to you about how to frame your
artwork, I’d like to tell you about a great place to do your framing.
My business is The Howard Gallery.
I work with 10 artists who keep the gallery walls filled with
beautiful art. I also do custom
framing. I have been in business
for 31 years helping artists design just the right frame package to present
their artwork. I have experience
in framing almost everything and I especially love the challenge of framing
objects. When framing objects,
finding a frame with the correct depth and finding a way to secure the
object in the frame can be challenging. Over the years, I have framed all
kinds of objects. They include
golf clubs and golf balls, ceramic tiles, baseball bat and balls, football
and basketball jerseys, jewelry, christening gowns, flags, antique pipes,
coins, military service medals, Christmas ornaments and much more.
If you would like it to hang on your wall, we’ll figure out a way to
frame it. Anything you bring
into my shop, to be framed, will be handled by me and my staff only.
It will not be shipped to another location to be framed.
My turnaround time on framing is usually less than a week.
In an emergency, it is possible to frame something in a few hours.
It is not necessary to need a custom frame for me to be
able to help you. I am always
willing to just cut a mat or glass, or fit the artwork in your frame.
So, no matter how small or large your project, I am always glad to
help.
I keep up with the new trends in framing by constantly
adding new frames and mats to my collection.
One thing you have probably noticed is that most frames do not have a
solid color finish anymore. By
that I mean, everything new in framing has either a texture to the finish or
it has some kind of faux finish.
The beautiful mahogany or oak frame with a furniture finish is just not
popular anymore. Neither is a
gold or silver frame with a smooth finish.
If you have never been to my gallery, I invite you to come
check us out. We are open Mon –
Fri 9:30 – 5:30. After hour appointments are available on request. We also
have the Broadway Street Stroll the 3rd Thursday of each month.
It is from 5:00 – 7:00 in the evening.
You can come and browse through the different shops, have
refreshments, listen to the music, and even have dinner at one of the
restaurants. This month we will be raising money for The Arthritis
Foundation on October 21st.
Each month we do new and different things so we would love for you to
come see what we have to offer on Broadway.
On one table I have a print of seagulls framed 5 different
ways, some are good, some are not so good.
The idea is for you to see how different the print looks with the
different frames and mats.
On another table, I have a print of a vase of flowers.
Once again, it is framed 4 different ways.
Another example I have set up is some black and white
prints with different frames and mats.
They show large mats on small prints and small mats on large prints.
You can also see how frames of different widths affect the overall
look.
If there are any questions I would be happy to try to
answer them. E-mail Jan
I will be putting examples here soon.
