How To Build Your Own Frame

Learn the basics of framing and how to build your own frame.

build your own frame

by Tanya Singh

The right frame can significantly enhance the final look of a painting and the wrong ane tin completely ruin it. The creative person's work does non stop with just the completion of the work of art. The frame, too, is a very important aspect of the procedure of creation and quite literally of the painting itself. Like Eli Wilner, CEO of Wilner & Co., a New York frame dealer said in an interview with the Wall Street Periodical, "the best frames are an extension of the art they surround, non its antonym".

build your own frame

"Fine art consists of limitation. The about beautiful role of every picture is the frame."
Gilbert Grand. Chesterton

While nosotros exercise not necessarily hold with Chesterton, nosotros cannot deny that a tastefully chosen frame can compliment a painting and really draw attention to it. Framing is an integral part of creating also as exhibiting and every artist should have some basic knowledge well-nigh it. Mostly, artists cull to send out their works for framing. There is nothing wrong with that and maybe, it is the easier pick. However, making the frame yourself is non as hard every bit it sounds. Also, this way, the artist has consummate control over the quality of the frame too every bit the expenditure.

Here is an article about framing and how you can do it yourself.

Where To Begin?

The kickoff and foremost thing to consider while building your own frame is to decide the kind and quality of the frame. Choosing the type of frame can exist a very challenging task. There are several things, similar the length and width of the frame, its color, and even the material to be used, to go on in heed while making this decision and the task tin can get quite overwhelming.

Following are a few tips to assistance you with this determination –

Ever cull a frame that matches the style of the painting. An antiquarian crafted frame with a contemporary piece of work of fine art will certainly not do justice to the fine art or to the frame. The material and style of the frame should be called keeping in listen the mode and time of the painting.

Useful Article: Cleaning And Protecting Paintings

The frame should non be and so extravagant so as to overshadow the painting. This volition completely defeat the purpose of the frame. Frames are used to enhance the painting and separate them from the rest of the wall or the room and non to distract the viewer. For example, a brightly colored frame for a painting done in earthy colors will immediately concenter the viewer's attending towards itself and completely outshine the painting.

build your own frame

The best way to cull the color of the frame is to but option a shade from the painting itself. This makes the frame look more similar an extension than a boundary.

Try to use wider and larger frames for small paintings and smaller and thinner frames for big paintings. This is advised so that the frame and the painting wait proportionate to each other. Notwithstanding, there are always exceptions.

Simplicity is the ultimate class of sophistication, and more often than not, a thin white or a dark wood frame works perfectly fine. A simple frame will instantly transfer all of the viewer's attention to the work of art itself.

Lastly, feel costless to experiment. At that place are no hard and fast rules when it comes to selecting the right frame. Experiment as much as yous can with materials, sizes and colors until you observe the perfect match for your painting.

Understanding Frames

The next pace after choosing the kind and quality of the materials for the frame is to start the building process. However, earlier that you must familiarize yourself with the several parts of a frame to aid y'all empathize the building process meliorate.

build your own frame
The four main parts – frame, glass, matting and backing

The Frame

The well-nigh important and visible part is the structure itself. This is the role that will protect your artwork and enhance its await.

The Matting

Matting is something that is merely used when framing newspaper works and photographs. Yous tin choose from a broad variety of materials and colors. It is basically a filler for the empty infinite that separates the artwork from the frame. Information technology may too exist referred to equally the mounting in some cases.

The Glass

The glass is what covers your painting to protect it and go along it free from dust and dirt. The glass used in frames must be non-cogitating to ensure a proper and unobstructed view.

The Backing

This is the support of the frame. It supports your artwork from the back and protects it from collecting dust. Information technology is usually the size of the entire frame (including the matting) and is made from cotton rag lath. Paper works and photographs require actress backing as compared to canvases and canvas boards.

How To Build Your Ain Frame?

Building a frame is a job governed by precision and perfection. Even a slight mistake in the measurements tin evidence to be a major difficulty. It may be a challenging task but information technology is non something you cannot do yourself. Correct measurements are the cardinal to building a strong and sturdy frame.

build your own frame

Hither is a step by step guide to help you lot through the procedure –

Step 1

Accept the measurements of the painting and, appropriately, program the measurements of the matting (if being used) as well as the frame. This is the nigh of import step and will significantly influence the final outcome.

build your own frame

Step 2

Cull the material you want for the matting and determine how wide you want the matting to exist. A skillful guess is roughly ¼ of the width of the image. Describe the outline for the matting also as for your work. The drawing should await similar the outer mat is encasing the work of art inside or simple, a rectangle inside a rectangle. The inner rectangle must be equal to the size of your painting or slightly smaller. This depends on the edges of your piece of work and if you can afford to cover upwards some area on all sides.

Step three

Cut the outer border of the matting. The area that is marked for your painting or the inner rectangle must also be cut out. Place the artwork inside the mat and cheque the measurement before yous go along.

(Steps 2 and iii are only applicative for paper works and photographs)

build your own frame

Step 4

Choose the material for the frame. This is an equally important step in building your own frame. The decision you brand here will determine the forcefulness and the quality of your frame. When choosing the type of wood, expect for the sturdier and thicker option whereas while picking out metallic, choose the kind that volition terminal longer.

Footstep 5

Cut the edges of the frame co-ordinate to the measurements of your painting or the matting, every bit the case may be. All edges must be cut diagonally at the ends so that they can be assembled properly. The best style to do this is to mark an angle of 45 degrees by mitt kickoff. This whole process can be a fiddling complicated and you lot must brand sure that you leave plenty margin for the artwork or the matting on all sides. Keep cross checking by placing the work beside the frame to brand sure the sizes are correct. You must also make sure that the width of the frame is sufficient to incorporate the glass too as the work.

build your own frame

Step half-dozen

Cut a frame rebate in all the edges from the dorsum. This gives the frame depth from the dorsum to ensure the glass and the painting do not fall out of it. This can also be washed by creating a thinner frame and attaching it to the dorsum of the original 1.

Footstep seven

Colour or pigment (if required) the edges of the frame and permit information technology dry out completely. Painting the edges before they are assembled ensures neatness in your structure.

build your own frame

Step 8

Put the edges together and stick them using mucilage. This will give y'all one concluding hazard to check your measurements. When the glue has dried, use hammer and nails to gather the terminal structure. Brand sure that this is done neatly and with utmost precision.

Step 9

Insert the glass followed by the matting and the piece of work.

Pace 10

Use the backing to seal off your frame from the back and add to the sturdiness. You tin use a staple gun to seal off the backing. Cover the sealed backing with some tape to add together to the seal.

build your own frame

Step eleven

The last step is to check for whatsoever impairment to the painting or add any terminal touches.
Do call back to requite the frame some time to settle before hanging or transporting it. If you intend to hang it, make sure you attach the required elements while the frame is kept flat on the ground. This volition protect the drinking glass as well as the piece of work from accidents.

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The frame is oftentimes disregarded or completely overlooked. Magazines, newspapers, and even exhibition catalogs utilize images of artworks where the frame is cropped out. However, does the thought of looking at the Mona Lisa with its exquisite frame not sound much better than looking at merely the sail as if the painting were nonetheless incomplete? The four sides of the frame are indeed "the most important parts of a picture" as Henri Matisse rightly described them and what other way is there to ensure that your frame is non a mere outline merely an internal role of your painting, than to build your own frame?

Looking to enhance your career and build a presence in New York? Submit your portfolio to u.s. and get the opportunity to present your work to a wide range of national and international art collectors and buyers. Visit our Gallery Representation And Artist Promotion page for more data.

Tanya Singh is a budding art historian and writer. She is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies at the LASALLE Higher of the Arts, Singapore. With a versatile portfolio, she has over three years of experience in writing also equally editing.