Thrifty Flair
The perfect picture frame is worth a thousand words
September 1, 2010
Jennifer O’Connor
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
First a couple of rules: no flash photography and no cellphone use.
Thank you for touring my permanent art collection. Be sure to visit the vintage paintings of Paris and the photos I took of a concrete slab at the Leslie Street Spit.
I love all of my art, whether it’s a print that cost $200 or something that I spent $12 to have developed. However, I refuse to hang anything without the perfect frame. It can make your art stand out and provide a subtle, yet interesting, accent that compliments your pieces and your decor.
A few years ago, I received a painting from artist Mendelson Joe, a beautiful landscape — the forest at night under a shooting star — on wood. It’s a special piece and I wanted to have it framed professionally, but for a long time I didn’t think that I could afford to have it done.
Enough already! I took my painting to Kelly Kyle and Sonja Scharf at Akasha Art Projects on Church St.
“The biggest rule in framing, is you’re framing the piece not the room,” says Kyle. “At the end of the day it’s most important to match the era, if there is an era, with the framing choice and then try to make it fit into your space. But not to the point where there’s tension between the art and the frame and the room.”
After talking to a client about what they think they would like, Kyle and Scharf tell me they talk about things such as the weight and scale of various frames as well as home decor and other art in the room. My painting is eight inches square, so for example, a beefy frame would just overwhelm it.
Kyle and Scharf show me a number of options. A black shadowbox could work. I could also go with a floater frame (the piece floats within the space) or choose one with a lip which will cover the art by about a quarter of an inch all the way around. We try different styles of black frames as well as some made from red wood.
They also show me a variety of mats. We look at white, black and red ones and experiment with using two, one on top of the other so both colours show. Mats are not only important for aesthetic reasons, but they keep your art away from the glass (otherwise they can adhere together over time). In terms of composition, says Kyle, you don’t want the mat to mimic the lines of the art or the frame, so for example, you wouldn’t show a half-inch of mat with a half-inch frame.
“What I like about this painting is that it’s so moody. If you put black all around it, it just pops. It becomes a dramatic statement,” says Scharf. “I like the unfinished edges on the piece. I think that really adds character.” No matter what I choose, she advises that the edges remain exposed.
I choose a plain black mat that is an inch and three-quarters wide (a quarter-inch will be covered by the frame). The painting sits on top of the mat with the edges exposed and spacers have been used so the work sits back from the glass.
I choose a curved black and gold frame just over an inch wide. I think that the shape, colour — the sides are an oxidized gold hue while the front is darker — and slightly rustic style make it really interesting.
“This little scoop takes you right in,” says Kyle. “It also has a little bit of movement. This has added a whole other element.”
I’m very happy with how it turned out, and it was totally within my budget.
“You can do good quality framing for reasonable, cost-effective prices,” says Schraf. For example, you could choose regular glass over conservation glass, use a four-ply mat instead of eight-ply, or skip the mat and use spacers.
I’ve framed some magazine illustrations and photos that I’ve taken myself. My local art supply store sells pre-cut mats and I’ve got some in black and white. I also look for frames at second-hand stores. I’ve found some great ones: three in simple, black wood and a couple made of wood that’s etched and painted gold.
However you decide to frame your art, spend some time thinking through your options. After all, says Kyle, “You’re almost creating a piece of art to go with your art.”
You can contact Jennifer O’Connor at thriftyflair@gmail.com or follow her on Facebook.