Frames And Galleries

While I still have not done any new faces to show here, I thought I'd share a few pointers about framing. Even if one is not an artist, these simple tips may be helpful when selecting frames for photographs. All that being said, my intention is to have some of my work framed for potential gallery display. While an artist may get away without having a frame when selling online, or even at a show, if the work is headed for a gallery it usually needs to be framed. But beyond this, I believe that an artist should have their hand in the matt and frame selection if at all possible since it makes such a huge difference in the way the work is seen. Below are some examples of my work with matting and frames, and some pointers follow afterwards.

• A good matt and frame should be thought of as an extension of what you are framing, and be complimentary without detracting from the piece or photo. Consider the "personality" of what you are framing. Is it simple? Ornate? The frame style should reflect these traits.
• Select a matt that picks up or compliments the colors of your piece, but still provides a jolt of contrast. Take your time in selecting "just that right one".
• The size of your piece will usually dictate the size of the matt and how much of it borders your piece, as well as the same for the frame. For example, a large bolder painting looks better in a big chunky frame whereas a smaller painting may get lost and obscured with such. And the smaller piece looks better in something delicate whereas it does nothing for a larger piece. There are some exceptions to this, but for the most part it is the case.
• Finally, if you want a risk-free way to audition matting and frames, some companies offer great services online. One such company, www.pictureframes.com (Graphic Dimensions) will allow you to upload your jpegs of your art or photos, and see how they will look with a variety of matting and frames. You can then both print up your results, or save them to your "gallery" on their site for future reference!

Until next time, take care!