So, you’ve got a piece of art you love. Maybe it’s a stunning print you picked up on vacation, a child’s precious drawing, or even an investment piece. Just hanging it on the wall with a thumbtack isn’t going to cut it, right? Framing is the crucial next step, not just to make it look good (though that’s a big part!), but also to protect your treasure for years to come. It’s more than just putting a border around something; it’s about presentation, preservation, and completing the artwork’s journey into your space.
Why Bother Framing? More Than Just Looks
Let’s be honest, the primary driver for many is aesthetics. A well-chosen frame can elevate a simple print to a statement piece. It defines the artwork’s boundaries, separates it from the wall, and draws the viewer’s eye inward. It can complement the colours and style of the piece, integrating it seamlessly into your room’s decor. Think of it like the right outfit for your art – it enhances its best features.
But beyond looking sharp, framing serves a vital protective function. Consider the enemies of art:
- Dust and Dirt: An open artwork is a magnet for household grime. Framing, especially with glazing, creates a barrier.
- Light Damage: UV rays, present in sunlight and even some indoor lighting, can cause colours to fade drastically over time. Proper glazing offers UV protection.
- Humidity and Moisture: Paper-based art is particularly vulnerable to moisture, which can cause buckling, staining, and mould growth. A sealed frame package helps mitigate this.
- Physical Damage: Accidental bumps, scratches, spills, or curious fingers can wreak havoc. A frame and glazing provide a physical shield.
- Acid Damage: Cheap, acidic materials in mats or backing boards can literally eat away at your artwork over time, causing yellowing and deterioration. Archival framing prevents this.
Essentially, a good frame acts as a miniature controlled environment, safeguarding your artwork from the elements and the passage of time.
Breaking Down the Frame: The Key Components
Understanding the different parts of a frame helps you make informed decisions, whether you’re going DIY or visiting a professional framer.
Frame Moulding
This is the main structure, the visible border around your art. Mouldings come in a staggering variety:
- Material: Wood (oak, maple, pine, exotic woods, finished or unfinished) is classic and versatile. Metal (aluminum) offers a sleek, modern look. Polystyrene or MDF are budget-friendly options, often mimicking wood finishes, but less durable or archival.
- Style/Profile: From simple, flat profiles to ornate, carved designs, the shape of the moulding drastically affects the overall look. Consider scooped, bevelled, shadow box, or floater styles.
- Finish: Think natural wood grain, painted colours (black, white, gold, silver, vibrant hues), metallic leaf, distressed finishes, lacquered looks… the possibilities are endless.
- Width: A thin frame creates a subtle border, often suited for modern pieces or gallery walls. A wider frame makes a bolder statement, suitable for larger pieces or traditional art. The scale should feel balanced with the artwork.
Glazing (The “Glass”)
This is the clear layer covering the artwork. It’s not always glass!
- Regular Glass: Standard, relatively inexpensive, offers basic protection. Can be heavy and breakable.
- Acrylic (Plexiglass): Lighter and shatter-resistant, making it safer, especially for large pieces or shipping. Can scratch more easily than glass if not cared for properly. Often comes with better UV protection options.
- UV-Protective Glazing: Available in both glass and acrylic, this filters out damaging UV rays (typically 97-99%). Highly recommended for any valuable or sentimental piece, or anything displayed in bright light.
- Anti-Reflective/Non-Glare Glazing: Reduces reflections for clearer viewing, especially important in brightly lit rooms. This often comes combined with UV protection (e.g., Museum Glass or Optium Museum Acrylic). It’s more expensive but offers the best viewing experience.
Matting (or Mount)
This is the border, usually made of matboard, that sits between the artwork and the frame/glazing. It’s not just decorative!
- Purpose: Primarily, it creates airspace, preventing the artwork (especially photos or prints) from touching the glazing, which can lead to moisture transfer or sticking. It also provides visual breathing room, drawing the eye to the art, and can enhance or complement colours within the piece.
- Types: Single mat, double mat (using two layers, often with a contrasting colour reveal), triple mat, deep bevel mat, fabric-wrapped mat…
- Colour and Width: Traditionally, neutral colours like white, off-white, or cream are used, but colours can be chosen to pick up accents in the artwork. The width of the mat border affects the overall presentation – wider mats can give smaller pieces more presence.
- Crucial Consideration: Acid-Free! This is non-negotiable for preservation. Standard matboard contains acids that leach into the artwork over time. Always choose acid-free or, even better, archival/conservation-grade matboard (made from cotton rag or alpha-cellulose).
Important Note on Matting: Never use standard, acidic matboard for anything you care about preserving. The damage, known as mat burn (a brownish line appearing on the artwork where it touched the mat), is often irreversible. Always insist on acid-free or conservation quality materials for mats and backing boards.
Backing Board
This sits behind the artwork, providing support and protection from the back. Like matting, it must be acid-free to prevent damage leaching through from behind. Foam core is commonly used, but ensure it’s specified as acid-free or archival.
Fitting and Hardware
This includes how the artwork package (art, mat, glazing, backing) is secured into the frame (points, tapes) and the hanging hardware (wire, D-rings, sawtooth hangers). Proper fitting ensures a secure, sealed package. Use appropriate hardware for the weight and size of the framed piece.
Choosing Wisely: Matching Frame to Artwork and Space
There are no hard-and-fast rules, but here are key considerations to guide your choices:
Consider the Artwork Itself
- Medium: Works on paper (watercolours, prints, drawings, photos) almost always need glazing and often matting for protection. Oil or acrylic paintings on canvas or board can sometimes be framed without glazing (allowing the texture to be seen), often using liner inserts or floater frames. However, glazing can still offer protection from dust and grime.
- Style: A modern, abstract piece might look best in a simple, clean-lined metal or black frame. A traditional landscape might call for a more ornate or classic wood frame. The frame should complement, not compete with, the art.
- Colours: You can choose a frame finish that picks up a dominant or accent colour in the artwork. Neutral frames (black, white, wood tones, metallic) are generally safe bets if you’re unsure.
- Scale: A huge frame can overwhelm a tiny artwork, while a minuscule frame might look lost around a large piece. Aim for visual balance.
Think About Your Decor
Where will the artwork hang? While the art itself should be the primary guide, consider the surrounding environment. Do you want the frame to blend with your furniture finishes? Do you prefer a cohesive look for multiple pieces (like a gallery wall), or an eclectic mix? A sleek chrome frame might look out of place in a rustic farmhouse setting, for instance.
Budget
Framing costs can vary wildly. A simple ready-made frame is far cheaper than custom conservation framing with museum-grade glazing. Determine your budget beforehand. You can often achieve a great look without breaking the bank by choosing standard sizes, simpler mouldings, or good quality acrylic over expensive glass options. However, for valuable pieces, investing in proper archival materials is crucial.
DIY Framing vs. Professional Framer
DIY Framing
Pros: Cost savings, immediate gratification (for standard sizes), sense of accomplishment.
Cons: Limited choices (mouldings, sizes, mat colours), risk of damaging the artwork if inexperienced, may not use archival materials, achieving a professional finish can be tricky.
Best suited for inexpensive prints, posters, or temporary displays where preservation isn’t the top priority.
Professional Framing
Pros: Huge range of choices, expert advice on design and materials, access to archival/conservation materials and techniques, high-quality finish, proper handling of artwork.
Cons: More expensive, takes longer (turnaround time).
Highly recommended for original art, limited edition prints, valuable pieces, sentimental items, non-standard sizes, or when you want the best possible protection and presentation.
Special Cases: Framing Different Types of Art
Works on Paper (Prints, Watercolours, Drawings, Photos)
These are generally the most fragile. Matting is highly recommended to keep the paper off the glazing. UV-protective glazing is essential to prevent fading. Use only acid-free mats and backing.
Canvases (Oil and Acrylic)
Traditionally, canvases were often framed without glazing. Options include:
- Standard Frame: Often used with a linen liner between the canvas and the frame for a traditional look.
- Floater Frame: Creates a gap between the canvas edge and the frame, making the canvas appear to “float”. Very popular for contemporary art. The canvas attaches from the back.
- Gallery Wrap: The canvas is stretched around deep stretcher bars, and the image continues around the sides. Often hung unframed for a modern look.
- No Frame: Simple stretched canvases can be hung as is, especially if the sides are painted (gallery wrap).
Even without glazing, a frame helps protect the vulnerable edges and corners of a canvas.
Photographs
Treat similarly to other works on paper. Use acid-free mats and backing. UV protection is crucial as photographic dyes can be very susceptible to fading. Avoid letting the photo surface touch the glazing directly.
3D Objects and Textiles
Shadow box frames are required for items with depth (memorabilia, jerseys, textiles, collectibles). These deeper frames allow space for the object. Special mounting techniques are needed to secure the item safely and archivally within the box.
The Gold Standard: Conservation Framing
If your artwork is valuable (monetarily or sentimentally), irreplaceable, or intended to last for generations, insist on conservation framing (also called preservation framing or archival framing). This involves using the highest quality materials and techniques:
- 100% Acid-Free Materials: Includes rag mats (cotton), alpha-cellulose mats, and acid-free backing boards.
- UV-Protective Glazing: Minimum 97% UV filtering.
- Reversible Mounting Techniques: Artwork should be attached using methods that can be undone without damaging the art (e.g., archival corners, Japanese paper hinges with acid-free paste). Avoid dry mounting valuable pieces unless absolutely necessary and done by an expert.
- Sealed Package: The frame package should be properly sealed to minimize exposure to dust and atmospheric pollutants.
Verified Best Practice: Conservation framing standards aim to protect artwork from environmental damage using chemically stable materials and reversible methods. Always discuss archival options with your framer for pieces you wish to preserve long-term. Ensure they use materials meeting Library of Congress standards for preservation.
Finishing Touches: Trends and Hanging
Current trends include minimalist frames (thin black, white, or natural wood), gallery walls featuring a mix of frame styles and sizes, large-scale art with simple frames, and the resurgence of vintage or ornate frames used ironically with modern art. Ultimately, choose what best serves the artwork and your personal style.
Don’t forget secure hanging! Use two D-rings and picture wire for most pieces, ensuring the hardware is rated for the weight. For very heavy items, consult a professional or use specialized heavy-duty hangers.
Give Your Art the Frame it Deserves
Framing is an investment in both the beauty and longevity of your artwork. By understanding the components and considering the needs of your specific piece, your decor, and your budget, you can make choices that enhance its visual appeal and protect it from harm. Whether you opt for a simple ready-made solution or bespoke conservation framing, taking the time to frame your art thoughtfully shows you value it – and ensures you can enjoy it for many years ahead.
