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The Art Of A Good Frame

The Art of a Good Frame

As we mentioned in our last blog post, any kind of art is instantly beautified with a good quality frame that compliments the art. A frame is a lot like a rug—with the right dimensions, material and style, it can really tie the room together. The art of a good frame might seem tricky, but once you understand the basics, you’ll choose the best frame for your art every time.

Framing 101

When trying to decide on the right frame, you might be focusing only on the frame itself. But that would only be 1/4 of the battle. Quality framing actually consists of four parts:

1. frame
2. matt
3. backing
4. glass

Framing professionals can help you decide which of each of these you should choose, but there are a few simple guidelines to follow if you choose to go the DIY route.

Choose an Appropriate Frame Material

Frame your childrens artworkWe recommend choosing either metal or wood for the best quality frames. Both have different aesthetics that will add certain elements to both the art and the room. Wooden frames are more traditional, warm, and inviting. If you’re framing a painting, a colored photo or something sentimental, a wood frame is the way to go. Metal frames, on the other hand, offer a more modern, contemporary feel that conveys a more industrial look. Metal frames are ideal for black and white photographs as well as more modern-looking items.

Invest in a Wide Matt

Matts are a great way to help draw the focus into the art itself. A wide matt will make your art look like something from an art fair or a professional exhibit from a local art gallery. The extra cost is worth it. We also recommend a shade of white for matts—NOT a color, which many folks make the mistake of choosing for their children’s work.  A 3” or larger white matt with a simple frame is a perfect way to display your treasured works of art.

Preserve Your Art with BackingAlways frame artwork that has personal value to you

If you want to truly preserve your art, consider investing in quality backing, as well. While you might be tempted to simply mount your artwork on the cardboard that comes with the frame, professional framers advise against this because the cardboard is acidic and can yellow the artwork. A standard 1/8” foam board will do just fine.

You can even go a step further to protect your art with glass (or glazing). While optional, you can go beyond the standard acrylic glass (which is more cost-efficient) and choose anti-glare glazing to reduce glare, ultra-violet to protect from UV rays or a combination of both. Again, the standard of glazing is optional and totally up to you!

Your art or the art of loved ones deserves to be on display. A good frame not only augments the sentimental value of the art, but also preserves it for many years to come. If you need a little additional inspiration on how to frame your artwork, especially your children’s artwork, check out out our Pinterest board for fun ideas worthy of your little one’s masterpieces.

All photos are of our kiddos who participated in our After School Art Club!

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