Some framing advises for your pictures ...

We cannot frame an oil or acrylic painting made on canvas like a watercolor or a photograph.

To frame a canvas, you simply slip the painting into the frame from the back as usual.

The frame is only built with an assembly of decorated wooden or metal mouldings.

A watercolor or a photograph require a mat and a glass pane to prevent dust, molds and buckling...

It is possible to make its own "frame" with commercially purchased mouldings or home made of simple wood offcuts (see pages American cases 1 and American cases 2 or classic frame on this site).

But most of the time, especially if you start in framing pictures art, it's better to order the frame in a specialty store.

Several options are available: standard and custom-made to measures.

DIY stores

The DIY stores (Bricomarché, Leroy Merlin, Castorama in France...) often have a FRAMES WORK department. You can find a large selection of mouldings and it's quickly done (while you shop in the store) .

In any case, bring your art work, compare the different frames or mouldings, the colours, and imagine the set on the wall in your home.

It is also very importan to set a limit on how much you want to spend, because picture frames prices have a range from 5 dollars up to hundreds ones.

Websites

On the Internet, many sites exist and guidance you offer frameworks "Ready" for standard dimensions and also custom-made to suit your paintings.

The problem is that you should imagine your picture framed in order to choose the molding.

I recommend the site PictureFrames (all supplies for frame work...) which makes an extremely neat and professional quality job.

You can choose there your frame among hundreds of mouldings, ready-made or custom-made if you want. They have these wood canvas floaters that in France we call : "american case". It is THE frame of all art galleries, the best way to introduce an oil paint.

Another address for you... a good one : hollidaypictureframes where you can found all framing pictures supplies. Wood and metal frames, matboards... Very interesting.

Don't forget to go visit AMAZON's site where you can shop also models and models of pic frames !

Specialty Shops

In your city, there are specialized shops of framingpictures supplies. I think of United Mfrs... They sell all materials you can need for framing.

In this type of shopping, you will find an unbelievable choice and vendors and sellers are fully trained in the decoration and give you ideas that you would not think ...

Before going to their store... look at their catalog with models and prices (request the catalog). So you will be able to limit the amount of your expense.

Of course, everything is paid and the final addition will be higher but if it can help you avoid mistakes, it's worth it!

Framing watercolor or photo

For a photo, watercolor, card ... it can not be satisfied with a simple framework ... The presentation of this type of work requires a "layout" based on framing technics and the presence of a protective window.

We then built the "package", assembling cardboard background, mat, collars and other "bevels".

The "package" is then installed in a frame, with a glass.

You will see in the following pages, examples of "packages" (bevel right) easy to made by yourself.

Remember than the frame has two functions : first, protect the art work and second for lead the spectator's eyes to the art work presented.

The framing technics are extremely diverse and vary from very simple to more complicated enough repel the beginner !

Much of these technics can be learned in introductory books, some are presented on this page.

I chose easily accessible works to help you accomplish quickly your first Frame. See especially on this page Mat, mount and frame (David Logan) particularly accessible to beginners.

Frames and coasters Trade

You can also work from simple clip-frames : it's perfect for beginners ! They have a standard size you can't modify but are very easy tu use.

The sizes are from 6x4 inch = 15x10 cm for the littlest to 31.5x23.25" = 80x60 cm for the biggest !

This is the least expensive picture frame !

Unlike conventional framing, this is not the art-work that determines the size of the frame but the object to be framed which must adapt to the framing.

It will be up to you to calculate your matting to fit the dimensions of the standard clip-frame ...

Yes You CAN make your own wood frame !

With a little hardware you can find in your home workshop, wood off cuts or mouldings, glue that can be bought in all craft stores, you can assemble and make by yourself your frame moldings ... for a very low price.

It is better to practice with low value timber : the miter assembly requires precision. With a little practice it becomes easy.

Look at this Rustic framework page how to make by yourself a lovely wooden made frame.

On all other "WOOD-MADE" pages on this site where some models are explained (see the left-menu)

See Canvas floaters 1, 2 or 3 ... These pages to build wood canvas floaters... very nice to frame ooil or acrylics paintings on canvas.

Technical books for fans

I especially recommend:

Mat, Mount and Frame It Yourself
David Logan

Now it’s easier than ever to save time and money doing your own framing at home.

(click for +)

This demonstrates how easy it is to mat, mount, and frame art on paper and cloth, as well as three-dimensional objects. Readers will discover, step by step...

A very good one !

Frame It! (Paperback)
Tonia Davenport

(click for +)

Customers review are the better test for this book !

... The book is an extremely comprehensive guide for standard framing techniques, but what I really love are the more creative, non-standard techniques Tonia shows as well... (by Corey)

...Framing can be intimidating, but she glides and guides us right past that with clear basic guidelines, classy projects, and her own very creative artwork... (by Gloria)

The Complete Photo Guide to Framing...
Vivian Carli KISTLER

(click for +)

Step-by-step color photos for all areas of matting and framing. This book includes top-notch instructions for archival framing—the correct methods and materials for preserving photos and artwork for posterity.

The author also provides inspiration and helpful examples to show people how to display their artwork using basic design principles in a manner that is easily grasped.

An Amazon best !