HOW TO CHOOSE THE MAT COLOR ?

The mat

When we frame a picture, the mat has a double purpose: functional and artistic.

The first is to prevent by the gap it creates, all contact between the work and the pane of protection (which could cause undesirable joining or moulds…).

(Java Draw Calendar)

Secondly, it serves to lead the eye to the artwork by creating a transition between it and its environment.

It can also draw attention to a particular color used in the work ... and particularly to emphasize this one. .

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A neutral color mat ...

You have a watercolor, a pastel or a print to frame ... And you ask yourself the question of the color to choose for the mat ... That's the problem ... Dreaded!

Do not look for a precise rule : as for all that is artistic, all is question of your personal taste and harmony with the place where you wish to hang your framing.

By adopting neutral colors: off white, shaded gray, cream, beige ... you are certain not to go wrong. These colors do not attract attention to themselves and are particularly highlight work and its colors.

Take as an example ... this full colored painting and whose framing certainly will pose problems of harmony of colors

If we choose a white mat:

- "Hmmm!" This is not too bad ... but it's not very classy! An additional English bevel darker for the drawing more stand out?

The result is passable but have no decorative interest ... It's neutral!

And it is precisely because of this neutrality that this kind of mat is commonly used in museums where there is not question of decoration ... but only just to present a artwork.

If you lack inspiration or if you are afraid of making mistakes in the juxtaposition of colors, you can adopt this mat style : it suit anywhere.

The colors of the art...

Let's start by determining the colors contained in this painting:

The dominant color is green, present in different shades on practically all the surface. The secondary color is dark bluish gray found in the roof in the house front and on the road. Then we found some third order colors : blue, maroon and brown ...

Usually it is better to avoid selecting for the mat, the dominant color of the art ... Look what could happen with a green passe-partout:

The image is crushed, is badly detached from the mat and is not really highlighted. A lighter value for the green and adding a light off white bevel could arrange a few our matting ...

But this is not satisfactory ... there might be ways to get better!

Colored Passe-Partout Tests

Let us Try associations ... just to see. In this 1st example, we chose dark tones of dominant, secondary and tertiary colors:

In the second, lighter values ... the blue one seems to draw aside ... the maroon and khaki look promising ...

Unless your interior walls are dark it seems preferable to choose a mat rather with light colors ... This, with a light bevel too, could give :

but also you can try:

Colored Mat and Bevels

And why do not think about a darker bevel?

Why do not try a combination of 3rd order colors : light khaki and burgundy purple?

Let us try two inverse juxtapositions: a first bevel burgundy with a khaki mat...

Then a burgundy mat associated with a light khaki bevel :

The colors are not disharmonic and are found in the range of colors in the picture ... These two choices of mat perfectly fulfill the conditions: to attract the viewer's eye to the art without monopolizing his attention.

It remains now to find the good frame for our matted painting ! And that is an another story !

Black and white mat

It's a habit for art photographers to exhibit their photographs with a white and black bevel mat...

This combination color-no color gives these frames a very contemporary look.

All this is a very sober and the result evokes both elegance and refinement. The codes are clear: all is implemented to center the glance on the photograph.

And the method is effective because it works even with color photos ... The black border highlights the colors of the image by accentuating them.

And finally ...

Choose the mat color is primarily a matter of personal taste and decorative intent. There is no precise rule or method ... only general principles that we should not hesitate to break on occasion.

1) In choosing a light neutral color for the mat , you are assured of not making mistakes.

2) If you want a more colored one ...

• It will be light in most cases, with pastel tones, echoing one of the color of second place of the art that you frame.
  
  
• The color of the mat must be in harmony with the color of the wall where the picture will be hanged.
  
  
• By giving a darker color for the bevel or the exceeding band it creates a break in the rhythm that give a additionnal highlight to the art.
  
  
• The frame itself should have a color different of the mat color

3) If you expose on the same wall several closer frames, avoid if possible to make a mat kadelioscope ... Use for them at the very most one or two colors

I hope these few explanations useful to you in your approach of decorating. For any additional questions you can always contact me by email HERE.