Get FRAMED... On Purpose.

Framing wall at Earls Court Gallery
I did a guesstimation of how many frame samples we have on our walls. Do you want to guess?
Well, if you have been in for framing before, you have probably heard me say, "We have hundreds of frames to choose from." Even I thought this was an exaggeration. However, since attending Junior Kindergarten again with my oldest, I have learned about tallies and the "Ten Frame". So, I reconsidered our frame wall's column as their own frame of 40 and multiplied that by 34.... and in estimation we have over 

1,360 FRAME SAMPLES!

Yep, that's a big number, especially for a kindergartener. 
So, let's break the frames down into categories. This way it's not so overwhelming. Time to get you FRAMED.
(They also teach Sorting in Kindergarten. Just in case you were wondering when you finessed that skill.)

 

Go Natural

GO NATURAL.

First, we use only wood frames at Earls Court Gallery. (That's why it smells so good in the Gallery.)

Secondly, the natural wood-look is one of the biggest trends in framing. There are frames that are made of Walnut, Pine, Ash, Oak, and even some exotic olive wood veneers. Wood frame finishes are timeless and versatile on many types of artworks.

Golds and Silvers are real

YES, IT'S REAL GOLD AND SILVER. 

Some gold and silver frames use water gilding to capture the metallic slender. Essentially, it's a technique where a master craftsman lays extra thin gold/silver sheets on a clay covered frame, then brushes it down to bond with water. (Read more here.)

A natural characteristic is a line that crosses the frame every 5" as that is the size of the gold/silver leaf paper.

Gilded frames are perfect to highlight an important document or medals. They also make great "new" period frames for the older paintings that cannot handle a contemporary look.

Black and White

BLACK & WHITE.

Black and white frames are our most common "colour" and profile. We actually order up to 400 feet of black framing at once. 

WHY?

It's Contemporary without being a bold statement. An artist once described them as, "putting a Tuxedo on your artwork." It just elevates anything it contains. These frames are an artist's best friend.

Shades of Grey Framed

SHADES OF GREY FRAMED.

Grey is the new... {enter colour here}. Grey has defiantly become a major colour player in the frame industry. 

Grey can be warm or cold or both at the same time! A grey frame has the ability to be passive; almost invisible around certain artworks. Images that are delicate embrace this coloring, as it does not harshly contained it with a heavy border.

Pullin' the Punches of Colour

PULLIN' THE PUNCHES OF COLOUR.

Well, if Black, White and Grey frames don't have your artwork singing, a SMASH of colour will!

We often use coloured frames as a way to extend the artwork to the frame; making it one complete unit. It is also a great way to comment on a whimsical subject matter.

Get floated

GET FLOATED.

Floater frames are often perceived as very thin lines around a panel or canvas. These frames have a lot more wood behind the scene for structural integrity in order to get that thin lip.

The advantage to a floater frame is that it does not cover any of the edges of the artwork. It simply finishes off the edges, while being passive.

 

Like what you see? Seen something that might work for that artwork or photo you have been meaning to frame? Make an appointment to get your artwork on your wall sooner! 

(905) 527-6685 or email robert.daniels@sympatico.ca

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1 comment

Awesome post, Andrea, I love it and your other posts! While I know from experience about your wonderful frame selection, I also know the work you and Bob put into making sure it’s the right one for my picture. After reading this, I have a great idea for framing my two drawings/mixed media works; if they get accepted for an upcoming show, my mask, my works, and I will be on your doorstep the next morning!

Frances O'Flynn

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