It’s been a busy week for me and so this blog will be short, but hopefully, no less interesting for you, as I tell you about winter.
Today’s Lesson: Framing
The subject of framing artwork is an ongoing discourse… some artists do, some artists don’t and the reasoning is as wide ranging as from here to there!
Professional gallery owners always want the work that they sell to be framed. While some artists believe this is so that they get the income from framing the work, it is not usually the main reason. Unframed art, including gallery depth (1 ½”) canvases, always look better when they are framed. It’s the packaging of the artwork… the bow on the birthday gift, the heart shaped box that contains the chocolates. It’s what finishes the product and makes it more appealing to the customer. Try it yourself. Take a photo of one of your paintings without a frame, then take a photo of the same painting framed. Compare the two. What do you think now? Which one will command the higher price?
I often hear artists say that buyers prefer to select their own frames for their newly purchased art, but the fact is that the majority (80%) of buyers just want to take it home and hang it over the sofa. They just want it to look good on their wall with as little work as possible, beyond purchasing it and hanging it on a picture hook.
For those who see the advantage of framing their work there are a number of options. There is the relatively inexpensive choice of ready-made frames in standard canvas sizes. These come in a variety of styles and colours, including the traditional frame with a white or cream liner and the more contemporary floating frame that leaves a space between the canvas and the frame. These are usually available at art supply stores and some framing stores, who will install your work in them for a nominal fee, or you can do it yourself if you are so inclined.
Today’s Lesson: Framing
The subject of framing artwork is an ongoing discourse… some artists do, some artists don’t and the reasoning is as wide ranging as from here to there!
Professional gallery owners always want the work that they sell to be framed. While some artists believe this is so that they get the income from framing the work, it is not usually the main reason. Unframed art, including gallery depth (1 ½”) canvases, always look better when they are framed. It’s the packaging of the artwork… the bow on the birthday gift, the heart shaped box that contains the chocolates. It’s what finishes the product and makes it more appealing to the customer. Try it yourself. Take a photo of one of your paintings without a frame, then take a photo of the same painting framed. Compare the two. What do you think now? Which one will command the higher price?
I often hear artists say that buyers prefer to select their own frames for their newly purchased art, but the fact is that the majority (80%) of buyers just want to take it home and hang it over the sofa. They just want it to look good on their wall with as little work as possible, beyond purchasing it and hanging it on a picture hook.
For those who see the advantage of framing their work there are a number of options. There is the relatively inexpensive choice of ready-made frames in standard canvas sizes. These come in a variety of styles and colours, including the traditional frame with a white or cream liner and the more contemporary floating frame that leaves a space between the canvas and the frame. These are usually available at art supply stores and some framing stores, who will install your work in them for a nominal fee, or you can do it yourself if you are so inclined.
The other option is custom framing, which does cost more, depending on what you choose and where you have it done, but can still be very affordable.
If you are planning to sell your art I suggest a standard frame for all of your pieces, perhaps with variances in colour to work best with what you are framing. This makes it much easier for you, your framer and also keeps framing costs consistent so you know what it will cost you for each piece.
So now the choice is yours to make! Let me know what you think.
Painting Update:
After my class last Thursday, I stopped in to the art supply store to pick up the two cradled wood panels that I need to start my Four Seasons. I had tried to get them a couple of weeks ago and although they showed having 20 in stock, none were to be found. They told me they would be ordered and probably in stock in about two weeks. Today they told me they would be in stock in mid-February. I did a re-think as I am keen to get started now, and decided to go with a different size which was in stock. But while considering my options, I made some changes to the plan in another way too.
Cradled wood panels come in two depths… gallery and studio, gallery being about 1 1/2” deep, while studio is about 5/8” deep. Initially I wanted to go with studio for all four panels, but then I got to thinking, what about if I did two of each depth creating an undulation of depth when they are hung together? I liked it, so that is what I decided to do. I just love the way work progresses as obstacles and options appear! As I say in my Artist’s Statement “For me the thrill of creating art is in the process!”
Having acquired the panels my next step was to prepare them with a clear coat to seal the wood and prepare it for taking the masks etc that will be applied. For this project I am using a product called “Paverpol”.
If you are planning to sell your art I suggest a standard frame for all of your pieces, perhaps with variances in colour to work best with what you are framing. This makes it much easier for you, your framer and also keeps framing costs consistent so you know what it will cost you for each piece.
So now the choice is yours to make! Let me know what you think.
Painting Update:
After my class last Thursday, I stopped in to the art supply store to pick up the two cradled wood panels that I need to start my Four Seasons. I had tried to get them a couple of weeks ago and although they showed having 20 in stock, none were to be found. They told me they would be ordered and probably in stock in about two weeks. Today they told me they would be in stock in mid-February. I did a re-think as I am keen to get started now, and decided to go with a different size which was in stock. But while considering my options, I made some changes to the plan in another way too.
Cradled wood panels come in two depths… gallery and studio, gallery being about 1 1/2” deep, while studio is about 5/8” deep. Initially I wanted to go with studio for all four panels, but then I got to thinking, what about if I did two of each depth creating an undulation of depth when they are hung together? I liked it, so that is what I decided to do. I just love the way work progresses as obstacles and options appear! As I say in my Artist’s Statement “For me the thrill of creating art is in the process!”
Having acquired the panels my next step was to prepare them with a clear coat to seal the wood and prepare it for taking the masks etc that will be applied. For this project I am using a product called “Paverpol”.
It is a polymer based medium, similar to some acrylic mediums, which, when applied to fabric becomes rock hard once dry. It comes in a variety of colours, including transparent, which, although white in its liquid state dries clear. This product can open up a whole new world for the artist, including 3D work. Below are some samples of work I have used it for.
For more information about Paverpol take a look at this website: http://www.paverpol.com/prestashop/en/
Once the panels were dry I just couldn’t resist laying out the first piece, Winter… just to see how it looks. I took a photo of it (see below) so I could assess my layout and determine what other product I need to complete the design. Once I am happy with it I will photograph it again and then using the photo as a guide, rebuild it in its final form.
Once the panels were dry I just couldn’t resist laying out the first piece, Winter… just to see how it looks. I took a photo of it (see below) so I could assess my layout and determine what other product I need to complete the design. Once I am happy with it I will photograph it again and then using the photo as a guide, rebuild it in its final form.
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Best wishes,
Susan
Best wishes,
Susan
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