Edgewise Arts

(Welcome to Susie, who is trying out for a spot on the AT SF editorial team. Enjoy her post!)

What with the bounty of affordable art online, our queue of prints waiting to be framed has gotten rapidly out of hand. Of course, there was a time when framing wasn’t such a big deal—the days of using that weird blue clay to stick posters to the wall don’t seem so far gone. And yet, they are. In a grown-up home, unframed art can look a little naked.

Professional framers are so pricey that DYI framing is often the best solution. We’ve all broken more than a few fingernails wrestling with the fabulous Ikea Ribba frames. Sometimes, though, a special print or photograph warrants special treatment. After all, custom framing is an art in itself. And Dan King, owner of Edgewise Arts in the Mission, is a master.

Dan’s manner is so chill that it’s almost a shock when we unfurl our art and he launches into business mode. Whether a piece demands a vintage gilt frame or a molded-silicone frame imported from Prague, Dan always seems to find a surprising and beautiful match. Of course, no custom framing is cheap. We’ve been known to spend more on framing than on the art itself. But Dan’s eye is so perceptive, his selection so varied, and his craftsmanship so expert that the splurge seems entirely worthy.

Edgewise Arts
3481 19th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.970.9515

-Susie

Comments (11)

Thanks for the tip. I've got a limited-edition Obama print that deserves a special celebratory frame. Maybe molded silicone from Prague? I'll check it out.

"Dan’s manner is so chill..."

Sorry Suzie, You had me until this Ghetto-ism.

This post sounds more like a testimonial because there aren't really any examples of exemplary matting, which IMO is the real talent. Being able to pick a great frame just isn't that special... sorry.

ghettoism? really? ugh.

While I would have liked the addition of a couple sample prices, I thought this post was helpful. If I'm going to really spend on framing I would probably pick someone based on recommendations like this.

I really wish this were a bit more informative, with some ballpark prices, more info on the selection, and some examples of custom-framed pieces. It's also very short, but maybe that was the goal?

If you frame a lot of art, a good investiment is your own miter box. Buy a good one which will cost around $100 and you can buy old frames and cut them down. I buy vintage frames that have loosened at the edges and I cut them down and re-nail them together. The frame ussually will cost $5. I then take that money that I saved and go to a frame shop where I will spend more on the matting. I can buy only RagMat and have the mats cut to accentuate the art. I have taken some incredible nice Mucha prints and had some really great accents cut into them. Great framers use a computerized mat cutter and can make designs in Corel or Illustrator and then import them to the machine to make the cuts. It is very budget friendly for the outcome. I highly recommend it.
... and Kim, you are right that there are no great examples of matting and that is because nobody knows to ask the framer to do custom designs. Most people think custom means just the color, but it is also the design of the cuts.

I agree this is helpful - being skeptical (er, cheap) when it comes to professional framers. I walk past Edgewise all the time, good to know they'd be worth the investment. I've also got one of the Obama prints that needs a lovely home. Funny.

I generally think new frames are hideous; if he's got vintage stock, I'm interested.

It's refreshing to see people getting away from using just a simple black or white frame.

But honestly - ghetto-ism. Bepsf, often our use of a word says more about us than we realize.