AT,
How would you frame this painting?
This is a Mexican amate painting I've been dying to hang in my living room, but I can't figure out how to frame it. The edges are the problem--the amate paper has really cool textured edges (which you can see in the second pic). I wish I could just clip it between two pieces of glass with no frame, but I've heard you should never let a painting touch glass...
...I collect colorful little pieces of Mexican handicrafts, but all of my display shelving is white, minimal, a bit like a cross between Ikea's Lack and Expedit lines, so I'm not sure I'd like a chunky, earthy frame, or anything ornate. And matting? The idea of matting seems too conventional somehow.
How do I frame this painting without overwhelming it?
Thanks!
Julie
Julie,
We know someone who had a piece professionally framed so that it sort of floats in a plexiglas box. It looks amazing.
Anyone else?
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Comments (11)
If you want to see the full piece, then mount in a floater frame or a shadowbox.
If you don't care about seeing the edges, then buy a frame and mat. Your work won't touch the frame glass.
On a linen colored, linen backing cum matte and plain black frame.
I've never heard about it being bad for a painting to touch glass. What's that about?
Imagine hanging it like a poster, except instead of using tacks to go through the paper, put nails in the wall where the tacks would go. Then position the painting over the heads of the nails (which are about sticking out a 1/2 inch or so from the wall). Hold the painting on the heads of the nails with small rare-earth magnets. You'll want another person to help you do this. I display calligraphy done on rice paper this way and it looks really nice.
fm
I really like the idea of this rustic looking piece in a plain white wooden frame, mounted on a white mat board.
Lots of printmaker prints have the deckled edge, which is nice to see, and they usually are just mounted on mat board and framed. The glass is far enough forward that it doesn't touch the artwork. That said, I'd take it to a professional to do a good job. Also, make sure they use archival mat board. You'd think that wouldn't be an issue, but sometimes they don't if you don't request it.
Sporky,
When the painting is touching the glass, you run the risk of having condensation build up and come in contact with the painting.
It is possible to float it on a mat color of your choice, archival of coarse. Framers use what is called spacers and this enables the glass to lay approx. 1/8 inch from the artwork. It is completely invisible and is applied in the rabbit if the frame. It comes in clear and black depending on your frame color. This can also be bought by the foot at any frameshop, really inexpensive, and then applied to your IKEA frames as well. Just remember, with vibrant colors like this it is best to invest in a UV or museum glass and to avoid hanging in direct light.
World Market has some very cool shadow boxes out. That'd be my solution.
let it float, with a black frame
Take it to a frame shop and tell them you want it framed "floating." That way, the deckled edges (that's what those are called) will be on display. Someone that commissioned one of my paintings did this, and it looks gorgeous.
have it framed "floating" on a darker brown matte in a brilliant blue frame to keep with the original colors, but update the piece a bit.