Setting up a new home, whether it's your first or fourteenth, often involves framing and re-framing art to fit it into new spaces. And professional framing, while it's a lovely luxury, is just that—an expense most of us can rarely afford. So it's important to get a grip on the best ways to do your own framing while still preserving your artwork so it will last in your new digs. Etsy's handmade blog, The Storque, has a great tutorial from painter and framer Michelle Arnold Paine, who offers tips for keeping your precious pieces safe...
Michelle not only reminds us of the importance of using archival-quality materials, but she also explains why such materials are necessary (and shows examples of what can happen without them... an effective scare tactic!). Here are a few of her tips:
• Protect your art on both sides, back and front. In other words, be sure both your mat and its backing are acid-free.
• Don't let the glass touch your art directly. Condensation under glass damages artwork over time.
• Never use masking or scotch tape.
To read more of Michelle's tips in detail, check out her post on The Storque, which is packed with other inspiring posts as well. Michelle's own lovely paintings can be found in her Etsy shop.
(Images: Michelle Arnold Paine/The Storque)
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Comments (1)
I agree completely with this. I actually work in the framing industry and know that there is a really bad perception that custom framing is very expensive... it can be. It can also be very affordable. Much of the work can be done yourself with a re purposed frame from a second hand store. Just take measurements of the back of the frame in the rabbit that holds the artwork and mat and glass. Then take your art and measurements to a frame store and just ask for glass and a mat to be cut for your frame and artwork. You can have them mount your art to the mat if you want or do it yourself later. Most of the cost in custom picture framing is in the molding, so by supplying your own, you take the cost down a lot. Ive started cutting my own mats and i can spend less than twenty dollars and frame a piece of art that could have had a couple hundred dollar frame. I am starting to load up my house and it looks great.