Framing for critique

[Orde02]

Hello all.

I don't do a lot of regular picture framing so I'm more than happy to get help and advice the pieces I do frame.

I framed this print for myself so it was to my own preferences. I wanted a box frame feel to it so I added strips of the same colour mountboard of 15mm around the inside sides of the frame. The moulding is from Lion and is slightly lighter and more turquoise in colour than in the photo.

I like how it's turned out but how could I have made this better? Weighted the bottom border a little? Wider mount?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Justintime]

I'm not a fan of bottom weighting, it has it's place, but I don't think it would add anything to this piece. I think your border width looks fine.
My three options to take this up a notch would be a V groove added to the mount, a second/top mount about 10-15mm larger opening of either 1400 or 2400mic board or a light/dark blue mount under this one showing 4mm.

[Orde02]

Thanks for the input Justin. They all sound good but I like the idea of the darker or lighter blue second mount the best. I'll bear it in mind for the next one.

Matt

[Gesso&Bole]

I do like weighting the mount, but if the customer notices, it's too much. Typically, something of that size might have 5mm extra on the bottom. I do it to avoid the situation where it looks (optical illusion) like the bottom border is thinner, certainly not to make the bottom border look wider.

As for this picture, Matt, I like what you have done, but I would personally put some blue/turquoise (to match the frame) nearer to the image, this could take the form of a mount line, an undermount (showing about 5mm) or a mount fillet. This would give it some more optical depth.

[Fruitini]

Love the Portabello range from Lion. So versatile. You've found a great frame for your picture.

I think I would gain the flash of blue that Jim was talking about with a painted bevel, and perhaps on a thicker board too. You can really dial in the colour match this way. If you don't fancy painting the bevel (it's dead easy with the right tape...!) you could use the Crescent Britecore range, but you'd be limited to the standard white (or black) surface paper and blue core.

[vintage frames]

There's very little to improve upon there, as regards the layout and framing.
Well within the standards required for professional picture-framing.

I don't know what you are doing with that 'blue thing' you have going on there, however.
Perhaps to hang in a nursery maybe.

Now you hate me - but I remember once doing something like that for a print I was given to frame, by a rather important gallery.
When I brought it back in, they all looked at it with very long faces, whispered amongst themselves and then opined politely - "We think it might be better..."

Stick to the colours of your furniture.
That's all frames really are.

[Justintime]

I might have left out the Lion's part, knowing that Dermot would be along for a once over! I just want to add that you've matched the corners really well.

[Orde02]

Thanks again everyone for the input. I love the idea of the painted bevel, colour matching is the way to go!

Dermot, I like the blue thing going on here, I'm very tempted to to open it back up again and try to add the colour matched bevel Fruitini mentioned.
My workshop is like a goth's boudoir at midnight most of the time, wall to wall black frames with just a bit of gold to break it up. I just fancied a bit of colour for this little snowy hare print, and yes, my sofa IS blue so all is fine there!

Matt

[vintage frames]

Simple -
Change your sofa.

[Fruitini]

Thanks again everyone for the input. I love the idea of the painted bevel, colour matching is the way to go!

Dermot, I like the blue thing going on here, I'm very tempted to to open it back up again and try to add the colour matched bevel Fruitini mentioned.

I find it really tricky to make a decent job of bevel painting post cutting. If you tape up before cutting so you cut board and tape at the same time it gives a perfect result. 3M removable tape is the best I’ve found so far. Pricey but goes a long way and doesn’t leave marks or residue on darker boards. https://www.lionpic.co.uk/p/8543/3M-81 ... ble-1-roll

[David]

Hi Matt

First off well done it looks a good piece of framing and well done for putting it up for discussion.

I think the frame, mount size and colour proportions are good, certainly wouldn’t go larger on the mount. I do however bottom weight just about everything usually 5mm. I also very rarely single mount anything, the first thing I would consider is a double or triple mount in the same colour, my default is a 3mm step, subtlety is the key especially on small images. Next would be double or triple mounting adding some colour, mid/light tones taken from the image, the strongest colour 2.5/3mm and 4/5mm for the lighter colour, vary the width even if it’s 0.5mm. One of my favourite combinations is a triple mount with top and bottom mounts the same colour and a thin step of colour between a quarter and a third into the mount.

I also like painted bevels and/or painted mounts, with double mounts after cutting I sometimes remove the bottom mount and paint the surface and bevel. No masking required and can be done very quickly. Sponging with two or three tones of the same colour or varying colours can be effective, again my default is 3mm.

This is very much my style of framing and part of the fun of framing is finding techniques and methods that work for you, that you enjoy, and finding your own style.

For the 15mm spacers I cut thin strips of foamcore and line them with mountboard.

Just thought of another idea if you like playing with depth, put a spacer mount between the image and the mount, I also put spacer mounts between double mounts, adds depth and creates shadows often giving a greater perception of depth than 1.5mm would suggest.

Good luck, have fun, I’d like to see more.

David.

[Rainbow]

I don't know what you are doing with that 'blue thing' you have going on there, however.
Perhaps to hang in a nursery maybe.

I don't know whether I'm missing something but I thought the blue frame was an excellent choice for the picture and the usage. Why would it suit a nursery? I'd have thought perhaps a paler and less heavy frame for a nursery, but if it's going in the OP's living room or whatever, I can't see why it's not suitable....

[vintage frames]

Don't worry Rainbow.
It was just a light hearted criticism made to a framer who knows me quite well.

[JKX]

If it’s for you then it can’t be wrong!
I personally don’t even like the print, if someone gave that to me I’d rip it in half

But that’s just splitting hares

I like bottom weighting - no science, it just looks good most times. 5% hardly worth bothering with though, unless you’re only worried about play making it look slightly TOP heavy

I go something like (inches) 3/3.5 - 4/5

Painted or gilded bevels, deep or not, likey very much

No need to mask bevels for painting - check this at 18:30 in




..

[Rainbow]

Don't worry Rainbow.
It was just a light hearted criticism made to a framer who knows me quite well.

Ah, I see, thanks

So it sounds as if you don't like the blue frame, and thinking again about what constitutes "good taste" (as per the "Four Levels" thread), I'm wondering what sort of frame you would have used?

[JKX]

He doesn’t use frames, he makes them for others, so in this case, it would be that one, but not factory finished

[vintage frames]

Hi Rainbow
Orde02 makes all his own frames and now sells to artists worldwide.
We got to know each other quite well and that was why I jibed at him for using a ready finished moulding.
He's only been doing this for over a year, which is extraordinary and I suspect he was experimenting with different approaches to framing.

I would either have used a thicker white mount or played with a double mount for that little print.
I would have used a simple 3/4 inch ash wood moulding and either stained or painted it black.

[JKX]

I agree - a narrower frame and a double mount with a slightly darker inner to complement

But a black frame? No!

[Orde02]

Hello. I haven't been on the forum for a week or two and have missed the most recent replies, thanks for all the feedback. I don't do a lot of picture framing as such, I mostly make and hand finish frames. But I am open to the public and do pick up the occasional walk in framing job. With this in mind, and that I'm completely self taught, I would like to have a bit more understanding of framing design hence the original post.

Rainbow, I knew Dermot was just poking fun a little and my blue frame, I actually laughed when I read his nursery comment!

I'll be posting other frames for critique in the near future and hoping for more very useful advice.

Thanks again

Matt