A little guide to framing

If you've fallen in love with a tiny-bit-magical piece of art, (how wonderful, thank you!) and you're looking for advice as to how best to frame it - this little guide should help!

My fine art prints on paper are sized to fit a range of off-the-shelf frames that are readily available from online and high-street stores. From bright neon to light oak, these shops offer a wide choice of styles, materials and colours to suit your taste, budget and home décor. Before providing a few general recommendations, I thought I'd share my top tip when it comes to choosing a frame!

My golden rule

When it comes to choosing things for my home I honour what brings me joy, peace, comfort and inspiration.

We all want to feel happy in our cherished living spaces, so when it comes to finding the right kind of frame, we should select one that compliments the artwork but more importantly, one that sparks joy!

Bring your own unique style to framing

Take me for example, I love all kinds of interior design styles, from modern to traditional, but my home has largely been influenced by my passion for the countryside surrounding it.

We chose gentle, chalky shades of cream and blue to decorate, with oak and ivory painted furniture and traditional soft furnishings to give it a classic, country cottage feel. It feels calm and peaceful and the neutral backdrop leaves the walls free to showcase cherished photos and art pieces.

Being passionate about the natural world there are also pinecones on the mantlepiece and tiny, precious feathers on the bookcase! I've found various feathery beauties on my walks, including those of owls, kestrels and greater spotted woodpeckers - they're all cherished treasure to me!

Vintage beauties

I also love to re-use or re-purpose beloved frames, sometimes introducing new artwork into old frames, or old artwork into new!

I have a friend who finds all kinds of beautiful pre-loved items at vintage fairs and local car boot sales and her home is full of uniquely gorgeous, upcycled things! She has a great eye for colour and her home is very stylish and comfortable.

So my advice is to have fun! If a minimal frame just isn't for you, that's fine! My art prints will compliment a large variety of frame styles and colours, so just go for it and follow that spark of joy!

Here are some things to think about when deciding how to frame your new art print

What material do you want the frame to be made of?

The most common materials are wood, composite or metal. Metal frames are often thinner than wooden ones. A simple, wooden frame gives a natural, rustic feel to my artwork, but customers have also framed my artwork in all manner of other frames which look equally as lovely!

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What colour do you want the frame to be?

Common frame colour choices include black, white or natural wood. It's good to think about the colour of the wall where the print will hang and how it will sit alongside any other framed art pieces, as well as your furniture and the general décor of your room.

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Do you want a picture mount (also called a 'passepartout')?

Picture mounts are made of acid free cardboard, (acid free to help prevent fading and yellowing/discoloration of the artwork they mount). You will need to consider what size of mount you'd prefer. This is a matter of personal taste, but in general, picture mounts should be a minimum of 1" depth. They are also available in different colours. The most common colours used with my art prints are white or ivory.

Most off-the-shelf frames include a mount, so you can decide if you prefer the print with or without it.
Lots of my customers prefer not to include a picture mount with their print as my artwork already has a natural border/space around it. You may also note that most of the framed pieces on my website have been photographed without mounts, which may help you to decide which look you prefer.

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What size should the frame be?

This is a matter of personal taste, but your frame should display the print in pleasing proportions. My art prints are available to order in a variety of standard frame size options that are readily available from online & high street retailers.

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If you'd appreciate some help with framing, there are many wonderful, professional picture framers who will assist you with every aspect of framing your new art print.

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I hope you enjoy your new artwork and it brings you lots of joy!

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