Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Salt Marsh Palms
8x10 inches
mixed media on panel
gold frame
500.00

Purchase HERE


Painters Tip


Framing


There are many framing companies on the Internet in many price ranges. Simple mouldings work well for me. I don't buy the 300.00 8x10 frames because most of my clients tend to want to re-frame at some point to suit themselves. They like to hang the painting for awhile at home before they decide.

I look for decently made frames which are not too expensive. I use a variety of mouldings in metal leaf gold, silver, champagne silver, copper, and acid washed metal leaf. For some reason, I can't sell a painting in natural wood mouldings. They have to be metal leaf to sell. I made the very expensive mistake once, of buying a bunch of natural, solid wood frames, which were washed with a soft blue stain. They were beautiful and complimented my work nicely. I could not sell a painting to save my life in those frames. The minute I put a painting back in a gold frame, it sold.

I use standard sized panels and stretched canvas because those sized frames are ready made. Often these frame companies have specials and promotions on different mouldings each month and by using standard sizes, I can cash in on that. I just got some 12x16 frames yesterday which were on promotion. They are a beautiful dark copper metal leaf. Well made, and the paintings look great in them. The frames at this company only come in standard sizes.

I try to purchase frames when they are on sale whether I need them or not because there is always a need for more frames and it's easier on the studio budget.

Having a good friendship with my local framer is also wise, knowing I will need custom frames for time to time for certain clients. I sometimes sell unframed paintings in my studio and send all that business to my favorite framers. They are grateful. I know I can go in their shop and have a frame made within an hour, and that is so important.

I also order all of my framing hardware online, including mirror hangers (D Rings), framing wire, the little canvas offset gizmos, screws, framers tape and tools. I only have to replenish about once a year and get everything at once.

I have a framing table, padded on the top, to lay the frame face down and install hardware. All of my tools are in the drawers and there is a little parts cabinet on the wall over the table(old dresser). One thing I have learned is to keep the cardboard corners on the frames until the paintings are sold, or they go into galleries.

I do framing installation for my students once a month at my open studio session, or at other times if they need help. It is easy for me because all of the hardware and tools are right in the studio.

Framing is an expensive part of a painter's career and the more efficient and economical we can be, the better.