At Cal's Gallery, we understand that framing is an essential aspect of showcasing your art collection. The right frame not only enhances the artwork but also complements your space.
Here are some practical tips for collectors when considering framing:
- Choose the Right Style: Select a frame that matches the aesthetic of your artwork and your home decor. Consider traditional, modern, or minimalist styles.
- Material Matters: Frames come in various materials, including wood, metal, and acrylic. Each material offers a different look and feel, so choose one that aligns with your vision.
- Glass Options: Use UV-protective glass to safeguard your artwork from fading. Non-reflective glass can also reduce glare, ensuring that your art is always visible.
- Matting: Adding a mat can enhance the visual impact of your piece. It creates a border that draws the eye and adds depth.
- Professional Help: Consider consulting a professional framer for custom solutions that fit your specific needs and preferences.
By taking the time to frame your artwork thoughtfully, you can elevate its presence in your home and protect your investment. For more personalized advice, feel free to reach out to us at Cal's Gallery.
Conservation Framing: Protecting a Work for the Long Term
Style and glazing get most of the attention, but much of what keeps a work on paper, a photograph or a small canvas in good condition happens out of sight, inside the frame package. When you collect contemporary work you intend to live with for decades, it is worth asking a framer specifically about conservation or archival framing standards.
What goes behind the glass
- Acid-free, lignin-free mats and backing. Ordinary wood-pulp board yellows over time and can leave a brown line on the artwork where it touches. Museum-grade cotton rag board or buffered conservation board avoids this.
- Reversible mounting. Works on paper should be held with hinges or photo corners that can be removed without damage, rather than dry-mounted or glued flat. Anything done to the piece should be undoable.
- Spacers for unmatted works. If a piece is framed without a mat, small spacers keep the surface from touching the glazing, which helps prevent condensation and sticking.
- A sealed back. A dust cover and well-sealed backing help keep out insects, dust and sudden humidity changes.
Glass or acrylic?
Glass is scratch-resistant and very clear, while acrylic is lighter and less likely to shatter, which makes it a sensible choice for large works or pieces that will travel. Acrylic carries static, however, so it is generally not recommended over loose media such as pastel or charcoal.
Hanging and placement
Even the best frame cannot fully protect a work from its environment. Avoid walls that get direct sun, spots above radiators or fireplaces, and damp rooms such as bathrooms. Use hanging hardware rated well above the weight of the framed piece, and consider security hangers in busy spaces.
Keep records
Ask your framer to note the materials used and keep that information with the work's paperwork and any provenance documents. It is useful for insurance, future reframing or resale. If you acquired a piece from an exhibition, such as those listed on our Exhibitions page, the artist or gallery may also have preferences about how the work should be presented; it is always worth asking before you commit. For questions, our Contact page is the best place to start.