Framing Explanation and Tips

Framing a picture requires several steps, and oil paintings are framed differently from watercolours:

First it is necessary to Mount a watercolour or print...

in order to protect it by separating it physically both from the glass and from the backboard, and to enhance the image by separating it from the frame visually and by giving it extra depth.

We do all our mounting on a standard Conservation or WhiteCore quality mount board. Although we provide a range of colours of mount board, our recommendation is that you use a slightly off-white colour (Minuet 8627) that will enhance your chosen picture and not clash with any colour scheme you may have. This colour is chosen for nearly all professional framings. The Mount board is cut to 2 bevel edges revealing the white core of the board.

2 types of "mount" (also called "mat") are commonly found - single and double:

• The single mount is one thickness of mount board used to form a window around the visible area of the image. This is the minimum required to distance the artwork from the glazing. The picture is laid on an under-mount board, then the window mount is laid on top of the picture.
• The double mount is two window mounts stuck one to the other, to form a single unit. Our approach is the following: the front or top mount is cut smaller than the bottom mount, creating a visible step of approximately 5mm. Both the top and bottom window mounts are cut with bevel edges. The overall effect is to give the framed image much greater depth. The picture is laid on an under-mount board, then the double window mount is laid on top of the picture. We mount all our watercolours with double mounts.

Mount size is a matter of personal taste. Standard sizes are available that will fit all the paintings displayed on the web site. In order to overcome an optical illusion and make the picture look as though it is properly centred in the frame, it is in fact mounted higher than the centre so that the eye sees that is centred. We offer a choice of 2 sizes, where the dimensions given between the visible inner edge of the frame and where the mount meets the image:

• Narrow = 50mm visible width at the top and two sides, 65mm visible width at the bottom. In other words, the inside of the frame is 10cm wider than the visible image.
• Wide = 75mm visible width at the top and two sides, 90mm visible width at the bottom. In other words, the inside of the frame is 15cm wider than the visible image.

Visually, although not structurally, the “Slip” used when framing an oil painting plays a similar role. So if you are buying an oil painting, it is at this stage that we ask you to choose the colour slip you wish us to use from all the commonly available colours: Off-White, Gold, Black, or Canvas/Linen.

Then the mounted print or watercolour, or the un-mounted oil painting needs to be framed

Framing involves holding a picture in a frame made of moulding, in a design which clearly separates the image from the wall on which it is to be hung while complementing wall colour and furnishings. This must be achieved strongly enough to allow the often heavy unit to be safely hung.

Our selected mouldings are usually made from solid wood, and our framer individually makes and assembles the frames to fit the picture you choose.

An oil painting is framed differently to other pictures:

• For practical reasons, in order to attach often large and heavy boards and canvas stretchers securely, an oil painting is best framed without any mount, termed “close framed”, ie the painting is held under the rebate of the frame.
• Often, the painting itself is attached to what is called a "Slip", made of wood, and the slip is in turn attached to the frame. The slip is really an insert that fits between the moulding of the frame and the painting, and gives the impression of a second inner frame. The slip gives the picture greater depth so enhancing the image, as well as separating visually the painting from the frame. The slip is just over 2cm wide, although the part you see is 16mm wide and around 10 mm deep. We frame all our oil paintings with slips to enhance the image.
• The colour of the Slip is much more a matter of personal taste and of the colour of the picture and perhaps of your room and its furnishings. Choose from Off-White, Gold, Black, or Canvas.
• The most obvious difference between oils and other paintings is that oil paintings are best left un-glazed, in order to avoid unwanted reflections and distortion of an image which often has a distinct surface texture.
• Oil paintings usually have no back board.
  
  So oil painting frames work like this:

A watercolour or print is framed glazed, that is behind glass. We use 2mm float glass. Then it is backed with hardboard and sealed with tape to keep out insects and dust.

We finish all our frames in a similar manner: a cord is attached so the painting will arrive at your home ready to hang in your chosen spot. We even give you a picture hook and nail, usable on all walls except those made of concrete and/or walls covered with plaster in a poor condition. All you will need is a hammer!