Oil Painting | Art Painting | Blog on Oil Paintings

Purchasing a framed painting (a large one anyway) may seem daunting to the first timer and may affect the decision they make in purchasing the painting itself. What I do is look at the painting and frame in isolation and then together as one piece.  If the choice is available, I usually like buying the painting unframed and then framing separately.

It is fairly simple to frame and relatively inexpensive. Many of the art frames can be purchased to match your décor and/or other artwork adjacent. Sometimes an ordinary piece of art can become somewhat if you choose the right frame. The choices are limitless when it comes to finding the right frame online or offline. Having said this, I have bought paintings before with the frame because I happened to like the combination which was a bonus.

If you are purchasing an unframed work directly from the artist it never hurts to ask if they have a connection to get you a good priced frame. Artists that sell a lot will not purchase frames at retail price. They usually have a friendly source or a good business connection that deals with frames, so talk to him or her and see if you can get you a discount. It never hurts to ask.

If you prefer to look for a frame yourself then I’m sure you won’t have a problem

finding a professional framers in your area. They are quite common place nowadays. As with any service or profession some are good and some are not so good. Shop around for the best service, best price, and look for value as you would for any other product or service.

Below are just a few tips to help you choose your frame.

Size

Making any sized frame “work” with a piece you must ultimately control the proportions with matting. A wide frame requires more matting than a narrow frame.

Style

By looking at your painting you will see how the coloring, theme and medium will most often direct you toward a particular  type of frames. Generally the frame should go with the theme, medium and style of

the painting. If you are still having a hard time with choosing your frame you can also use the décor of your room in which the piece will hang as your guide. For example, you wouldn’t use a wooden frame with an unfinished look more suitable for a cottage in a condo with a modern decor.

Wooden frames will look good with most paintings, it’s more a matter of the color of the wood and how the wood is finished.  Wood can be stained in colors like walnut, cherry, oak, ash, basswood, poplar, and pine. Stained wood can be plain, carved, simple or ornate. And, many wood frames are available in lacquer finishes, faux finishes, and gold or sliver leaf.

Metal frames work well with certain décor, or with more  modern pieces and posters can also be a good choice. I would however stay well away from plastic or acrylic frames. They just don’t do anything for your feel, decor or the value of your painting.

If you are going to buy your frame online, make sure you know exactly what you are buying. You would preferably have checked out different frames at a store before making your purchase online.