How to Frame a Picture

Do I need a mat? 

Watercolor paintings should never touch the glass. Mixed media art and acrylic paintings that are done on canvas do not need glass, and consequently don’t need a mat. To create space between the glass and other types of artwork, place a mat board with a window cut through it over the artwork.

   

Do I have to pay extra for acid free?   

Always insist that your framer use archival 100% acid free mat board. Mat boards that contain acid will yellow over time. You will notice this first on the bevel (that is the cut edge of the mat board.) A really bad framing job could even yellow the artwork! Watercolors look best with a white or soft white mat. An exception to this is if you are matting a print. I always choose acid buffered products. From Stu-Art, I order their economical bevel cut neutral pH buffered paper mat.

What color mat should I choose?  

There are many shades of white, so picking the best one can be a confusing task. Turning the artwork over and trying to match the mat color to the color of the paper is usually a good idea. Furthermore, don’t use today’s trendy colors for the mat color or you’ll be sorry tomorrow. I use "white" and "bright white" from Stu-Art Supplies.

How wide should the mat be? 

Don’t use a skimpy mat. A 3″ border looks great. You can also do

Brown on brown is a key color combination for creating a rustic ambiance. The coffee colored dresser adds a touch of masculinity to the boys room. For those of us who love neutral hues,  the orange fox paired with a light brown frame are subtly stylish and don't overwhelm. Click here to view more animal art.

what is called a “dropped” mat where the bottom is wider than the sides. A good money saver is to have a piece custom matted to fit a standard size ready made frame. For my customers, I always mat my art to standard sizes, such as 11x14" to facilitate framing. My art collectors love saving money when they order a mat from me.

What should I use for the molding? 

Now the molding becomes a matter of personal taste and how to suit your decor. And custom molding (and fitting) is expensive. Therefore, always mat to the piece. With a neutral mat you could really go with anything for the frame but I favor bamboo style frames. Gold leaf frames are very traditional and pewter is more trendy and edgy. Some nice frames can be ordered online. A custom framer will charge you more because of the labor and other materials and finishing this is not something you want to do yourself. Your framer will give you a dust cover for the back, wiring for hanging, etc.