A well chosen frame really elevates an artwork to look at its best, but if you’ve never set foot in a Framers or perhaps you’ve just invested in your first art print and don’t know where to start? Put your feet up, grab a cup of tea (or whatever your favourite refreshment is) and read through my guide to inspire and empower your experience.
Firstly, I highly recommend using your local highstreet framing shop rather than online services. You might be tempted to start googling for the answer, but honestly the quality and expertise you’ll find in a local business can’t be beat. Also, the framer will take care of the measurements and put the whole thing together for you. Whereas self assembly is more risky, you might get your fingerprints on the artwork, and quality can be hit or miss online. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised your local framing shop products are about the same price as an online retailer, sometimes cheaper as you cut out delivery costs.
Sounds obvious, but when you go into the framers take the artwork with you so they can offer recommendations to suit the style of the art. Also, take a photo of the room it will be hung in, so they can get a feel for your interior design style. They will have various styles and finishes to suit the artwork and your home, and a good framer will offer bespoke painting colours too.
Take your time and talk over the styling options, and if you need to take away some ideas to mull over, go back once you’ve made up your mind. The framer will have samples so you can get hands on and take some photos if you prefer to take these images back home to consider how they will suit your decor.
Most framers now offer UV glass, which protects the print from sun damage and guarantees it will last for decades. A giclée print is designed to be light fast and last for decades, due to superior ink and printing, but you’ll want to also look after the artwork to look after your investment piece.
The framer will naturally create a mount, which is a plain border which sits on top of the print to protect it from contact with the glass. This stops any residue being picked up from the glass, which is important to preserve your print. You can choose to have a coloured mount, but I tend to default to an off white shade. Unless it's really going to make the artwork sing, stick to neutral colours. They will secure the mount together with a fitted backing and hanging cord, ready to place in your home.
If you have a series of smaller prints, go for a similar or the same frame to bring together the collection, and create a cohesive look. Or if you’re going for a quirky look, go for very different frames but find complimentary or matching colours to bring together the gallery wall.
Finally, be mindful of where you hang the artwork, avoiding above radiators, direct sunlight or where there might be damp. To preserve your cherished artwork and keep it looking at its best I’d recommend a gentle dust once a week, don’t use cleaning sprays.
Looking for a new print? To see my contemporary fine art collection of prints head on over to my shop:
https://ruthegon.com/collections/prints-of-artwork
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