Matching Your Frame with Your Art

Let your art shine even more – choose the right picture frame. With the number of choices that are available, it can be quite overwhelming, and you may be in doubt as to which frame will perfectly set off your art piece. There is also the fact that bad framing can detract from the piece. So, there should be some general rules to help you match your picture frame with your art piece.

Here are some things for you to consider:

Consider the size of the piece.

• Small pieces. Give small pieces more prominence and visual impact by using a larger frame (but with a slimmer edge) with a large mat. The mat adds more weight to the piece but do not overdo this – the mat should not be wider than a third of the art piece. If you have a number of small pieces with the same theme or genre, you can use the same color matting and the same style and size of the frame to produce a grid display. This way, the small pieces form a bigger artwork. For instance, you can get a number of square antique frames to produce a gallery display.
• Larger pieces. For a larger art piece, its impact is enough so that you need not use the picture frame to add emphasis to the piece. You can use a simple but wide frame with a thin matting (one to three-inches maximum). You can also opt to do away with the matting.

Consider the colors used in the piece. To make your piece pop and for you to maximize the visual impact, you need to strike a balance between having a color that is not too similar to the paintings and one that pulls the eye into the piece. As a general rule, look at the painting’s dominant color and choose a picture frame that is a shade lighter than this. You can also go with a neutral color so that the picture frame does not detract from the artwork. If you are in doubt, you can also order some color samples from us. The Victorian Frame Company offers up to free color samples, free of charge.

Consider the genre of the work. Portraits will work very well with gold or gold-leaf finish while landscapes can look great in wood finishes such as oak, cherry or ash. A more modern piece of work can shine with a silver picture frame with a chrome-like finish or a simple black finish. A modern piece with a strong theme can handle a big and bold picture frame while a landscape or a watercolor may only be overwhelmed by a lot of drama and bold shapes. Of course, a historic piece such as an antique document (i.e. your grandfather’s diploma or your grandmother’s handwritten recipes) will call for a classic picture frame. What’s more, there may be times when you can opt to nix the picture frame and go for floater frames or for a frameless look.

Consider the size of the room. The color of the picture frames has an effect on the room. For a small space, light-colored picture frames can add to the illusion of spaciousness to the room. However, darker frames can make the room’s smallness even more noticeable.

Add some embellishments. You can also look at adding some layers of matting, as well as a beveled edge for the biggest matting board. Another option is to have a metallic inner lip.