Watercolor Framing

When Watercolor Framing, you have to decide to either
frame your own or get a professional framer to do it.

Let me tell you a little story first. 10 years ago I painted a lot in Mexico, the cost of having custom Watercolor Framing in "wood" was outrageously expensive.
The Country made large volumes of frames, all sizes but for export only. I used to purchase "made in Mexico" frames in the USA. Haul them into Mexico and pay the duty, they would cost me about 25% of the price in Mexico. Example, a  frame made and sold in Mexico would cost $100.00.     Same frame,made in Mexico, purchased in USA $25.00.

Strange World.

Framing can be expensive. So, is a professional frame worth the extra money or should you make your own?

The answer may be fairly simple, can you make a good looking frame, are the corner mitered joints nice and tight, all corners a 90 degree angle. If you answer yes, maybe you should go for it. By the way, how much is your time worth? Watercolor Framing can be time consuming.

Glass is essential (if the painting has not been treated in some manner). Ordinary glass or non reflective, the newest non-reflective glass does not absorb some of the color in the Watercolor Painting, unlike a few years back. Then again, non reflective is about double the cost of ordinary glass.

Clean the glass back and front, watch you don't leave finger prints.

The backing board (the board that touches the complete back of the painting) must be acid free.
Please no cardboard backing, I know some of you might not pay any attention to this, out of sight - out of mind.
A good professional would never do this.
The painting is now attached by acid free tape to the backing board and mat. Check there is not any foreign materials or stuff under the glass. It would'nt hurt to peek again.

Now seal the back with a dusk cover, this will be placed over the back of the frame from top to bottom.
Screw in the metal screw eyes in the frame. Take the measurement of the side and place screw eyes one third of that dimension from the top. It might not be such a bad idea to make sure that the Painting is not upside down before putting in the screw eyes.
Now string with wire cord pulling very tight from eye to eye. No hanging cord must be visible from the front

Now, go hang the Watercolor Painting with pride. No not there,take it out of the sun, over here. Thats better.
You deserve to sit down have a cup of tea, admire the painting - you did very well (hope you don't hear a crash in the middle of the night.

COLOR OF THE FRAME

Should a frame be gilded (gold,silver or metal leaf) natural wood or painted.

Answer, it is not an easy decision.

All choices have merit.

So the question should be when to choose what. Personal taste rules.  Portraits -  gold would be a good choice, if the colors in the painting complemented gold.

Natural wood and frames painted to look like wood might be another good choice for rustice scenes, also, pencil work would be good in a wooden frame.

Silver seems to work on photographs and some prints.

Subject matter will also come into play.  Italian countryside, maybe a gilded ornate Italian-style will be the best choice.

Some watercolors will only look correct in a comtempory frame, maybe metal.

COLOR OF MATTING

I have looked at many museum art pieces.  It seems to me most curators felt a colorful mat is out.  Distraction, could be.  Cream, antique white and neutral shades are in.

Colored mat choosen carefully, in tones that are either dominate in the image, or that draw out the colors would be good choice.

Remember if you have white in the image a stark white mat would not be appropriate.

Acid-free mats and backing a must.

Secure the works future by becoming knowledgeable about archival methods to be used in a good framing job

For that extra, extra, look remember these Thoughts About Framing,ask the framer to give you a price on putting in a "FILLET" (a small piece of molding which fits inside a larger frame or typically, underneath or in between matting used for decorative purposes.

It is made of soft or hard wood normally very decorative, and features a flat "Lip" which can fit underneath a mat, the non-lip portion is what is displayed. When in place looks like a small size picture frame. Don't see much work framed with a Fillet these days.

BUYING TIP.Ask about it every time you go to a Framers Store that you have not used before. The idea being you will show some expertise in framing, showing I am no framing dummy, in other words I know my framing prices, whether you do or don't does not matter.  

Try it, it really works.

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