Framing paintings is a difficult task. Some people don’t have to worry about this- they never frame their stuff.

I do, because in my case, I have found that people overlook unframed pieces. It is like the paintings aren’t important if they don’t have a frame on them. Maybe this audience is your regular person, an art appreciator, not a serious collector. Collectors buy art for the work itself. I have had people tell me they would buy a painting if it had a different frame on it. Really? Spoiled, selfish people. If they really liked the piece, they would buy it and change the frame themselves. Then it would match their couch.

So anyways, I have been using a company out of Atlanta that sells only to businesses. I have my own business, so I can use them. They offer classic frames- usually wide board, 4-5 inch wide planks with edging and a liner if you choose. The frames are real wood, (unlike the junk that comes from China) and are your basic silver, gold, black or mahogany. These are good for some pieces, but not all.

Lately, I have had people ask me to use thinner frames. Well, I don’t have to frame anything at all, but I do it because the frames enhance my work. Therefore I have a better chance of selling a piece. So, a friend told me about another online frame shop that she uses. This company is good because they have the software that allows me to download my art to that site, and try out every frame that they have. What a great idea. I used to get samples from my old company, but a corner doesn’t really show me what the piece will look like. On this site, I get to see the whole painting with the frame. How convenient.

I have become a regular with these guys now, because their prices are really good, and the turn around time is great. I get custom made frames ordered and delivered in one week. Nice!

I had a painting, called October Snow, that I had just completed and wanted to use in a show. It measured 20 x 24 inches, and I happened to have a gold frame that size in the house. So I threw the painting in there, and put it in the show. That painting didn’t get much attention, and I knew that the frame was the problem. So with this new company, I downloaded the painting, and found that a gray driftwood frame was the perfect compliment for this piece. It changes the whole feel, and when I put this piece in my new show, I know this painting will get a lot of attention.

 

This happened with another painting. A little piece that measures 14 x 18. I don’t work on this size canvas often, but I happened to have a frame that was a really nice burl wood frame. A little banged up, but still pretty good. So I used it for this colorful sunset piece that I did from time spent in Provincetown, Mass.

Again, this painting was remarkably overlooked. I really liked this piece, and realized it wasn’t presenting itself properly. I used the new website, and found to my surprise, that a flat black frame with a gold liner worked perfectly. I had had a black frame that wasn’t a good frame, and it never seemed to look good on anything. So I was jaded. But if you find the right, good quality frame, it can make all the difference in the world. Sell or not to sell? If $60.00 means a sale, then I will invest the $60.00,