Looking for a good introductory book on making picture frames
Hi there: My wife just painted a drop dead gorgeous picture and I’m finally going to succumb to her marriage-long (29 years) pleas of making a frame for something she paints. Can anyone recommend a good introductory book on making picture frames? Thanks
Replies
Almost any frame book will have an introductory section - do you have a miter box or a chop saw to get started - it can be a little confusing adding and subtracting for the exact rabbet measurements on the miter in the rebate -
And don't dare allow the frame to take away from the beautiful painting - the painting is the main item
SA
"And don't allow the frame to
"And don't allow the frame to take away from the beautiful painting-the painting is the main item"
To offer an alternate view to that: (quote)
Edgar Degas once remarked in a letter " The frame is the reward of the artist" Degas was concerned with the proper presentation of his paintings. He sometimes painted mats with harmonious colors as a visual bridge between frame and picture. (end quote)
To the OP, an alternative to making one is to find a suitable one.They can be found in antique shops, tag sales etc. and many times at a very reasonable cost. I've seen lots of nice frames that have had mirrors put in them. They can easily be taken out and have a painting put in them. Doing this, you may find something far more attractive and decorative than you first envisioned.
If you decide to make one, three basic joints are used; the simple miter joint that is held with glue and small nails, the traditional spline joint and the lap joint. A good place to learn about frames is through The Society of Gilders.
I have just the opposite problem,a number of frames I've gilded in gold, copper and silver leaf waiting for the right painting or photograph.
One analogy to consider for the frame; an attractive woman is attractive in jeans and a sweatshirt. However, see her in the right dress..............
Peter
Peter
I don't know if Degas
Peter
I don't know if Degas was married but here the wife did the painting - tread carefully :-)
We'll save the August Ruhl for the next guy -
SA
Tread carefully. Always great advice.
"You found THAT for my painting?" Yes "You're putting my painting in THAT?" Uh-Oh
PG
Peter -
I didn't say I had
Peter -
I didn't say I had good taste in decorative arts - rather been told where to go by my bitter (not a typo) half enough to know better.
SA
a,
for what it may be worth, one needs to know three bits of info to get the measurements correct:
1) the size of what's to be framed, be it mat or picture.
2) the width of the rabbet.
3) the width of the frame parts.
so a picture 5x7 placed into a 1/4" rabbet with 2" wide frame parts needs two pieces 2x8 1/2 and two pieces 2x9 1/2.
frames are fun to make.
eef
If you can find a class by Stuart Altschuler, it's worth attending.
http://www.framingacademy.com/class_list.php
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