How To Frame Drawings On Paper

Tips for framing prints (or any art on paper)

Whenever I sell my prints at shows, I always get asked "How would you frame this?"

So I thought I'd share a few tips on framing prints (or any works on newspaper).

art print by Jennifer Allevato

Almost all of my fine art prints are sold with a white border on the edges. This does 3 things:

1. It gives the await of having a "born" mat around the impress, making it wait more similar fine art and less like a poster.

2. It gives space effectually the edges so when framed, none of the image is covered by the front frame lip. (If y'all've ever noticed when framing a photograph, the front end edge of a frame can cover upwardly an image by anywhere from i/16" on every side to even 1/4" on every side, depending on the frame. That means upwardly to an entire half inch of your prototype could be covered upwardly!)

art print framing tips by Jennifer Allevato

3. It allows the bottom signature, title, and (if applicable) number of the impress to prove. Signed prints are worth more than unsigned prints, and numbered limited edition prints are worth more than open edition prints, so it stands that about people desire to show off the signature! (and on an "original print" - aka a hand-pulled printmaker's work, similar a lino cutting, woodcut, lithograph, etc., the number in the edition is very important, too. To own a print out of an edition of only twenty makes the piece worth more than an edition of 200, which is worth more an edition of 1000, etc.) Every artist will sign their pieces differently, but in full general, signed on the front end in pencil at the bottom of the piece is standard. And so if your piece has that, proudly bear witness it off!

art print by Jennifer Allevato

If you take your piece to a framer'southward to be professionally framed, you may observe that more white space is left on the bottom of the piece than the superlative (or the mat may fifty-fifty be cut a piffling thicker on the lesser). This visually balances the slice. If too petty white space is left on the bottom, it can feel cramped or top heavy.

In terms of art preservation, information technology is better for a piece of work on paper to be framed with a mat. The mat not just gives the piece more visual presence, but it keeps the artwork itself from touching the glass on the frame, which better protects the art.

Withal, while information technology is safer for art on paper to be framed with a mat, it isn't a requirement!

framed prints by Jennifer Allevato

These prints shown here are framed without a mat in standard off-the-shelf frames from a big box store, and I recollect they await great! I e'er personally lean toward simpler frame styles and colors, but your frame style should get with your decorating way. An ornate frame can actually elevate a simpler piece of art.

etching by Jennifer Allevato

Here is a simple, small, black and white etching I did several years framed with a nice thick black mat and ornate gold frame. Notation how the edition number, championship, and signature are all visible at the bottom, and how much deeper the mat is cutting on the bottom than the sides and summit. The piece hangs in a formal dining room, so the elevated frame way works really well with the decor, despite the fine art itself being rather clean and traditional.

Regardless of how you frame your fine art, always make certain you are using archival-quality materials; that means looking for acid-free backings, papers, and mats, which will go on the fragile newspaper from aging too chop-chop. Art on paper, whether a print, photograph, drawing, pastel, etc. should always be hung out of directly sunlight (which can intermission down the newspaper and bleach the pigments) and away from wet (which can cause mildew or mold or even make the art stick to the frame or glass itself, causing irreparable harm).

And if you don't have a local framer that you similar, there are amazing online custom framing shops like Just Framed and Framebridge that can frame your slice for you.

Happy framing!

p.s. All art shown hither is mine, and yous tin shop my available fine art prints here!