Framing a Pastel Painting with Spacers

'Magical Memories'         6x6           pastel             ©Karen Margulis
sold

 Framing is not my favorite part of painting. In fact I only frame paintings when I absolutely have to. I store my finished paintings in boxes, flat with glassine paper in between layers. I sell paintings unframed and ship them packaged in foam core and glassine sandwiches. I do know how to frame but I'd rather spend my time painting!

I do get a lot of questions about framing so today I decided to take apart an old painting that I had professionally framed so I could share how it was done. This is a 6x6 pastel. It was framed with spacers and museum glass. The framer made a neat little package that pops into the frame. Have a closer look:

This is the 'package' taken out of the frame.

This is the framing method used when you don't want to have a mat. The painting is not right up against the glass but it is held away from the glass by the use of EconoSpace Spacers. The spacers are thin plastic strips with a sticky side. The spacers can be cut and attached to the edge of the glass using the peel and stick strip on the spacer.  Visit the FrameTek website for more information and turtorials on spacers.

Here you can see the top layer glass, the black spacer and the backing cardboard

The painting is now ready for the frame. If the painting is already mounted and rigid it is placed on top of the spacers facing the glass. If the painting is not mounted it can be attached to acid free foamcore using hinged tape. This painting was done on a rigid board so it was ready to go.

In this case the frame was deep so it needed some more backing  material so it would be flush to the frame edge. The framer added a piece of cardboard to add the necessary thickness. I would use acid free materials instead of cardboard.

Here is another view of the package of glass, spacer, painting and cardboard backing.

Tape holds all the layers together

Once all of the layers of this sandwich are together the framer used clear tape to secure the layers together. Tape was used on all four corners. Notice that the tape edge does not go past the edge of the spacer. You don't want the tape to show.

Here is a picture of the glass with the black spacers attached.

This little package is now ready to be put into the frame. The tape holds the layers securely and the painting is not touching the glass! To finish the framing job the package can be secured into the frame with points and a point driver. I prefer to use offset clips which are small metal clips that are screwed to the frame. See them here on Blicks.   I like to add backing paper to the back of the frame to add a finishing touch.

Note that Tru Vue Museum Glass was used. This is my preferred glass. I don't care for non glare glass which has a slight hazy look. Museum glass is clear but looks almost invisible. It is amazing!

I was very interested to see how my commissions would be framed. They were unveiled on Sunday at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton. They are big at 30x40 each. They used a thin wood frame with a wide linen liner. I like how they were framed!

A Good Choice for Reasonable Plein Air Style Frames

'Signs of Summer'            16x20       oil on canvas      ©Karen Margulis      SOLD

I love to paint but I dislike framing. Fortunately I don't have to do much framing. I have two galleries who prefer to handle the framing of my work and the paintings I sell online are unframed.  Every once in awhile I need to frame something. This weekend I am going to the Blue Ridge Georgia Plein Air Festival and I will need to frame anything I want to enter into the exhibition. So I am packing up frames and framing supplies and thought I'd share some of my favorite sources.

Since I don't do much framing I haven't opened an account with some of the wholesale framers so my recommendations are from the point of view of someone who occasionally needs a frame. When I want a really nice, well made, good looking frame for a great price I order from King of Frames. www.kingofframe.com  Randy Higbee and his crew do a wonderful job and I love their frames. They usually have a good selection on sale for $30 too!

A frame from King of Frames  11x14 Arroyo Gold

If I want  to spend less than $30 but want a decent wooden plein air style frame then I get them from Jerrys Artarama or ASW art Supplies. I like the Plein Air style in gold, black and mahogany. They can be found on sale for $12.99 for a 5x7 for example. They also come in other finishes. They are decent quality for the price. I actually like to have a few on hand to use when I am evaluating a painting to see if I am finished. I call them my 'Magic Frames' because it is almost magic how they can make your painting appear more finished than you thought it was.  My student love when I bring the Magic Frame around!

An example of a gold plein air style 'Magic Frame'

Today's painting of the Queen Annes Lace at the top of the page is the largest oil I have attempted so far at 16x20. I am going to be brave and bring my oils to this weekend's plein air festival in Blue Ridge. I will let you know how it goes!