I am busily framing for Artweeks – it feels so good to have work framed well ahead of time.
Here are a few things I’ve learnt en route:
I buy my frames at a local market – order one week and collect the next week. I used to do all the mount cutting etc. myself but I really like the deep-cut mounts and v-grooves and I don’t have the equipment for this. There is such a lot of white on my work that I need the shadow definition.
But we still end up putting the work into the frames. ‘Archival’ is important – stick the artwork to the mount with archival tape and be sure to back the artwork with archival card or paper. Somerset 300gsm is a good basic backing. We have recently figured out a new trick. A vacuum with a clean little brush can suck up the specks on the glass. Doesn’t it just drive you crazy when you have framed a piece and sealed it and then you see one pathetic little ‘speck’. do you or don’t you…?
It’s’important to seal the back so that moisture doesn’t get in and cause damage. If you are charging what your work is worth, it’s your responsibility to be archival about it! That brown gummed paper tape was such a nuisance, but there is now a masking tape that is brown and is a treat to use!
You can buy all these supplies from a picture frame supplier such as Arqadia.
I’ve just framed several of our old pictures that needed a ‘re-furb’ and wish I’d known about the brown masking tape. That’s definitely on the shopping list!