Put the same print in two different frames and you'll understand why framing matters. In a thin plastic frame pressed against glass, it looks like a poster. In a wide mat with a simple wooden frame, it suddenly looks like something from a gallery.
You don't need an expensive framer to get that effect. You need a few principles.
1. Give it room to breathe: the mat
The mat, or passe-partout, is the border of card between the art and the frame. It's the single biggest difference between amateur and gallery framing.
- Go generous. A wide mat makes even a small print look important. - Choose white or off-white for most works. Soft neutrals let the art speak. - Slightly wider at the bottom. Many framers make the lower border a little deeper; it balances the image visually.
2. Keep the frame simple
A frame should support the art, not compete with it.
- Thin wood or metal in a natural tone, black or white works with almost everything. - Match the mood. Warm wood for soft, nostalgic works; fine black for graphic ones; a little gold for something classical. - Avoid heavy ornament unless the piece itself is ornate.
3. Protect it
- Glass or acrylic keeps dust away. Anti-reflective glass costs more but lets you see the art without glare. - Acid-free mats and backing help prevent paper from yellowing over the years. - Don't stick the print down with ordinary tape. Use archival hinges or ask your framer.
4. Hang it well
Keep paper works out of direct sunlight, which fades colors. Avoid damp walls and the space above radiators.
5. Think about the whole wall
A large mat on a small print, alone on a wall, creates a calm, museum-like effect. Several prints in matching frames make a quiet, harmonious group.
A print worth framing well
My print Blue Toile n.1 is a fragment of a modernized toile de Jouy pattern, in blue, the kind of image that looks beautiful with a wide white mat and a simple frame. Each print is hand-finished, signed, and comes with a meditation letter. Give it room, and it will give your wall a little calm.
Remember to take as much time as you need, and meet me at the next one.
Love, Evi