Tips on Effective Artwork Preservation | To Frame or Not to Frame
Proper preservation of and care for artwork is a dilemma that every artist encounters. With immense value and sentiment put in artwork, artists would not want to see their output ruined by poor framing. In a similar sense, art pieces left without any frame may get weathered sooner than their expected shelf life.
While the choice lies entirely on the artist, or owner for that matter, a wall canvas is only as good as how we present them. And so, here are some tips to make art more visually appealing without even using frames.
The Need for a Frame
A trip to an art auction is exciting, especially if you happen to be an art-inclined person. Here comes long scrutiny and benchmarking that would determine which artwork would make it to your home. However, after the fun, you are left with the question of whether to frame your piece, or leave it bare.
It is important to note that not all canvas needs to be framed. Should you have a canvas with smooth edges and a clean-finished look, for example, then having it framed is not necessary. These are commonly called gallery-wrapped canvases, bound from front to back instead of the usual type tucked within the wood.
Usually, gallery-wrapped canvases are made to project a continuous visual effect. In the same way, this serves a technical purpose for owners to hang them easily without frames.
A mirrored edge works just the same. Without frames, these pieces still appeal to spectators effectively. While gallery-wrapped canvases render an unbreakable visual, mirror edges, on the other hand, portray a reflective illusion. With frames covering this effect, the overall visual would diminish.
Conversely, a frame would do wonders for those planning to put a reprinted image of Van Gogh's Starry Night on their walls. The standard wrap is commonly applied to reprinted images with lesser expenses. So, whether it is a well-known painting or just a flower portrait you scored at a garage sale, always consider a framed look for this style.
Why Framing Is Important
Frames largely contribute to an artwork's crispness and elegance. Recommended mainly for expensive and high-quality arts, frames also protect the delicate composition of acrylic or oil paint, for example, from potential deterioration. Framing always goes well with elegant aesthetics, including self-portraits, nature landscapes, and flowers.
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For those with bolder and randomized senses of aesthetics, a bare canvas is ideal. As the visual is strong and contemporary, an imposing look would only be amplified by an already-edgy frame. If you insist on getting frames, a floating frame would be the best option, as if it is something straight out of a museum.
Conclusion
With several factors in need of consideration, the guidelines in proper framing are not strict. It is the owner's call to use frames or not, regardless of their type of art.
Explicitly intended to maximize the visual value of art, framing should be done only if the artwork demands so. But for those who still want to have gallery-finished paintings, classic frames and a modern floating approach will never go out of style.
Save yourself from ill-fitting frames and uncoordinated visuals. Wall to Wall, the top provider of wall canvas in Australia, guarantees a framing job that exudes elegance and crispness for premium-looking and museum-finished artworks.
Reach out to us today!