art tip

How to Frame a Painting

I was about to frame my latest painting yesterday, and thought I’d film the process and show you how I do it! Finishing touches are super important to me and I like my artworks to look their best when they arrive in their new homes, so I always make sure they are nicely finished: signed, titled, varnished, wired and sometimes framed. Plus I find it’s a great confidence booster: I know many of you sometimes have resistance about showing your art or calling yourself an artist, but believe me, going that extra mile will make you feel so much more professional and proud of what you've created.

I usually prefer to paint the sides of the canvas, but in some cases a frame is a better option, especially when the canvas has been stretched with nails that show all around the sides. This is a traditional way of stretching that you find a lot in France but I’m not a fan of it and prefer gallery-wrapped canvases that are stapled at the back. Nevertheless, this painting was done over an older, nailed canvas and I decided to frame it in a floater frame.

Let’s get started!

In France I order my floater frames from Boesner (and also the small wood panels I show you in the video). They serve many other European countries and I highly recommend them. Click the image:

Here are the spring clips I use in the video. I get them from Amazon France. There are many other kinds that probably work just as well. Click the image (affiliate link):

The floater frames by Ampersand are a great alternative, although they are meant to have the canvas screwed inside the frame. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and all the necessary hardware is included! Click the image (affiliate link):

And my trusty cordless screwdriver! I LOVE this little guy: No more battling with uncooperative screws or asking hubby for help! Click the image (affiliate link):

Thank you for watching! I hope you found this useful. To receive future art videos in your inbox, I’d love for you to join my creative community! Most Fridays I send out a short and inspiring newsletter for the weekend, and as a subscriber you will be first to know about new art classes and events + some exclusive offers:

For those who might be wondering, this original painting will be available for purchase during the online Handmade Holiday Event hosted by Stephanie Gagos at the end of the year. Subscribe above to stay in the loop and visit my previous blog post to learn more about the painting and its story. Enjoy!

light and love,

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