gallery of framed art

Like the setting for a diamond, the frame around a work of art is the finishing touch, the element that completes and elevates a painting, presenting it to the viewer in its best possible light. Framing, however, is an art in and of itself, and just as a good frame choice can greatly enhance the appearance of a work, a poor frame choice can drastically diminish a work.

A sampling of framed art pieces in permanent collections is shown at the left. You can see most of these unframed pieces elsewhere on the website.

The purpose in showing these examples is how much matting and framing enhances a piece of art. Matting: Is it a double matt, a standard 3” matt or a larger matt. Framing: Silver, gold, wood, ornate, contemporary - the choices are endless.

Using the “OREGON FOREST” at left as an example here is the rational for the framing choices made. The piece is so powerful that it needed a larger area of “quiet space” around it to amplify the overall impact. White was chosen rather than color to add drama. The double matt incorporating a wider inner matt and using two different whites adds an elegant touch - so the eye can gradually step into the piece of art. The choice of a contemporary silver wood frame fit with the cool tones of the art (rather than gold) and the metallic finish adds a bit of “sizzle”.