All Your Questions and Answers About Framing

Whether you want to frame a painting as a gift or are looking for a stylish frame for your own masterpiece, the specialists at Rėmai.lt's workshop have the answers to all the questions that matter to you:

1. I want to frame a canvas I've painted as a Christmas gift. What should I think about before I start painting?

If you paint on unstretched canvas, keep in mind that when it is framed, it will need to be stretched onto a wooden stretcher bar, and you will lose a couple of centimetres of the painting. If you paint on canvas that is already stretched on a bar, your work won't face this problem, but then it's worth thinking about a neat finish for the edges — painting them in a colour that complements the whole piece so the edge looks aesthetically pleasing. In that case, you can frame your work in a floating frame, which leaves the edge visible.

A modern piece framed in a floating frame

2. How can I protect a pencil or pastel work from smudging?

We recommend spraying it with a colourless, matte, non-yellowing aerosol fixative, which you can buy at an art supply shop.

3. Should I leave a white border if I'm painting on paper?

Yes, leaving some blank space makes it easier to add a mat, which is needed for works on paper so that the piece doesn't touch the glass. A mat not only protects the artwork but also looks elegant and professional.

4. Is there a formula for calculating the size of the mat?

First of all, not every work needs a mat. Paintings on canvas can be placed straight into the frame, but a mat is essential for watercolour, pastel or pencil pieces. As a rule, the mat should be wider than the frame, and the exact width is decided by looking at the piece itself. For smaller works we suggest a 6 cm wide mat, and for larger paintings, 10 cm.

Currently popular "oversized" mats

5. What colour mat should I choose?

We usually recommend a palette of neutral greyish, cream and ivory shades, so that the viewer's full attention goes to the artwork. The mat shouldn't introduce new colours. If you really want to add some colour, you can use two mats. The one in a brighter colour should be underneath, showing only a narrow edge of about 6 mm. Although a completely white mat can sometimes look too bright and slightly dazzling, it usually suits modern pieces very well.

A small painting framed with two mats.

6. If I'm giving a framed painting to friends as a gift, should the frame match their home's interior?

Definitely not. The frame should match the painting, not the room it will hang in. In this case, it's best to choose light wood, white or black frames, which suit both most artworks and most interiors.

7. Is glass necessary?

It isn't necessary for oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, since it's healthy for the paint to breathe. Glass is needed for works on paper, to protect their sensitive surface.

8. What kind of glass should I choose?

The cheapest option is plain glass, but it blocks only a portion of harmful ultraviolet rays.

The most popular choice is slightly more expensive anti-reflective glass, which reflects light far less. This is an especially good option if you'll be hanging the painting opposite a window — the glass won't show reflections, and it will protect the painting from light better than plain glass.

The third option is museum glass, which is considerably more expensive than the options discussed above, but is still worth considering. This glass is special because, once placed over the work, it is almost invisible, as if there were no glass at all, while the piece beneath it is fully protected from the effects of light.