Gesso Painted Frame

 Gesso frame with distressed paint finish, the mdf panel is floated on black backing.

The frame after it has been painted with gesso, and was then painted with a number of different colours.

Some Frames

A couple of jobs finished today, the piece framed in the top photo has the paper float mounted so the edges of the paper are seen. A piece of foamboard under the paper raises it from the backing mountboard, creates a shadow and gives the floating effect. 

The second frame has a single extra thick mount, there is a gap between the mount and the paper, this is created by having another unseen spacer mount. This is done because the artwork framed is a pastel, and sometimes small pieces of pastel can come away from the paper and drop down. The intention is that these pieces will fall down into the gap and not collect at the bottom of the mount.

Black and gilt ripple moulding

This late 20th C ripple moulding frame was cut down from 20" x 16" to 14" x 16". Because of the gilt corners the frame was reduced in size by removing the unwanted sections around the middle of each long size. The back and rebate spacers were covered in hessian fabric and the canvas was float mounted on the backing.

Floated panel

An easy and effective way of float mounting the thin panels that some artists paint on. The 3M Velcro on the back of the panel is fixed with a small amount of Evacon R adhesive. On thicker panels like 6mm MDF this can be backed up with 3mm staples. The Velcro holds the panel in place but it can be easily removed with minimum damage or alteration to the panel. It is useful if artists want to be able to swap over paintings. For heavier or larger panels, or more critical applications 3M also make a product called Dual Lock which is a high performance reclosable fastener.

Float mount photo

Photo cold mounted to 5mm Foamex, floated on 10mm foamboard, in a black and silver box frame, a 20mm fillet keeps the image away from the glass.

Ultra modern

A minimal and modern looking acrylic display frame for an oil painting on panel. The white backing panel is also made from acrylic. The painting floats on 10mm foamboard. The painting is by Steven Outram RBA.

Double float

This artist's print is float mounted on 5mm foamboard, then a gap of 1/2" is left all round up to a silver mount slip. The mount slip and mount are also floating on 10mm foamboard and the outer edge of the mount has a bevel edge. Then another gap of 1" is left to the frame rebate, where a black spacer keeps it all set back from the UV acrylic glazing. The silver box frame has been cut down slightly.

This watercolour is by Broadway artist Karen Grant, it has been float mounted on mountboard and a spacer in the rebate keeps the painting away from the glass.

Floating yachts

This painting is framed in a gesso bevel slip, which is floating on painted MDF, a spacer sets it all back from the Artglass anti-reflective glazing, and the outer frame is water gilded and painted.

More float mounting!

This mixed media work on aluminium is float mounted in a 12ct white gold box frame. I've spent some time trying out different methods of float mounting these aluminium panels. This method uses an aluminium channel which is bolted through the 3mm mountboard and 3mm back. The artwork is fixed with a specialist acrylic foam tape which is designed specifically for bonding aluminium to aluminium.

Selection of work

Here's a little selection of some pieces of art at the workshop at the moment, examples of two jobs waiting to be collected, and two jobs waiting to be done.

The Labrador puppies are a limited edition print called 'First Litter' by Chipping Campden based artist Paula-Jayne, and are framed in a wide oak frame with dark wax finish.

The green image is a micro photographic print called 'The Filter Feeding Forest' by Lawrence Wu, and it is framed in a ultra-white box frame, the image is mounted on Foamex and is float mounted.

The large black and gold frame is in need of some minor repairs, the frame is a very nice water gilded and painted number, and is made in Scotland. 

This great painting is by Joe Hargan, I love his work, mainly because he paints frames. This is for Red Rag Gallery, who have galleries in Stow-on-the-Wold and Bath.

Last but not least, the flamingos canvas waiting to be framed is by another of my favourite artists; Jeremy Houghton, and it will be going in a painted frame.

Tom Hammick etchings framed

Tom Hammick at Campden Gallery

These really cool Tom Hammick etchings are from the Glyndebourne 2010 Opera Festival, they are for Campden Gallery. 
I have float mounted them and they will be framed in a simple white box frame.

Charlie Calder-Potts

This big (80cm x 120cm), mixed media on aluminium is float mounted, glazed with ArtGlass anti reflective glass, and framed in a painted frame. The stunning painting is by Charlie Calder-Potts: http://charlie-calderpotts.com/index.html

Float mounted watercolour

This watercolour by Broadway artist Pink Harrison is float mounted in a limed box frame. The painting has a piece of 3mm foamboard behind it, the foamboard is cut 1/2" less all round than the image size, this gives the floating effect. It is fixed to the back of the watercolour with a water activated adhesive paper tape. The foamboard is then fixed to the backing mountboard. A spacer keeps it all away from the glass, and the frame is a simple limed wood.