Custom Framing

Custom Framing -- WHY?

That is the question we are always asked:

"Why do I need to have the framing done by a Custom Framer."

That is not a hard question to answer.

You wouldn't trust your health to car dealer, so why trust your memorabilia craft store?

Custom Picture framers have the experience and knowledge to preserve you artwork.

What is Custom Framing?

And what makes a custom frame?

What a Framer Can Do For You

The thought of getting artwork professionally framed sometimes

 makes customers queasy with intimidation.

 Thoughts run from “It’s too expensive!” to “Why can’t I just do it myself?”

 If you have the skills to do it yourself--- but, if you

have any doubts, then a Custom Framer is the best

moves you can make toward enhancing and protecting your art.

What are the advantages of using a professional custom framer?

The Starving Artist  go far beyond simply framing your art.

We at The Starving Artist are trained in the care and preservation of artwork.

 Not only can they guide you through the design process, but they also can

explain the differences between basic paper mats and rag mats; the

respective advantages of buffered rag mats and unbuffered rag mats;

the pros and cons of glass over acrylic glazing, and the benefits

of various mounting methods for your medium.

 Discussing these points isn’t about pushing for a higher-priced sale

 but about finding the proper materials for the art

being framed at a price that works best for you.

 It is much more than a matter of convenience;

 it’s the opportunity to learn more about the care of your art.

 We will always talk with you about the preservation of your work

and suggest reversible methods of mounting as well as

neutral materials for framing.

 If you opt out of preservation materials and methods,

you may be asked to sign a release form stating we are

not responsible for damage that might occur over time.

We understand that you’re the customer and, although we

are the professional custom picture framer, the final decisions is yours.

We will to assist you in your selections.

 Our sample wall and display doors and drawers have over 5,000 frame

corners and a thousand mat samples can be overwhelming,

but we will offer you two or more different approaches to

showcase your piece in a way that maintains the dignity of the

medium, whether oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, or something else.

 We will point out why the selected colors, spacers and frames

work with your art and help draw the eye into it.

A frame should complete a piece of art, so the frame should

be noticeable but not so much so that it distracts from the art itself.

Finally we will help you narrow the options.

This is a collaborative process.  

What questions can you expect us to ask you?

First we will begin by asking a few basic questions to

get to know a little about you, your home and your art.

Knowing your wall color, flooring, basic furniture

and personal design aesthetics helps, but that’s not

to say that a frame should match your sofa.

We will ask whether you have a vision for the framing or anything else specific in mind.

We will also needs to know whether there’s an expedited turnaround time or a budget

.

And other challenges, like a brick or marble wall, or location issues, such as a basement

 or bathroom, are also important to know. The intended location may dictate special hardware or treatments, such as sealing the inner package against moisture and humidity.

What questions should you ask a professional custom framer?

We understand that not all your framing ideas might be possible to achieve;

for example,  floating a wax-soaked monoprint may be difficult to hinges

because of the wax does not adhered to mounting board. 

 We know what needs to be done and the skills to

 provide the service without alter the original work. 

If you have special concerns or requests,

write them down so you won’t forget to mention them.

Don’t hesitate to ask for explanations about preservation techniques and

 their importance : such as the differences among glass and acrylic glazing options.

How can you tell a good custom framer from a less desirable one?

Does the framer have a good clientele with favorable word-of-mouth praise?  Are they Certified Picture Framer's--we received our award the first year Professional Picture Framers Association certified picture framers who passed the written and hands-on-test that we had the knowledge of things like mediums, preservation, mounting, matting, frame construction, glazing and canvases.

Don’t select a framer solely because of a 50-percent-off or buy-one-get-one sale.  Your Custom Framer is a  knowledge of things like mediums, preservation, mounting, matting, frame construction, glazing and canvases.  Remember your Custom Picture Framer is your art caretaker.

 Would you go to a doctor who gives a 50-percent-off special? Truly advantageous sales may be good, but pay attention to what you’re getting.

Are there ways to bring down custom framing costs?

The best method is knowledge --

know what you are getting for the money.

Quality framing is a investment and good investments save money .

Things to remember before you start.
6 Ways Your Art Can Be Damaged

Pollution:

Just as dust, dirt, fumes, cigarette smoke, etc., can damage us as human beings, they can also damage art. Sulfur dioxide, for instance, causes paper to discolor, become brittle, and eventually disintegrate. And some pollutants interact with chemicals in certain artists' pigments. Carbon monoxide and other chemicals in the air can erode artworks, and soot and dirt particles contribute to discoloring and deterioration. Custom framing can protect your art against these hazards.

 Light:
Not only the light we see, but the light we don't see, can damage artwork. The ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye, is considered the most destructive type of light. Sunlight, direct or reflected, contains the full spectrum of light waves. It's also usually more intense than interior lighting, so is a greater threat. But you have to watch out for interior lighting, too. Most fluorescent lights emit ultraviolet waves, and although they're not as intense as sunlight, the potential for damage is significant.

   Most homes have incandescent lighting, which is safer for your art than fluorescent lights or sunlight. And if you have a picture lamp affixed to the top of your framed artwork, remember to keep it at a safe distance so that the light spreads and no 'hot spot' is created. The best rule to follow with light and artwork is: "the less light, the better."

The medium which is perhaps most vulnerable to light is watercolor, but oil paints are also affected by light over time. Color limited-edition prints are often quite vulnerable to light, too, depending on the type of inks used. Acrylic paint is one of the most durable of media, and if you have a preferred display spot that receives a lot of light, an acrylic work is the best choice.


Heat:
Heat accelerates the deterioration of paper, and it contributes to the discoloration and deterioration of paintings as well. In most paintings there is a combination of various types of pigments and mediums. Heat forces the different pigments and mediums, as well as the canvas it's on, to expand, often at different rates. This can create cracks. Remember, artwork should be hung well away from fireplaces, radiators, heat registers and spotlights.

Humidity:
Humidity is hard on artwork, but even worse when combined with heat. Heat and humidity encourage mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew may invade a canvas, eventually pushing up the paint and disintegrating the canvas itself. Since paper starts as 99% water, it's even more vulnerable to humidity. Humidity has a lifelong effect on paper, causing it to expand and contract. Art on paper may show some waviness in its surface, which will change from time to time corresponding to the changes in environmental humidity. Proper framing can protect your art against most of the effects of humidity.

Insects:
Insects can nest in the back of a picture frame. If the frame isn't removed from the wall every few months and dusted and checked for bugs, insects can make their home there and actually bore through the wood, the backing, and sometimes through the art itself--looking for a warm dark place to lay their eggs. Then, naturally enough, the eggs hatch, and then you have larvae eating their way out. Right through your two-thousand-dollar painting. So take that picture down and clean the back of it every six months!

Bad Cleaning Practices:
Never spray water or Windex or anything like it on the glass itself, when the picture is hanging on the wall. The liquid can run down the glass and seep under it, and that moisture causes mold to form on the mat (and sometimes the art)--and the moisture can also warp the mat. Remember, paper loves moisture and you have to keep all moisture far away from it. Instead, spray a paper towel or rag and use it to clean the glass.