Unframed = Unfinished by Vickie Bolduc

Artist: Vickie Bolduc www.jvphotos.com

UNFRAMED = UNFINISHED

BY VICKIE BOLDUC

BEFORE BECOMING AN ARCHIVAL FRAMER, THE ASPECTS OF PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION ELUDED VICKIE. HER CONCERN WAS MATCHING DÉCOR. SINCE BECOMING EDUCATED ABOUT FRAMING, SHE HAS LEARNED THAT DÉCOR HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH CHOOSING THE PROPER FRAME.

As a framer with nearly 20 years of experience, I can tell you that “you get what you pay for.” I recently asked a framing group “what would be some of the most important information you would share with artists?” One of the answers was, “don’t put your artwork in a cheap frame and expect your clients to value your work!” Wow!

How you present your finished artwork makes a difference. It is the final touch, the icing on the cake, if you will. Why would you work so many hours to get a piece to perfection, pay to have it professionally printed, and then stick a whatever-you-have-lying-around frame on it, almost like it’s an afterthought?

If you don’t know what looks good, I highly encourage you to build a relationship with a local framer. Just as we can look at our work and not see a flaw someone else sees right away, we can have that same block

when it comes to picking out the right frame to complement our artwork. Most local framers would be happy to help you in making the best choices. Many of us are happy to provide you with a few samples for your go-to frames to show to your clients and let them make the choice.

If you are working with a client who wants to be involved in the framing process or who wants more choices, accompany them to the frame shop! I personally have about 6 different hand-selected frames that look great with my style of painting, and those are the first ones I suggest.

Make sure to price your work accordingly. Knowing proper framing will be a part of the cost, so include it in your quote. Don’t send your work out the door unframed and expect the client to take care of it. Go that extra step. Give that personal touch. Unframed artwork is unfinished artwork!