Many of our artists will tell you that the frame for your portrait is just as important as the painting itself.
Each painting is unique, and frames should be too. It’s as if frames, as well as portraits, have personalities that should fit comfortably and handsomely together.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll share tips, tricks and anecdotes about framing from several of our portrait artists. To set the scene for those more in depth discussions about cost and why framing portraits is different than framing other types of art, we’ll start with a few basics about portrait framing that everyone should be familiar with.
- A good frame should have some substance to it, which usually means it needs to be at least 3 to 5 inches wide.
- Ornate frames are typically used for more traditional or historic portraits. These more elaborate frames often cost more.
- Clean, simple frames are usually considered more modern or contemporary. Men’s portraits often look best in these types of frames.
- Women and children usually call for a gentle, more fluid look that can be achieved with carving and more rounded shapes in the frame.
- Institutional portraits tend to be simpler in design.
- Paintings with a lot of detail and color often look better with a simple frame.
- Gold is the most popular finish. Toned or antique gold is often the best choice as it provides less competition for the viewer’s eye.
- The elements of design in a frame should echo those in the painting. They should be related in some way, such as having similar lines, coloration or size.
- Real wood frames are more expensive than synthetic ones, and hand-carved frames are more expensive than machine-molded.
More advice on framing coming soon!
Portraits, Inc. was founded in 1942 in New York on Park Avenue. Over its 70-year history, Portraits, Inc. has carefully assembled a select group of the world’s foremost portrait artists offering a range of styles and prices. Recognized as the industry leader, Portraits, Inc. provides expert guidance for discerning clients interested in commissioning fine art portraits.