A picture framer is a skilled craftsperson who creates display frames for documents, art, keepsakes, and other items. He or she may work for a framing shop or a crafts store, or he or she may work independently. Picture framing requires a variety of skills, including aesthetic design, material measurement and cutting, canvas stretching, and client meetings.
Picture framing is an unregulated profession, and most framing professionals learn their trade through apprenticeships or classes. Framing workshops and classes are frequently offered community colleges, craft centers, and other educational institutions. The Professional Picture Framers Association, an international organization dedicated to the fine art of framing, offers two levels of framing certification.
A picture framer’s day-to-day activities are determined the type of work to be completed. When working on a simple job, the picture framer begins conversing with the customer. A client may have specific requirements, such as the overall size of the work and the color and style of the framing. While guiding the client’s choices, the framer must consider the client’s desires.
For example, the mat color should complement the artwork rather than overpower it. The framer must determine whether the dominant hue is cool or warm in temperature, and whether a tint or shade complements the overall color scheme. The frame’s style must correspond to the artwork or item’s style. A skilled picture framer can offer his or her client a variety of color and style options.
The framer must either assemble a pre-made picture frame or construct a frame from wood molding after meeting with the client. A pre-made frame is usually painted or stained, but a framer who builds a frame from scratch must also stain or paint it to the client’s specifications. If a custom mat is needed, the framer must also cut the mat before adhering it to the item to be framed with adhesive. The framer may also need to add glass and a dust cover to the frame.
A client may bring three-dimensional items to a picture framer, such as books, baseballs, letters written on both sides, or dried flowers. These are difficult requests that necessitate a high level of expertise. To properly frame the item, a framer may need to use a shadow box, multiple frames with double glass sides and hinges, or a special type of display case. A framer must still consult with the client and address their preferences in terms of style, color, and size.
Artists and framers collaborate to prepare supplies. Canvas stretching is one of the most common services offered framers. The picture framer constructs the canvas frame according to the artist’s size specifications and then fits, or stretches, the canvas over it. The canvas serves as a canvas for the artist’s paintings and drawings.