Framing and 'finishing'

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding framing a portrait myself. I have a beautiful from from JFM and the portrait to go in it. I have framed some small oils myself, I attach the canvas wrapped stretchers with a hammer and thin nails, then cover the back of the entire frame with brown mailing paper. Then I screw in the little eye screws (?) and attach the wire. Viola! Ready to hang.

But, with a 22"x28" portrait, I'm guessing there is a better way to do this with special little dohickeys that probably have a special name. I'm also working on a 24"x36" portrait that I"ll want to frame hopefully in a couple of weeks.

I'm tring to avoid walking in to the local frame shop because I don't think they would be too happy about me supplying my own frame, that's how they make a lot of their money I'm assuming. And I think their labor charges would be very high to make up for not supplying the frame. Though I suppose this is an option to get a professional looking job.

So, how do you all frame the portrait once the frame is out of the box? Any information would be very helpful.

Thank you,

Joan

[Michele Rushworth]

The "dohickeys" you want are called "offsets" and you can get them from http://www.aswexpress.com art supplies.

They're hard to describe but the best way for me to explain is that they are little Z shaped pieces of metal that you screw into the frame. They extend inwards over the edges of the canvas holding it in place. The offsets come in various depths, depending on the depth of your canvas stretchers.

[Mary Sparrow]

I have also found those offsets at Lowe's. You can buy them indidually in one of those giant drawers, and sometimes you can buy them in packs of four complete with eyescrews and wire. They are in the section where the nails and screws are and grouped with the items to mount and hang mirrors.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Thank you Michele and Mary,

Those offsets sounds like just what I was looking for! Framing really isn't hard at all with the right equipment. Thanks,

Joan

[Patt Legg]

Joan

I haven't been here for awhile so take this with a grain of salt but I felt the need to assert my findings here . As for the brown paper backing, take heed. I just undid one that I had for awhile and didn't know better. I took off the paper and the canvas had begun to mildew on the back. I may be wrong but I had always heard not to cover the back of oils. I do not ever cover mine now.

Good Luck

Patt

[Mary Sparrow]

Pat,
You are right. I just had this discussion with my local framer. She does put paper on the back of oils to give it a nice clean "finished" look. However she has a big circle cut out of the back of the paper to allow the air to move around freely.