Types Of Canvas And Framing

WHAT IS GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS?

Gallery wrapped canvas is a canvas that is wrapped around the stretcher bars and attached to the back of the wood instead of the sides. The canvas can either be splined (tucked between two pieces of wood and held with a spline) or it can be stapled. Gallery wrapped canvas comes in all profile widths. The advantage of this canvas is that staples do not appear on the sides.

WHAT IS A WIDE BORDER CANVAS?

A wide border canvas is a canvas with a side profile of one inch or more. This is a great option for clients who like a clean contemporary look. I paint the sides of all my canvases by extending the image on the front to the sides. Most of my clients choose not to frame these paintings. However, if you choose to frame a wide border canvas, the frame to use is called a floater frame.

Jill's Painting On Wide Border Canvas In Clients Home

1.5" Side Of Commission (This Painting Was Not Framed)

FLOATER FRAME

If you want to frame your gallery wrapped canvas, a floater frame is the best option. Floater frames are contemporary and quite stunning. They give the impression that the painting is “floating” inside the frame.

WHAT IS A STANDARD TRADITIONAL CANVAS?

A standard canvas is one that has a 3/4" side width or less. If your artwork is traditional, a classic traditional frame such as mahogany, walnut, or gold leaf, is a great fit (see example below). If your artwork is abstract, a sleek solid colored wood or floater frame might work best.

WORKS ON PAPER

Watercolors, drawings, charcoals and pastels need to be matted and framed under glass. Some basic principles to remember about double matting are that a dark inner mat brings out the lights in a painting, and a light inner mat brings out the darks in a painting. Double matting creates more depth between the frame and the artwork.

In the example below, I had my framer use a gold fillet (wood) instead of an inner mat. The gold fillet matches the gold frame, giving the frame an elegant look.

In order to protect the longevity of the art, I always use acid free mat board and foam core. Anything that the painting touches should be acid free. (see examples below)

Jill Saur Watercolor Painting With A Gold Fillet Inside And A Mat Outside