Question for artsy people

[Maria]

I am in the process of redecorating my room, and I like the Impressionism a lot and have many lithographies that I have bought in different places and museums. Some of them have the names of the painting below the image, for instance, I have some Monets that say " Monet Water Lillies", "Nympheas, blablabla", etc.

My question is: if I want to frame them, should I leave that part (it is written like in a white frame around the image) or should I put some other blank or colored frame on top of that one, and then the actual frame? Should I use an extra frame around the image? I am not sure what the 'good taste' dictates! I have some that have nothing written, but others have and I am not sure if I should put the extra colored frame around it or just frame it without one. :veryconfu

Anyone knows? I would really appreciate the help.

 

[PhotoDave219]

personally, i think that things like that look better matted as well as framed. Just my taste....

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by PhotoDave219
personally, i think that things like that look better matted as well as framed. Just my taste....

huh? :veryconfu I am sorry.... my English as a second language is showing here... I don´t know what you meant.

 

[SirNim]

If I were you, I'd try to see if there was a way to tastefully cover up the title of the painting at the bottom on all those applicable, but so they would still match the paintings that did NOT have the title. Why? Because I like uniformity. However, I am not an expert on this by any stretch of the imagination...

 

[tigsmom]

I would also mat them...a colored thick paper/thin cardboard frame around the picture...then put in a wood or metal frame with glass. I have seen many done with the name of the painting showing.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/DisplayArtPrintsProduct?prrfnbr=155442&cgnbr=PRINTS-561


This painting is matted & framed. Hope that helps. :wave:

 

[Maria]

So that´s what it means! Thank you tigsmom! That´s exactly what I meant but didn´t know how to call it.

SirNim, I agree, it has to be uniform with all. I have two medium size ones that will go on the sides of the bed that both have the name of the painting under the picture, and a big one with the name in big letters, so I think it is made to stay like that, and the other one is clean, just with the white frame around it.

I think I will have to cover the smaller ones and leave the big one with the letters. If I leave the letters, is it ok that I also add a mat to it in a matching color? It will get very big, but I think I have the wall to put it...

 

[tigsmom]

Usually the mat is in a contrasting but complimentary color.

For example I took a pic of a cabin in the woods. Had it blown up and matted & framed. Since the main colors were green I used thin white, thin dark green then a thick med green. (a 3 layer mat)
Its framed in a med tone brown...not sure of the name. This sets off the colors in the leaves. I have some pics that aren't matted, but they don't looked "polished" and I think about changing them all the time.

 

[The Mom]

tigsmom is right; the standard is to double or triple mat prints to give them that "polished/finished" look. The only pictures I have that are NOT matted are oil paintings. Some of my casual prints and documents (diplomas, etc) are only single matted, as is a large water color family portrait. The rest are double or triple matted.

 

[Maria]

Thank you both 'moms'! I think I will cover the letters and add the double or triple mats. I meant matching colors as in colors to enhance the image. I am going tomorrow to get new quotes from another company and look at their ideas with my lithographies.

I was also suggested by a friend of mine, to put an extra glass in the back -I am putting non reflective on the front- to avoid any humidity inside of them.

Oh I know Mom, I would never put a mat on top of an oil painting! :dazzle:

Thank you!

(more suggestions are always welcome!)

 

[mickhyperion]

Definitely cover all of the words. Cut them off if necessary so you don't have to use really wide mattes unless you want to. Your pictures will look much more classy and tasteful if you do. Everyone has given you great advice so far.

 

[Tigggrl]

Hi Maria!
Speaking as someone with framing experience, if you want the prints to look more like a painting, cover the letters with one or even 2 complimentary colored mats in a nice frame. The places who frame here can usually dry-mount the print onto foam board, so there will be no wrinkling of the print. It makes them look much better. There is also a much more expensive way...you can have the prints transferred to canvas, so it looks like a real painting, or they can dry mount it with a film that makes it look like canvas...
I hope this dosent confuse you!
Or you could do it the college way...get basic poster framse and mount them in them yourself!
:wave:

 

[The Mom]

If it's a SIGNED (by the artist) print, I wouldn't cover the words!

 

[Maria]

Thank you Carla! I understood you and I have also heard of that expensive technique, they do it here too, but I don´t want to pretend they are the originals, noone would believe me anyways! :lol:

Mom, the ones I have with letters on the white frame around the painting, don´t have a signature there. In fact, there is one Monet that has no "Monet" signature on the painting... I´ve looked all over the water and lillies with no luck! What it says is the name of the painting, the museum I bought it, the author´s name and the year he painted it.

I think I will go with covering the letters with two mats. I´ve been paying attention everywhere I go and they seem to do it that way and it looks good. Now the hardest part will be to choose a frame! Decisions, decisions! :animwink:

Thank you!!