Framed Artwork - Using Picture Wall Hangings As Wall Décor

In Interior design and decoration, the aspect of framed artwork is of great importance when it comes to adding finishing touches to the rooms and wall décor.

 Watercolour paintings, etchings, oil paintings, charcoal drawings, pencil sketches etc. all require one form of frame work or another.

Picture framings comes in all shapes, sizes, designs and styles and the materials used to produce them include metal, plastic, plaster, chromium, richly grained veneers, wood, glass and cork. Forms of moldings vary from the conventional curves to flat splayed faces and surfaces.

Some artwork require to be placed under a sheet of glass. Others can do without. Some require ornate frames, and others just the simplest of picture frames.

The framed artwork of the past generation were not so tasteful. They were heavy, elaborate and in many cases a bit gaudy, making them overshadow the pictures they are supposed to enhance. Also they were mostly produced with plaster and not of carved and gilded wood. The kinds you'll find in the 18th century.

Nowadays, antique frames for art are gaining popularity again and seem to be in high demand for both authentic old paintings, sepia prints and vintage photographs.

Framed Artwork - Oil Paintings

Oil paintings demand rich artwork frames. Paintings by the old master painters require gilt frames because gold frames must not compete with the rich colours of the oil paintings, but harmonise it. However, care must be taken to choose dull gilding. Oil paintings must be framed without glass or mats.

Italian framed artwork of the Cinquecento paintings - 16th century Italian renaissance period -  were mainly architectural features, with columns and pilasters and the whole framed artwork highly ornamented with arabesque (scroll and leaf patterns) in relief.  These were popular frames for paintings with religious themes.

Naturally, modern framed artwork such as oil paintings require simpler frames than those of the old paint masters, but antique frames are often used on modern paintings.

Pictures made or sketched on paper generally require framing with glass sheets for protection against dust and dirt. There are many possible frames that can be used for these type of wall hangings. The possibilities are vast and framing must be done according to the character of the picture or poster.

If coloured reproductions need to be framed, the similar frames used for the originals can be used. As an original framed artwork is hardly seen in homes today, designers opt to propose the use of reproductions of authentic paintings to clients who must absolutely have something like the original old masters framed artworks as an important part of their wall décor .

There is no law of taste that forbids a framed artwork photograph of an original to be hung. 

Photographs, travel views in photos, and others in this category can be framed with simple molding frameworks with or without a mat. If a mat is to be used, pick a colour from the portrait photograph for the mat.

A double mat can also be used if desired, provided it doesn't cut off portions of the border. These types of framed artwork are however best hung on the wall.

With table display portraits and photographs, the frames should have adjustable stands fashioned after the tabletop vintage framed artwork stands.

As watercolour paintings are much lighter than oil paintings, they should be framed more simply.

Nothing looks as tacky as an over scaled framed artwork of a watercolour painting with its usual lightness.

Frames of natural wood are quite befitting of watercolour with little or no ornamentation. And if the picture is small, add a mat. It will give it some 'body'.

Framing artwork of pencil sketches and charcoal art sketches should be similar. And if there is a wide expanse of a border, the use of a mat with the framework may not be necessary.

Pastels may be framed with gilt molding in conformity with the French taste.

Eighteenth century framed artwork of French drawings and prints should have wide paper mats that was typical of Louis the 16th period. The name of the artist and the drawing title were lettered decoratively on the matting.

Today, the framed artwork of modern prints, lithographs, etchings etc. have mats cut out to fit the prints with the opening cut out wide enough to show the mark and the signature.

Prints also look great with black lacquered frames with gold beadings, or simply in natural unstained wood. Some etchings that almost come across as paintings can be framed with fairly heavy moldings.

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