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Framing

The other side of the painting life
The other side of the painting life

Sometimes, the painting muse takes a sick day and I'm left with time to paint but nothing is happening on the easel.  That's when I usually decide to make the time productive and catch up on framing. If I have everything gathered and organized, I can wire a standard frame in less than five minutes.  Yes, I've timed myself.  

Here are the tools I use:

I measure about 1/3 down from the top of a frame and determine where I'll drill the holes for the screws and D-rings.  If it's an oak frame, I'll rub a little bar of soap over the holes so screws go in easier.  My screwdriver has a forward and reverse feature.  I purchase D-rings and screws in bulk along with that big spool of wire.  The needlenose pliers both cuts the wire, and assists working the wire through the D-rings. Finally, that yellow thing is a point driver.  Similar to a stapler, I load a cartridge of little metal points in the thing, position it over the back of a canvas panel, pull the trigger and it drives a point right into the frame.  It's an expensive tool, but well worth it!

 

When I paint in an event where I'll need to do some framing, I bring along a whole toolkit: 

The wire, screwdriver, and needle nose pliers are in the bottom compartment.

Finally, I usually place a sticker on the back of paintings.  

 

This has the painting's title, the type of paint (which is always oil) my signature, and the year I painted it.

I also write a bit about the location from which the inspiration came.  


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