An Interview About Framing Artwork in Your Home
What is the purpose of a mat?
A mat serves as a physical barrier between the glass and the art. It can also be a visual break between the artwork and the frame. Many times, a frame alone can crowd the artwork or become distracting. A mat can open the artwork creating a natural window for the eyes to rest.
What are the customizable features when matting?
A mat can be customized in many ways. Color, thickness, width and texture all play unique roles in enhancing the artwork. The right color serves as a neutral background to enhance the artwork. Thickness provides depth and helps to centralize the focus within the mat window. The border width creates space between the artwork and the frame allowing your eye to naturally settle on the artwork. Texture can help add depth, diffuse light or enhance elements of the artwork indicative of that artwork.
How do you work with designers or clients to determine frame sizes and styles?
Many of our designer staff have art backgrounds, some are artists themselves. They have been framing artwork and photos for many years and have developed a good sense as to how to size and style matting and frames. We work hard at incorporating our finished product into the setting being created by the interior designers.
What are alternative options you suggest if the client doesn’t want a mat?
The only alternative to matting is to place the frame against the artwork. On large pieces this is inevitable because mats only come in certain sizes. As people become accustomed to seeing large pieces without mats, they may get used to the idea of it on smaller pieces too. This is where float mounts come in. Mats can be the surface the artwork is attached to, and this is a popular and suitable alternative to mats with openings and borders.
Do you have a preference on whether to mat artwork over photography?
This is client based and changes based on need and desire. Photography itself has no bearing on mat choice. It is strictly a preference of the client, unless the photo is too large for mats, then it is usually mounted directly into the frame.
What is the process of working with a designer on a gallery wall?
A designer would typically bring the photos into one of our stores for our staff members to design or select the appropriate frame (if the designer wants to go with only one frame for all) or frames (if the designer is interested in using multiple frame styles). On occasion, the designer will ask that we help with the layout of the framed images.
Is there any significant difference between a gallery wall and a family wall?
We try to design the appropriate frame for each image. For a framer, a well-coordinated and styled frame for each image is what we look to achieve, regardless of the type of collection being installed.
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To frame your artwork professionally, visit: J. Pocker
