Does Framing your Art Help Sales as an Artist?

To Frame or Not to Frame…

You've labored long and hard to create your piece of art and now it is done. It’s time to sell it and get it into the hands of someone who loves the piece and wants to put it in his or her home or office.

So. Do you frame it or not?

Frankly, if you are selling your art online, it can be easier to sell unframed so you can package it in a good solid tube or flat pack. You can always add a frame to close a sale if the customer would like you to do that. But if you are going to show it, yes, you should frame it.

Next question: Any cheap frame, or a good quality frame? 

Perhaps you've had this conversation with yourself:
"If it needs a frame, then I'll just put a cheap one on. The buyer (fingers crossed) will probably change out the frame anyway, so I don’t need to spend much on this."

 No, no, no. Please don't think this way or do this. It's precisely because you toiled so hard over this piece of art that you must present it to an audience in the best light possible.

And that means a quality frame. Imagine the Mona Lisa framed in a cheap, plastic frame. Heavens! A cheap, inappropriate frame will instantly make the art look cheap too, even if the viewer doesn't consciously realize that's happening.

 In fact, a good frame actually helps sell art. Many galleries will insist on the right frame of very good quality.

Framing we did for Wanderlust Silent Action Benefit, Curated by @jessicasample

So, it's important to frame your artwork when it will be displayed. Yes, it may cost you more, and sometimes a lot more. But you can be smart in pricing and how you work it out with a gallery. Some artists make it part of the deal that they get back the cost of the frame in addition to their percentage of the art itself. And if the customer wants the art but in a different frame, the gallery can give the frame back to you, and the gallery can charge the customer for the new frame. Both make out.

But there is absolutely no reason to potentially downgrade your art by displaying it in a cheap frame. Just make it your game to include providing an excellent frame for the piece from the beginning. 

 Having trouble choosing the right frame? If you don't have your finger on that pulse, that's ok. We are the professionals who know what works. Let us help you raise the bar on your own artwork by showing you how (and which) quality frame will shine new light on your piece and attract more eyes and hearts. And sales.

 A few of our best-selling frames to local artists and galleries.

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Have you had better sales with framed or unframed art?

Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

Children's Art Framing Ideas

Here Are Some Ways to Display Wonderful Kid Art!

Of COURSE your child's artwork is special… even if it is in a pile, we know you have an art wall planned! Or maybe you have been sticking your child's art on the fridge or taped to a wall, and now there's no more room for the new stuff.  Argh! What to do?

To display your child's art shows recognition that your budding artist and his/her creations are valued. What better way to boost their self-esteem!

So, let's celebrate the art pieces your youngster creates and showcase them! Here are some great ideas you can implement that will elevate your little sunshine's work from the pile to a place of honor. But don't let these be the end-all. Maybe they will inspire a little creativity in you too!

FRAMES WITH CORK BACKING

You can replace the backing with cork board, which comes in a roll and is cut to size. Just pin the art to the framed cork.

$69.99 Shop Belle Arte Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/519156735/pink-wood-corkboard-bulletin-board

JUST THE FRAMES

Use one or more frames and remove the backing and the glass. Fasten the frame to the wall. Simply tape or pin the art piece to the wall behind the frame. Switch out the art whenever you want.

THE "ARTSLINE"

 Of course, a very simple way to display art is from a line of twine, ribbon, or even wire strung horizontally on a wall, just like a clothesline.  Use clips or decorative clothespins to attach the pieces to the wire. Easy to switch out.

PROP FRAMED ART ON LEDGES

Either install or use floating ledges you already have. Place the framed artwork on the ledges in any configuration you want. You can even overlap some of them for artistic flare - and it saves room!

Artwork by my grandson, Niko

SPECIAL FRAME GROUPINGS

 A very fun way to display kid's art is to have several different frames all matching in color and/or having the same shape or a mixture of different ones. Group them on a wall. This is especially fun in a child's room over the bed or desk, or an area reserved for this art. 

PRESERVE WITH A POSTER

What if you have a LOT of art, and they are all special, but now you need to make room for more? Consider having many pieces all preserved in a poster. There are companies who will do this for you. You provide the digital photos and they will reproduce all of them on a poster. You can have several pieces displayed at one time (such as 10 of 12, each reduced in size.) The result is a quality poster showcasing the pieces. Finish it off with a frame and mat if you wish. Voila!

MIX IT IN!

Don’t have a space just for your child's art? There is nothing wrong (and maybe a lot right) with hanging a framed original piece from your child among other framed works you already have hanging.

There are so many ways to preserve, store, showcase and cherish your child's art. Let's help our little Picassos and Monets get a proper start by artfully and playfully showing the world what they can do.

We can help you make decisions or offer fun ideas for helping you show off your child's art. Just give us a call, or come on in with the artwork, and we can help you decide on the best way for you to pull it off.

Let us know if you have any comments or questions below.

We love hearing from you!

Featured Local Artist : Los Angeles Photographer Pascal Shirley

How to frame large format photography prints

Featuring custom seasonal art by Pascal Shirley

In January, California is a place where you can visit the snow and surf in the same day. Pascal Shirley is a California based photographer residing in Los Angeles who captures the varying landscapes of Los Angeles and beyond. He does his own printing as well as offers classes on how to shoot and print your own work. He also offers a unique Art on Loan framed print feature, where he creates rotating seasonal art for a single client to cycle through as the year moves on, even though the seasons may not.

Holden Outwear Headquarters, Venica Beach CA

For Pascal's pieces we went with two frames about the same size that were strong enough and with a big enough width and depth to hold the large Plexi Glass size. Our Matte White #2611 and Matte Black #79371 which are each approximately 1.5" wide and 1 1/4" deep.

Pascal's large format prints are framed with spacers so the image is set back from the plexi glass. (Plexi Glass, also known as Acrylic Glass, is safer because it is shatter proof.)  

We love framing photography jobs and especially strikingly large format pieces, and the impact they have when they are framed up on a wall. Photography prints are most commonly done up in a simple matte frame, usually white or black, allowing the shot to jump out at you in all its detail.

Frame Selection   |   Get a Quote

pascalshirley.com
pascalprinting.com

Year in Review: Belle Arte in Voyage LA and the 14th Factory

Happy New Year!... From 1957

Beautifully retro January 1957 pin-up calendar page to be framed in our #387 black frame.

This year we framed a lot of beautiful art.

In March we helped artist Simon Birch with custom framing and canvas stretching of several of his awesome and massive pieces for the opening of his 14th Factory in Lincoln Heights, East Los Angeles.

Simon Birch's Paintings at the 14th Factory Los Angeles

Simon Birch and his pitchfork installation "The Crusher"

In August we were featured in Voyage LA Magazine's "La's Most Inspiring Stories"! (See article)

This year we saw so much beautiful art pass through our factory. (Which we try to keep up with in posting them all here: Belle Arte on Instagram )

Pascal Shirley

Whitney Stoddard

Chris Swoszowski

We can't wait to see what this new year holds and all the wonderful new artists and pieces to come!

"This Will Be Our Year"

- The Zombies, Odyssey And Oracle. 
Framed print in our #413 Mahogany frame.

The happiest new year to you all.

Let's make more art!

Much Love,
Lanna Borom

Framed Certificate for the City of LA Presented at Hollywood Event

Rush Picture Framing Services for Next Day Event - Tom Cruise and the Cast of The Mummy 2017 Hollywood & Highland Takeover Event

Need a framed certificate for Tom Cruise to present at an event? No problem! 

We framed this certificate in thirty minutes for our friend at Universal Studios on Friday to be given to the cast of The Mummy 2017 on Saturday for a press event in Hollywood on May 20th.

Sophia Boutella, Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, & Director Alex Kurtzman pose with the City of Los Angeles cerfiticate.

The Hollywood and Highland Takeover event celebrates "The Mummy Day" with a 75 foot sarcophagus movie replica erected under the Grauman's Chinese Theatre archway.

The cast poses for a picture holding the certificate for the city of Los Angeles that reads:

"On behalf of the City of Los Angeles and the 13th Council District, I would like to commemorate THE MUMMY Day 2017.  We welcome THE MUMMY stars Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella and Jake Johnson—as well as director Alex Kurtzman and all of the fans gathered here today.  As we proudly reveal The Mummy’s sarcophagus—the largest single vertical structure ever assembled at the Hollywood and Highland gateway—we celebrate the launch of Universal Pictures’ thrilling twist on a timeless legend.  We welcome you all to one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations."

- frame #79211 !