Framing & Care
Framing & oil painting care resources for collectors —
Congratulations on adding a new oil painting to your collection! Thank you for allowing my work to exist in your home. It’s an honor I do not take lightly!
Whether you collected a framed painting or a smaller, unframed study — here are some resources to help you along as the new owner of an original oil painting of mine.
FRAMING:
-
Frame choice is highly dependent on your personal taste, home decor, and budget. I have a few amazing framers I can recommend, as well as a few options for ready-made frames that are a bit more budget-friendly.
Open back, glass free frames are usually the ones I recommend for oil paintings. The varnish protects the painting from dust and debris, and the glass will often cause too much of a glare to see the painting in most well-lit settings.
-
Some of my favorite framers, which offer both custom and ready-made frames to purchase (tap on the names for their websites):
Affordable, ready-made frame options:
-
Here is a great YouTube video with details for visual aide on the full framing process.
I use D-rings and framing wire to wire all my paintings in their frames.
I like to use glaizer points and a glazier point driver to secure the paintings into the frame. Make sure they are secure, and use multiple on all sides. Another option is to use offset clips measured to the depth of your frame, or a point driver.
OIL PAINTING CARE:
-
You should avoid hanging your paintings in front of any bright, direct sunlight, as it may cause the painting to yellow and crack faster over the years. That’s not to say you should hang it where it gets no sunlight, but avoid hanging it directly in front a very bright window that gets a lot of direct sunlight.
Avoid hanging it above any active fireplace where it may encounter smoke. Same goes for in a kitchen — try not to hang it anywhere near a stove or oven.
-
Dust is a natural occurrence on paintings and the frame. To dust your painting, use a soft feather duster or a clean paint brush and gently brush away any dust. Avoid using your fingers, as the oils from them may transfer onto the painting.
-
If you painting gets damaged at any point, please email me to discuss repairs. Please send along photos, a description of how it was damaged, and any other information to contact@tinafigarelli.com
If you have another question not answered here, please send me an email with the form below:
