The importance of the frame

In this article, I want to talk about a topic that, in my humble opinion, is often erroneously underestimated.

What I am referring to is the importance of the frame.

The frame is as fundamental to a drawing as it is to a painting.

An artwork framed with the “wrong” frame risks not fully highlighting the artist’s work – if not even devalue it.

On the other hand, if the frame is specifically created based on the artwork it has to enhance, then the final result will certainly be the desired one: the perfect combination!

Therefore, its choice is crucial since it is not only an element functional to support the drawing, but it becomes its trusted guardian.

It is precisely for this reason that all my drawings are “guarded” by specially selected frames.

When I say that they are specially selected, I mean just that.

The antique frames

Many times, when I go hunting for antique frames to restore, I see one and immediately fall in love with it.

So I take it, and I immediately see inside her a drawing that will probably have a particular shape since it will be made keeping in mind her shape.

We could almost say that, in these cases, it is the frame that “commands”, dictating the shape and size of the drawing. When these ancient frames come to me, I often restore them personally, but I always leave them partially “ruined” (therefore not fully restored) precisely to accentuate that intrinsic quality of the found object.

And it is precisely this ancient and lived-in flavor that, combined with my drawings, creates a winning combination.

The combination of classic and modern makes the works even more unusual, unique, and lost in time, thus furnishing with a touch of originality any environment to which they will be destined.

The custom-made frames

Other times, I create a drawing and have a custom frame produced to enhance the artwork in its entirety.

In these cases, the frame that I commission comes to me raw, and I will later be the one to decorate it to embellish the composition even more.

The invaded frames

This type of frame is always made to measure, and it’s decorated by me, but it has the peculiarity of being literally invaded by the drawing.

The frame here is a real extension of the drawing as it continues its “story” even outside what otherwise would have been its natural boundary.

The frames of the old Permanent Collection

Finally, there are the frames of my “old” Permanent Collection.

Just think that, for this collection of drawings, I had specifically studied and had made a series of frames to leave the collector free in the combination he preferred.

I wanted to allow him to match the frame he liked best by offering him a choice of five different designs to guarantee him to fully highlight the work and create a personal combination.

Over time, these frames have been very popular, and therefore, even today, I propose them to those clients who commission me a piece and who may find it difficult to choose the most appropriate frame.All the frames I told you about in this article are entirely handmade and are subsequently decorated by me using the same techniques that I learned during my working experience in the world of restoration.

Obviously, if one wants, he can decide to buy only one of my drawings to frame it as he sees fit – after all, we still live in a democracy!

However, the important thing is always and only to choose with great care and attention the frame that will be the trusted guardian of the artwork.

If you want to see other combinations of drawings and frames, then click below to browse my various collections.

Take me to the drawing collections

Now I’d better go back to sharpening the pencils. See you soon!