We regularly give our homes a refresh with new décor and accessories, when fashions change or it takes our fancy, but why do we rarely think of reframing our favourite art? Maybe we should. Treating a beloved picture to a fresh new look can give it a new lease of life and enhance the enjoyment you get from it. There are many reasons why we should get around to reframing our pictures and objects and here are my top five.
1. Damage or deterioration
Over time, framed pictures can suffer from the effects of ambient UV light, heat, pollution and other environmental factors or even sometimes from materials used by some framers. Once the frame and mount deteriorate, the artwork can also start to suffer ill effects, such as acid burn from non- conservation mount boards, so it’s important to check your pictures out regularly to ensure that they are still in good condition.
Some common factors that can have adverse effects are the presence of woodworm or damaged or worn frame corners. Anything with woodworm needs replacing as soon as you spot the problem as these insects can spread to other objects or structures around your home and cause a fair amount of damage.
With damaged or broken frames, it may be possible to mend them, depending on how extensive the problem is. Check with a professional framer (preferably one certified by The Fine Art Trade Guild) to establish whether the corners can be glued and clamped. If the frame has been dropped, however, repair may not be a viable option and so reviewing the whole piece might be the only possibility.
2. Think again…
Over time our tastes and fashions change and so a painting you had framed 10 years ago might be looking a bit tired, style-wise. Or maybe you are revamping your house and re-siting your pictures, only to find that a picture that ‘worked’ in one room now clashes terribly in its new position. It’s incredible how much a new mount and frame can really liven up a picture enabling you to see in a different light and with renewed enjoyment.
It could be that you’ve inherited a picture or bought one from an auction or charity shop, and, much as you love the picture, the framing is just not doing it justice. In this case, reframing is the only option, allowing you to see the colours and details afresh. In fact, reframing can totally change the feel of a piece of artwork – try a more contemporary frame on an old oil painting and see the difference it makes.
3. There’s something bugging you…
Have you ever noticed a load of tiny black specks in a picture – especially if you live in a rural location? These are in fact tiny black bugs, about a millimetre in length, that ingeniously find their way inside your picture frame only to die where they are least wanted? They are called thunder bugs or ‘thrips’ – and although they don’t actually cause any damage, it can be really annoying if they have invaded your treasured art. You can often find them inside frames which have not been sealed properly, so it’s worth talking to your framer about how they protect the pictures they frame. A Guild Certified Framer will always seal the back of a frame with tape to ensure no dirt, bugs or moisture can get in and ruin your picture – an advantage of bespoke framing over shop bought products where you just clip the picture in place.
4. There’s something amiss….
Is it the case that every time you look at a favourite picture you are distracted by something you just can’t pinpoint? If so, there could be a problem with the mount. Our brain often realises that something just doesn’t look right. It could be that the mount is the wrong shade or that the proportions are wrong for the picture it is surrounding.
The correct mount - colour and style – can really enhance a picture, but getting it wrong can be catastrophic. For example, a strong colour mount on a delicate watercolour will totally overpower it and ruin the whole effect. I often see art hanging where the picture has slipped in the mount aperture – this can occur if the wrong tapes have been used or if the tapes have dried out over time, possibly because the art has been hung over a heat source.
Another sign of aging is when a mount becomes discoloured with time. This is especially noticeable on the bevels (the 45-degree sloping edges that lead down to the artwork) which can become an unattractive brown or yellow colour as a result of acid in the mountboard. The way to avoid this is to use ‘conservation’ mount boards which will not discolour with age. However, if you do spot discolouration, it’s time to take action because not only does it not look good, but the acid in a non-conservation mountboard can damage the picture itself.
5. A completely new creation
Many people have a collection of items that represent personal achievements such as medals, sports shirts and photos of a race or event. Other assortments evoke memories of a person, for example, war medals, uniform epaulettes and certificates. You may already have objects framed individually, but these can look more impactful if framed together in a single montage. They can make really individual and thoughtful gifts or mementos for a family member, and by selecting a professional framer to do this for you, you will also be preserving and protecting your memorabilia from fading or damage by siting them in an attractive display frame.
I hope these ideas have given you food for thought and will make you think about how you can get the best from your artwork. After all it’s there for you to enjoy – you see it every day so it should make you stand and smile rather than frown and think “I really should think about doing something with that picture”.
Do you need help?
Please get in touch with Jules Sainter via email julessainter@hotmail.co.uk
