Has anybody had a go at making your own frames? Or have you found any readymade ones for stretched canvas paintings at a fair price? I would prefer to buy them ready made as I don't have the tools to make my own. Finding them ready made is proving impossible, at least here in the uk it is. It seems that when it comes to stretched canvas there seems to be only two options, have them bespoke made by an art store which is expensive or make your own. My only other thought is that if I could find a handyman store to cut the pieces for me I could possibly have a go at self assembly. Has anybody found the solution? Any advice is welcome please!!!
Framing an 18x24 stretched canvas
TheLandscapePainter Hello Tlp,
I can inform you with an answer since I looked this up yesterday and some ready made framing is really existant. My address is in Holland though ('Vanbeekart', they ship internationally) but I'm very certain this can be bought in the UK as well.
I found a store in Dalston, Fulham and Gloucester. It's name is Jackson's art:
https://www.jacksonsart.com/
Have a look there, I know for certain they sell easy to fit frame bars, so maybe that is an option to you. And it is my understanding that this shop is not an expensive one.
Good luck!
PS: yes, I've built some frames myself .... it is not that easy but if you really need a particular size and/or need to control a budget, it is a good solution! It worked for me!
Thank you Voy, you're a star.
Lower-end wooden frames in the U.S. run about $40. You can make your own frames, but it requires a mitre saw or box saw/mitre box. Cut your trim lengths with the interior dimensions being slightly smaller than the picture (say, 17.5" by 23.5"). Glue, clamp, staple. Then, once dry, on the reverse side create a cradle slightly larger (18.25" by 24.24") than the canvas, using square dowel or trim. Glue and tack. Finish the frame using stain, tung oil, etc. Then use mounting hardware, usually sold at hobby stores, to secure the canvas frame and install a hanger wire. This, to me, is not worth the trouble, but your mileage may differ.
Thank you Ian. You are right, it's probably not worth the effort or the cost of the tooling. It's harder than it looks. I had a go at mitre corners by hand a while back just on some miniatures and that was hard enough.