When you take a look at my extra large canvas art, whether seeing it on my home page or taking a look at my new large canvas art, you’ll notice that they are not framed. You’ll be seeing them just as they left me, with the artwork stretched over a canvas.
But the questions is often asked, should extra large canvas art be framed? When you are purchasing some extra-large wall art, is a frame appropriate? I’m not necessarily talking about my extra large paintings in particular; let’s just discuss this from an artistic point of view for all canvas art. Here are some points to consider when deciding whether or not to frame large contemporary wall art.
What’s The Point Of A Frame?
Framing has been a part of art for as long as canvases and boards have been around. We can see three basic reasons why art has been framed.
It Denotes Importance
When a piece of art is framed, it denotes importance. While there might be other stuff hanging on the wall — posters, calendars, flyers — the item that is framed is important. It’s important enough that extra was paid in order to have a metal, plastic, or wood frame made for it.
Of course, framing isn’t always necessary to denote importance. Sometimes something is so obviously important (a piece of extra large canvas art, for instance), that there’s no mistaking it for smaller items hanging on the wall. It stands out on its own.
It Complements The Art
Sometimes a frame is used as an extension of the piece of art as well. The art might have been created with the express purpose of being framed later on, with the frame complementing the art and becoming part of it.
To Make The Art Match and Flow
Sometimes a frame can represent the transition between the wall and the artwork itself. Favorite art doesn’t always match its surroundings, and the frame can be the means of helping a piece of artwork fit the space. If the frame can find a happy medium between the extra large painting and the existing walls/molding, then it’s doing its job.
Do You Want To See The Overage?
There’s always going to be some overage on a piece of canvas art, that part of the painting that’s wrapped around the canvas frame and shows from the side. This part of the art can be endearing to some and annoying to others. It’s usually kept in a state that the artists can live with; either they like the way it looks or they fully expect someone to frame it later in order to hide it.
That brings up another very important point…
What Does The Artist Want?
When you purchase a piece of large original canvas art, you may or may not be in contact with the artist. If so, why not ask them what their intentions were with the art? They might be aghast at the idea of framing it, or conversely have sold it unframed so that the purchaser could have it framed to match the space (see above).
If you decide to purchase a piece of extra large canvas art from me or commission me to paint a particular piece, I’d be happy to talk with you about the way I envision seeing the art hung. Ultimately, what you do with a piece of canvas art is up to you, but having the artist’s input might help you appreciate the work more.
Would A Frame Detract From the Painting?
Like it or not, a frame becomes part of the art viewing experience…and sometimes a frame simply makes the art look worse. While large, ornate wood frames can enhance the look of oil painting from centuries ago, they can easily make a piece of large contemporary wall art look much worse than if it had no frame at all. Even subtle frames can detract from the look of a painting, so be very careful in choosing the frame and don’t be afraid to go frameless if necessary.
What’s The Answer?
So, what’s the final answer? There really isn’t one, because each piece of art is different. Talk to artists, talk to designers, and talk to framers (ones that don’t have a monetary interest in framing the piece in question) to help you decide how to present your newly-purchased extra large wall art. If you purchase large canvas art from me, I look forward to seeing how you’ve decided to present it on your wall.
