All the images of framed prints on this site are mockups I've created, not only to help you envision the print on a wall, but to show how a well-chosen frame can be the marriage of art and environment. From simple to extravagant, I've not only tried to match the print vibe to rooms but also chosen frames that solidify their placement and demonstrate my framing philosophy.

 

How many times have you seen a photo or piece of art that you love but have thought, "That just won't fit my décor"? Often, a frame can bridge the gap, turning an out-of-context image into a statement piece. The next time you see a piece of art like that, notice the frame and what it's doing in that space.

 

The following are some suggestions to help you get the very most enjoyment out of your art investment:

 

A frame should reflect the environment it lives in, and every other decision flows from that.

 

Typically, in galleries, frames are minimal by design — considered, restrained, deliberately staying out of the way so the image can speak without disruption. That's not an accident — it's designed to clear the noise and free the imagination of visitors.

 

Homes, offices, public areas — those are very different spaces, and a frame that ignores that or fights it can lose its hold on the room, no matter the image or artwork. Just like a piece of furniture that doesn't belong, over time the image can begin to lose its impact. Not because something changed with the print. Because the frame was working against it to begin with.

 

I print images and put them in simple, inexpensive test frames around my home and studio all the time — it's how I evaluate color, exposure, etc. Over time, I've watched those simple frames hold up in my minimal black-and-white living room while losing themselves in my less minimal, more colorful guest room. If the frame doesn't speak to the surroundings, your eye stops going there, or it goes there for the wrong reasons. That's not what I want for something you've invested in.

 

A well-chosen frame doesn't have to be expensive, but it should be thought out. Minimal environment, minimal frame. Decorative space, frame with presence.

 

I am an artist, not an art store or gallery, so I don't offer framing. I can't. There are too many options, and that expertise lives with another type of artist. I'll encourage you to give framing the same thought you gave to choosing the print. The two decisions are equally important. One without the other is only half the work.

 

If you'd like to talk through how a specific print might live in your space, I'm always available. Reach me at grant@grprints.art.