Columbus Art Gallery, Inc.

Art is a very common hobby to help stimulate your creative juices and reduce stress. Just because it’s a hobby doesn’t mean that your work of art should be shoved into a closet. A frame shop can help protect your artwork so you can show it off with pride.

It's always a good idea to include some space between the picture and the frame. That way, the eye tends to naturally be drawn from the frame into the middle of the picture.

Don't forget about the proximity of your pictures to other framed pictures in the room. For a sense of continuity, it can be wise to use the same family of frames within a room.

You will have many options facing you once you decide to have an item framed. Of particular importance is the glass you may want to use. If you have an item that needs protection from light, select glass that blocks UV rays so the picture or fabric does not fade.

We understand that it may not be possible to find an existing frame in the size, shape or style that you need for a particular piece. Let’s talk about what you have in mind and where it will hang so that we can help you design the right frame for the piece.

Did you know that the first picture frames produced in the early modern era were often produced along with the panel they framed in one piece? The area to be painted was carved out, leaving a raised border, and then the whole piece was gessoed and gilded before the image was painted.

Historically, picture frames were used extensively in Eastern Orthodox countries. Here, icons and other holy images were displayed inside costly and elaborate frames, usually made from gold leaf and enamel.

If you're looking for easy and non-invasive picture hanging options, try: hurricane hooks (also called monkey hooks), adhesive strips, or wall staples that are usually applied with an inexpensive tool. Leaning pictures against walls using a mantel or shelving is also popular.

An important part of framing is choosing the color of the matting. Most of all, you don’t want the mat to fight for attention with the artwork. The general rule of thumb is that the mat should be lighter than the art but darker than the wall.

In modern framing, the purpose of matting is to separate the art from the glass, which in turn allows air flow and keeps the two from sticking together. It’s also used to give visual space to the artwork so it isn’t flush against the frame.

Frames are often used to showcase photographs, but they can actually be used to display so much more. Both ready-made and custom frames can display artwork, diplomas and certificates, and even mementoes and collectibles.

If you have a piece of artwork that features a stunning array of colors and brushwork, you may find that trying to fit it into a basic black frame simply doesn’t do it justice. Let’s talk about the look you’re trying to achieve so that we can help you find the best frame for the art.

Before you bring your materials to us for framing, call about the best method for transporting them to us. You do not want to cause accidental damage to the items because they were packed improperly.