How to Frame Canvas Art: 8 DIY Steps To Master It

Understanding Canvas Art and Framing

How to Frame Canvas Art? First, let's talk canvas types. You've got stretched canvases, canvas prints, and canvas panels. Each has its own needs when it comes to framing. Then, why frame? Protection, plain and simple. Dust, humidity, even just bumping it, can damage your art. And let's face it, a good frame makes it look way better. Before you start, take a good look at your canvas. Size, depth, those edges – they all matter.

DIY Canvas Framing

Okay, you're the hands-on type? Awesome. You'll need some tools. Frames, of course, maybe some stretching bars, canvas pliers, and staples. And don't forget measuring and cutting tools. First, get your canvas ready. If it's unstretched, you'll need to stretch it. And make sure it's clean. No dust bunnies allowed! Now, framing techniques. You can make a flush mount frame, a mitered frame, or even a floater frame. Each has its own look. I've done all of these, and trust me, a good mitered frame is a game-changer. Just make sure you measure twice, cut once. And safety first! Wear gloves and eye protection.

Choosing a Frame Style

Frames aren't one-size-fits-all. You've got floater frames, traditional frames, modern minimalist frames. And materials? Wood, metal, even composites. Pick a How to Frame Canvas Art that complements your art. A rustic painting? A wood frame. A modern print? Maybe a sleek metal frame. And think about your room's décor. You want it to match, not clash. Also, if it is a valuable piece of art, consider archival quality materials.

Professional Canvas Framing

Not a DIY person? No problem. Pros have the expertise and tools to do it right. They've got access to a wider range of materials and styles, too. And they know how to preserve your art. Finding a good framer? Ask around, check reviews. And don't be afraid to ask questions and get quotes. The process is simple. You'll have a consultation, pick your frame, and they'll do the rest.

Hanging and Displaying Framed Canvas Art

Alright, your canvas is framed. Now, how to hang it? First, get your hanging hardware. Wire, D-rings, whatever works. And protect the back of the frame. You don't want it scratching your wall. Location matters. Eye level is usually best. And use the right hardware for your wall type. You don't want that masterpiece crashing down. And get creative with your display. A gallery wall with multiple canvases? Awesome. Or mix and match with other décor.

Protecting and Maintaining Framed Canvas Art

You want that Canvas Art to last, right? Keep it out of direct sunlight, and away from humidity. And clean it gently. A soft cloth is your friend. Also, UV-protective sprays or varnishes can help prevent fading.

Specific instructions to How to Frame Canvas Art

All You Need Before Framing Canvas Painting

– Wood: The lengths you require are solely based on the dimensions of your frame. For assistance calculating how much wood you require, consider step 1 below.
– Hardware: Finishing Nails for Wood; Hardware for Hanging (optional)
– Paint, or wood stain (the colors you want)
– Wood Filler (optional)
– Tools: Measurement tape; Toolbox and Saw
– Basic Clamps
– Sandpaper, a band clamp sanding block, or a sander

How To Frame Canvas Art – 8 Basic Steps You Should Follow

We’ll get into the fundamentals of framing your canvas after you’ve gathered the supplies you’ll need.

Step 1: Determine Frame Dimensions

Calculating your frame measurements is the first and most difficult part of the entire project (at least it was for me!). This is due to the fact that in addition to the mitered joints (diagonal junctions), you also need to take the depth of the frame into consideration. Calculate the correct width and height dimensions for your specific canvas size AND framing preferences using the diagram below as a guide.

Step 2: Stain or paint the wood

It’s more probable that you’ll need to conduct touch-ups if you paint before assembly, as the finish is vulnerable to scratches. After assembly, painting or staining will give you a better finish, but it may involve a lot of taping, masking, and waiting for coats to dry (especially for a two-toned look).

We advise priming the wood with paint or stain (and doing touch-ups as needed after assembly). As a result, before (yes, before) you cut your wood pieces apart, begin by painting or staining each piece in your desired colors.

Step 3: Assemble the Frame and Inlay Pieces

Cutting multiple pieces of wood to the same lengths can be exceedingly challenging if you are new to DIY and/or don’t have really accurate power tools. Therefore, we advise adhering the inlay pieces to the outside frame parts first (before you trim them down to the right size). By doing this, you can make sure the two layers are tightly coiled around the frame.

To the inside bottom border of the white 1x2s, glue the gold trim using gorilla wood glue. Use clamps to keep everything firmly together while the glue cures once it has been bonded and placed.

Step 4. Cut the frame pieces

Next, reduce each length of the frame (the combined white and gold pieces) to the precise dimensions noted in Step 1 using a miter box and saw. Make sure the white frame piece is longer than the gold by 45 degrees when you cut the 45-degree angle ends. After cutting, use a sanding block to sand the freshly cut edges to make them as flat and smooth as possible on both sides.

TIP: Getting your lengths absolutely correct around your frame can be challenging if you are new to cutting mitered corners (or if you’re not excellent at arithmetic like me). In order to fit each side to your canvas as you go, I advise cutting each length a little bit longer than you need. Even though you might need to repeatedly go back and make new cuts, doing so will guarantee that your frame components match up and hug your canvas just properly in the end (versus being too big or too small).

Step 5. Glue the frame together

Place wood glue at each corner junction and then tighten the complete frame with a band clamp after trimming each side of the frame to precisely fit the canvas (not shown). Make sure to brush away any adhesive that leaks before drying once more.

Fixing the frame as a whole
Once the wood has dried, you might be tempted to use flat L-brackets around the back of the frame as corner bracing or lightly tap finishing nails into the corners. Although you can, I don’t believe it is required.

At first, we had serious doubts about whether the wood glue would hold the frame together securely. But it unquestionably was. This frame hung flawlessly on our walls for more than two years without the need for additional nails at the corners, and it was moved twice without suffering any harm.

Step 6. Fill Corner Seems

If the mitered corner seams around the front of the frame bother you, you can fill them in with wood filler, sand them smooth, then touch up the paint to make them less obvious.
We opted not to bother filling the seams, and after the canvas frame was put on the wall, it was hardly evident.

Step 7: Attach the canvas to the frame

The canvas’s frame needs to be attached to it in the last stage. Two strategies exist for doing this:

From the exterior

Finishing nails from the outside of the frame can be softly tapped into the canvas. However, doing so will expose the nails on the outside of the frame, which you will need to sink, then fill in with wood filler and paint over.

From the inside

As an alternative, you can turn the entire frame and canvas combination over and hammer nails into the sides of the frame from the inside canvas. If you decide to use this technique, be careful to hammer the nails into the rear of the frame (the edge that will rest against the wall) so they are hidden from view.

Step 8: Add Hanging Hardware (Optional)

If necessary, add some hanging hardware as the last step. The canvas we used was large and light enough to rest conveniently on a few nails on the wall. You can attach certain picture hangers or D-rings to the top, sides, or back of a shallow or hefty frame, though.

FQA about How To Frame Canvas Art

1. What is a framed canvas?

A framed canvas print is one that has the image printed directly onto the canvas with either a glass frame or none at all. The size and shape of the wall art influence the choice of frame. You can choose the color of the frame to complement your decor—it might be black, white, brown, or colorful.

2. Can you put a rolled canvas in a frame?

Before framing a canvas print or painting that you bought in a rolled state, the canvas must be stretched. It may seem paradoxical to roll a painting with the paint on the exterior, but doing so lessens the tension on the paint and lowers the likelihood of cracking.

3. Do canvases look better framed?

If you want to create a striking, contemporary aesthetic, framed canvas prints are an excellent choice. Canvas prints, whether framed or unframed, may be quite eye-catching, especially for large-scale artworks. Depending on the type of frame you select, traditional framed prints often have a more traditional and subtle appearance.

Conclusion

So, there you have How to Frame Canvas Art. Framing canvas art, it's not rocket science. Whether you're a DIY pro or prefer to hire a professional, the right frame can make a world of difference. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you. Your art deserves to shine!