Drawing lessons - illustrated lesson notes for teachers and students

How to frame your painting

So a picture frame can have certain characteristics and many functions;

1. Protect the painting
   2.Unify the painting with the architectural style of the room as in repetition of color style or other design
   elements.


2. Separate the painting from the wall.


3. Tunnel the attention to the painting so it will become the focal point of a room.- or do the reverse.

An artist may require the frame can echo all the qualities of the painting. Accents of similar texture, color, line

or shape.

Echoes between painting and frame:

Just as parts of a painting can relate to each other in echoes of texture, color and form so can the relationship

between the frame and the painting. This is a relationship the renaissance artists knew well. Some of these

relationships I demonstrate in the following example. More can be observed on the following page.

This traditional example (above) only works in isolation and miniature as most eliments are fierce. However,

texture of frame and breastplate, color values of frame, sky, armour and directional form match. The frame

struggles to confine the painting and will only succeed if surrounded by a bland background. The frame is a

color compliment of the painting while the gold still echoes the strong yellows.

We are now going to simplify things and examine three elements. The painting, the frame and the background.

GO TO ... traditional

configurations

http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/lessons/frames.htm (3 of 4)1/13/2004 3:46:18 AM