The Framing of “Cowgirl”
Despite the fact that I do framing (or maybe because of it) I don’t always settle for what is available. Since I am the artist and gallery owner, I can order in frames that suit my style and my artwork. But even then occasionally I am unable to get exactly what I want. So what’s a girl to do?
I make exactly what I want.
Cowgirl is a prime example of it. I was unable to find a suede matboard the color I wanted. As for the frame, I have a moulding I love, it just doesn’t come in the color I needed.
So here’s what I did to get what I wanted.
For the frame I used steel wool to remove some of the stain from the surface of the frame. This particular molding is my favorite for these handmade paper pieces, but it only comes in 3 colors, all very dark and almost indistinguishable from each other.
The face of the frame is an unvarnished veneer which is why I can actually remove some of the stain with steel wool. After some trial and error I found the most effective technique was to rub the steel wool in small circular motions. After about 30 minutes (some cramping of fingers and twinging of shoulder muscles) my frame is done.
The left side in photo is the altered side.
For the mat
I simply took the broad side of my oil pastel and lightly drug it across the surface, in circular motions. This took moments. Thats it. Talk about simple. I had done the frame thing many times before, but this was the first time I colored a mat using oil pastel. (Which I’m pretty sure would only be effective with suede. Otherwise the oils would cause something, not so attractive, to happen to paper board.) Overall I’m fairly pleased with the outcome.
The darkened outer edges in the photo is the new color. It shows up very dark in both this photo and the finished Cowgirl photo, than it is. It is actually just more purple, instead of being blue. The overall color value remained the same.)
Tags: framing
Cowgirl Way! Good improvisation and good results. Great job! Angela
I love how you’ve framed this piece. I think the mat really brings out the blue/purple shades in the painting, but I don’t need to tell you what’s good about it - you’re the expert!!
Did you varnish the wood after sanding it down?
Angela, Thanks. Cowgirl Way! now thats clever.
Undaunted, No new varnish added on this one. Though I did add a varnish back onto Flaming Sheep to help bump up the orange color. (I used this same technique with it’s frame as well as White Wolf’s frame.)
I should add varnish on this one as well, but am feeling a little lazy and she had so many dark rusts and reds I can get away with it.