Art Business Info. for Artists
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Framing for art competitions
​& open art exhibitions

Framing for art competitions and open art exhibitions is essentially about two things:
  1. avoiding your artwork being eliminated from selection because of the frame
  2. making your art look good within the context of the competition so your artwork is selected for exhibition

Context
​

How to avoid elimination - due to framing
​

The factors that affect which are the right sort of frames for an open exhibition or art competition are listed below.
  1. Different competitions attract different type of art - and this in turn affects how artwork is framed (and indeed if it is framed)
  2. Location is important - open exhibitions are very often held in metropolitan centres. If you're only used to a rural setting you need to look at photographs of framed artwork in exhibitions in these locations
  3. There's no accounting for taste. Hopefully the Judges won't have a strong preference for framing - but you never know.

KEY ACTION: Visit the exhibition the year before and study the frames of work which get selected and win prizes
In open exhibitions and art competitions pictures are stacked - one against the other. That means anything on the back of your picture is going to potentially make a scratch or a big dent on the one behind it.

​Especially as the stacks get bigger and bigger and the weight and pressure of leaning artworks begins to build.

That's why organisers frequently ask for no fixings at the rear of artwork and will discard any work which offends in this respect.. They also ban clip frames and it's far too easy for these to get damaged.


KEY ACTION: Read instructions carefully and make a careful note of what it says about fixings at the rear and then act accordingly
In the run up to major shows – notably the Royal Academy Summer Show – many framers are overloaded with work. If you leave it to the last minute you can risk paying over the odds or having to frame your own work. 
Are competitions worth it? by Clare Davidson (Royal College of Art
Picture
Prints and drawings in the Sackler Galleries at the RA Summer Exhibition 2018

How can a frame help get your work selected
​

Issues for the international artist

A frame which works hard for you is one which:
  • complements the artwork
  • makes people look at the painting not the frame
  • adds value without looking cheap or flash
  • ​is completed by mats in neutral tones for works on paper
  • does not look like it might adversely affect paintings hung close to it

AVOID the following:
  • loud frames / a strong colour (this swamps adjacent work)
  • clip frames - almost always banned 
​
KEY ACTION: Find a frame which enhances the look of the painting and does not detract from work hanging close by
It's entirely normal for the taste for frames to vary from place to place eg 
  • heavy vs lightweight
  • neutral vs black vs coloured 
  • natural wood vs gilt
This makes it very difficult for an international artists submitting work overseas eg. It's very noticeable that American taste in frames varies quite significantly from UK and European taste. Very often cultural preferences are influenced by factors such as the typical size of  rooms in houses and the nature of the decor. (eg larger rooms can take louder more emphatic frames which would scream "get me out of here" in a smaller room!).

KEY ACTION: Decide whether you want to "fit in" or "stand out from the crowd"

MORE TIPS about framing for art competitions and open exhibitions
​

The following are blog posts which cover this topic and have some useful things to say
  • Presentation and Framing Guidelines for Art Exhibitions by Gary W. Freeman, painter, printmaker, and educator
  • Advice on Submitting to Open Art Competitions and Exhibitions by Ian Sidaway (The Artist - January 2015)
  • Do frames help to sell art? by Katherine Tyrrell | Making A Mark - analyses the frames on sold paintings at the annual exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2015)
  • All the mistakes you can make when submitting work to an art exhibition | Making A Mark (2016) - comments on the common  problems related to framing for an exhibition
  • POLL: Exhibition frames: How much do you spend per frame on average? | Making A Mark (2011)
  • How much do you spend on exhibition frames on average? (Poll results) | Making A Mark (2011)

Note: The image at the top of the page is a panoramic photograph of the ING Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. This is an excellent exhibition to visit to see the various ways people frame small works.  It's also notable for having tight constraints on the size of the work that can be exhibited.
ABOUT ART BUSINESS INFO. FOR ARTISTS  -  Please read "PLEASE NOTE"
This website aims to provide a compendium of resources about the art business for artists. 

It helps artists learn how to do better at being business-like, marketing and selling their art and looking after their financial security.
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  • Home
    • Art Business Information Index
  • NEWS
  • PRACTICE
    • Starting Out - Tips
    • Being a Professional artist >
      • Working Lives of Professional Artists
      • Artists' Side Hustles
      • Artists' Residencies
      • Artists Unions
    • Business Management for Artists >
      • Setting Up & Running A Business
      • Risk Management for Artists
      • How to spot Art Scams / Fraud
      • Life in an Art Market Recession
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 and Art
    • Best Art Business Books
    • Learning Opportunities >
      • Art Schools in the UK
      • Art Business Courses
    • Image Management for Artists >
      • How to photograph art
      • How To Scan Artwork
      • How to back up image files
    • Law for Artists >
      • Legal Matters
      • Money Laundering in the Art Market
      • Data Protection for Art and Artists
      • Brexit Guidance for Art and Artists
  • MARKETING
    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
    • How to write an Artist's Resume or CV >
      • Social Media summaries
      • CV for Artists
      • Resume for Artists
      • Biography for Artists
    • How to sign a painting, drawing or fine art print
    • Business Cards for Artists
    • How to write a press release for an artist
    • The Private View Invitation
    • Publicity for Juried Exhibitions
    • Websites for Artists >
      • Why websites matter
      • Options for Websites
      • Web content for Artists
      • Web design for artists
      • Keeping Google Happy
      • Writing for the Web
    • Image & Video sizes for Social Media Sites
    • How to be mobile-friendly
  • SELL ART
    • Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (UK)
    • E-commerce for artists
    • Art Exhibitions & Competitions >
      • Juried Exhibitions & Art Competitions
      • Juried Art Exhibition Checklist for Artists
      • How to cost a juried exhibition entry
      • How to make labels for an art exhibition
      • Alternative Options for Exhibitions
    • A Guide to Art Agents and Consultants
    • A Guide to Art Dealers & Galleries >
      • How to find the right gallery
    • The Artist-run Gallery
    • The Vanity Gallery
    • Art Fairs
    • How to Sell Art from Home
    • Open Studios
  • FRAME ART
    • List of Recommended Picture Framers
    • Conservation Products
    • Framing for open exhibitions and art competitions
    • Framing Videos
    • How to hang a picture
  • SHIP ART
    • How to pack artwork >
      • How to pack and ship pastel paintings
    • Packaging materials
    • How to ship art internationally >
      • Rules of Origin
      • Export Licences for Cultural Goods
    • How to ship art to exhibitions
    • How to mail art - Post & Parcel Services
    • UK & Ireland: Art Transport Services
    • USA Art Transport Services
  • COPYRIGHT
    • Copyright and artists' rights
    • BASICS: Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
    • How to protect artwork online
    • How to do a reverse image search
    • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists
    • Global Conventions on copyright >
      • Copyright in the UK
      • Copyright in the USA
      • Copyright in Canada
      • Copyright in Australia
  • MONEY & TAX
    • How to work out profit from an art sale
    • How to Price Your Art >
      • How important is price when buying art?
      • Options for Pricing Art
      • Terminology and Formulas for Pricing Art
      • Art Experts on Pricing Art
      • How artists price their art
      • The price of affordable art
    • Payments to Artists >
      • Paying Artists
      • How to create an Invoice
    • VAT for Artists
    • Tax Tips for Artists >
      • Tax on prize money
      • UK Tax Tips for Artists
      • UK: Self-Assessment Video Tips
      • USA Tax Tips for Artists
      • Ireland: Tax for Artists
      • Australia: Tax Tips for Artists
    • Insurance for Art and Artists >
      • Insurance for Art Teachers
      • UK Insurance Policies for art and artists
      • USA & Canada: Insurance Policies for Art and Artists
    • Artists' Grants & Scholarships
    • Retirement and Pensions for Artists
    • The Art Legacy >
      • Estate Planning for Artists
      • Estate Planning for Art Collectors
      • Famous Artists Estates
      • Artwork Inventory
      • After the Death of an Artist
      • Copyright and Resale Rights after Death
      • Art and Inheritance Tax
  • About + Help
    • Would you like me to help?
    • Privacy & Cookies Policy
    • Contact
  • BANKING