When I refer to portrait sizes I’m referring to the actual painting—NOT the framed size. Framing and matting (if you choose to mat your portrait) will add extra inches on all sides of the painting. All portraits will be delivered UNFRAMED because framing is such a personal choice and the risks of damage during shipping are just too great. Please refer to my framing tips and videos below. All the sizes I’ve chosen to offer are standard sizes to make framing easier and less expensive.
Tips on Framing
Your painting will be shipped in a protective, clear glassine bag with matte board or gator board to prevent bending or damage. Keep your portrait in the bag until you bring it to a framer or are ready to frame it yourself. The portrait should not be slid out of the bag—it should carefully be cut away from the portrait.
Do not touch the surface of the painting as the pastel may smear. I spray my paintings with a light fixative spray, but I don’t spray a heavy coverage since that would change the colors of the painting.
Pastel paintings must be framed behind glass to protect them and it’s best to have them professionally framed so the glass doesn’t touch the painting. You can choose to add a mat or just have your painting framed with no mat—it’s a personal preference.
If you need to save money on framing, you can bring your painting to any Michael’s or Hobby Lobby store and pick a frame(s) off the sales floor. Bring it to the counter and they can help you look at the painting with the frame(s) and mats so you can select framing that best compliments your painting. They’ll ask if you want standard or museum glass. The museum glass costs more and has a special coating that eliminates 99% of the UV light that can cause fading. This premium glazing is also optically very clear and is supposed to keep framed pieces looking brighter for many years. Pastels are very rich in pigment so it’s not necessary to get the museum glass unless you can afford the extra cost. The framer will add spacers to keep the glass from touching the painting, and they’ll add a nice paper cover on the back. Ask for the hanging wire to be added—it’s only a few dollars and makes hanging much easier.
If you can afford a more expensive frame, then you can bring your pastel to any framer and they can suggest framing to really showcase your art.
