Paintings on canvas or panel – should they be framed with or without glass? | Katharine Richards Framing (2024)

FAQs

Paintings on canvas or panel – should they be framed with or without glass? | Katharine Richards Framing? ›

Paintings on canvas or panel are generally better served by not being in glazed frames.

No. Too much organic matter and too little air flow. This can lead to mold/mildew and bacteria having a stable place to thrive, leading to damage of the canvas support. It's fine to do that, but not at all necessary - go into any gallery or museum and you will see some oil paintings behind glass and most probably not.

But the use of glass or acrylic isn't always necessary & as we've learned, you can safely display your print with or without a glass frame. I hope this article was helpful & feel free to share if you think it could be of value to someone else ..

One effective method of framing without glass is wrap-stretching of the silk over a rigid support. In the same manner as canvas is stretched over a wooden frame (light-weight interlocking strips from any art supply), the silk can be pulled tautly across the frame and stapled to the back side, creating a finished edge.

Should you frame canvas prints? The short answer is: it depends! Your decision to frame or not depends entirely on your stylistic preference and the nature of the project. Unframed canvas prints exude a minimalist style, while framed pieces may appeal to those favoring a traditional, complete look.

However, it's not necessary, or even desirable, for all. Paintings on canvas or panel are generally better served by not being in glazed frames. For example, if a painting is heavily textured glass will not only prevent the viewer from fully appreciating the texture, but it could also damage the painting.

In short, oil paintings and acrylics do not need glass, unless it has been painted onto paper or a similar thin substrate. Glass is required when a painting has been done in a more vulnerable medium such as watercolour, ink, pencil (graphite), pastel and charcoal.

In short: you just don't need glass in your picture frames!

The difference between our professional, archival framing process and a simple print in a store-bought frame is significant.

If the room has a lot of natural light, UV-protective glass or acrylic can help prevent the painting from fading. If the room has low lighting, a frame with a reflective finish can help reflect light and enhance the painting's visibility.

Framing Stretched Canvas Prints and Paintings

You can choose a wood picture frame, metal frame or floater frame for stretched canvas artwork, the latter of which is made especially for canvases.

Can you frame a canvas panel painting? ›

Canvas boards can be framed in ordinary frames, as long as they have a deep rebate. if you want to you can take the glass out.

Float frames allow for 100% of the artwork to be visible to the viewer. If your preferences lean toward a traditional frame that can still accommodate a stretched canvas, you may opt for a style in the canvas depth category. Spanning both wood and metal varieties.

You can use a museum mount or firmly adhere the artwork it to a backing in any frame, and just remove the glass. The artwork though needs to be well mount, or it may absorb moisture in the air which will cause it to curl and warp. Another option would be to add a thick mat to mount the artwork and frame without glass.

Acrylic is optically superior, naturally without tinting commonly seen in glass. This optical purity makes it a great option for displaying and protecting framed photos and art.

Worst-case scenario, glazing can damage the art; best-case scenario, glazing can obscure the painting, creating separation between the viewer and the art. For these reasons, when you frame an acrylic or oil painting, it's generally better to avoid glazing.

Canvas should be stretched and hung in a frame appropriate to an oil painting. Oil paintings are never framed under glass, they outgass solvents which accumulate on the inside of the glass. For an inkjet print, that means coating. Acrylic paintings can be framed under glass, and it extends their lives.

You can try applying Heavy Gel to your surface and then sprinkling the glass on, letting dry and painting…. You can try mixing the glass into your medium and apply the mixture with a painting knife, letting dry and then painting… You can add color to the gel first, too, so the gel is already tinted lightly (or a lot).