How To Frame a Pastel Painting

[@cinnie2543]

Very informative and I loved seeing your little assistants.

[@michaellund2410]

Emma, watched your vid on framing and was amazed at the tr0uble you go to with your viewers. Your content alone just on pastel is a joy to watch and iv e learned so much in such a short time, but to take the trouble of showing people how to frame their work is taking things to another level, you are amazing and such a great teacher . thank you

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you! Really appreciate all the comments you've left on my videos!

[@natlisan]

Even though I'm a professional Framer myself, we don't always have the time or budget to get custom framing done! In a pinch I will use good quality ready-made frames, but I do upgrade the glass and cut a custom mat to fit my specific size. I will also finish the backing to make it archival. You still get the look and feel of custom framing for a fraction of the cost!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Great tip to upgrade glass, mat and backing. I have done the same before.

[@momasan2]

Love his little tongue sticking out! LOL Long-haired daschunds are wonderful pets! I was raised with them.

[@tatyana_savin]

I have to say it, your framing taste is perfect, a rare thing.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you! I pay a very good framer and have learned a lot from his taste over the years.

[@anneliesdamen2320]

What a cute sausage dogs, that little tongue that sticks out of his mouth, and so verry patience they are. Thanks for the framing tips , it's verry useful.

[@lynnrushton7458]

That was really interesting Emma.....thank you for the advice & sharing .......and those wee Dachshunds are adorable 💜💜

[@zhongdayang1580]

It’s so nice also to see your other works. They look amazing!

[@punjabpainting2002]

Fantastic painting dear friend..stay connected always

[@melanieopperman6688]

I wish I could like your video's again every time I watch

[@melanieopperman6688]

Thank you Emma for an action packed session. Thank for giving advice for both pro artists and for those new to pastels and for those on a budget and those who can afford professional framing. There were so many new helpful tips. I tried your tip - framing directly against the glass as seen on a previous tutorial of yours and I was very happy with the result. Thank you so much and as always it is such a privilege to see your beautiful paintings it was difficult to tell which were the real dachshunds and which were your portaits you capture the character of each of them - your work is such a treasure. And thank you for celebrating picture framers and highlighting the importance of the work they do to make our work shine when on display.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you Melanie! Glad you enjoyed it. It's a huge topic and there are many ways to finish off your work without spending a fortune. But like I said in the video, framers cost for a good reason. Just have to take that into account when trying to make money from your art.

[@BoysBarn]

Excellent video! Thank you.

[@johnsmall4318]

Wonderful info thanks Emma!

[@allisonwoodward5146]

Emma this is terrific - great to see all methods discussed - would love to see you do a demo of mounting directly to class method...this is what I have been doing with my framer but I'm looking to try this on my own for conventional size smaller pieces that I may be able to self-manage to help balance framing costs...kind regards

[@johnsmall4318]

Yes this PLEASE!!

[@bevann716]

Great video. Learned so much. Thank you.

[@mailie6403]

Such a lot of wonderful info & tips. A big thank you Emma.

[@teresawright5654]

Wow! What a difference!

[@mjpete27]

Lovely paintings and superb frames too! I used to make my own frames but these days I may only mat or mount them! I think the added cost of pastels I must take framing into account and creating that space to protect my art! I appreciate these tips and your expertise is MUCH appreciated! Thank you Emma! I should think more about ready made frames such a great idea!

[@laurenmills2041]

Been waiting for this video to come out! Thank you so much Emma, such invaluable information, can’t wait to start framing some of my pastel paintings too 😆

[@claritzairosario68]

Wow Emma! Thank you for this interesting video! I need this, I think you're the only one I've seen make a video like this, so important! Thank you so much!

[@sandfly60]

Thankyou Emma, I have two pastels to frame and your information is so timely and welcome.

[@earlsandyevens]

Seeing you put a painting in a mat etc. would give your vlog an impact.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I did make another video after this one showing that very thing as I had to frame something soon after. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XLg41pd5xqbZY

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Helpful video. Lovely puppies, too. 😍

[@nellyvollebregt-krap8809]

Thank you . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Always wanted to know this. Nobody good really tell. I have searched over the internet for these answer How to frame … And what not to do!

[@nellyvollebregt-krap8809]

🇳🇱

[@susanfogo9301]

thank you very much Emma, you have solved the mystery of the gap! I've tried a few methods but I'm sure the foamboard is a winner when self framing, i love your videos so enjoyable, your gorgeous doggies are a joy too.🥰

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Glad it helped you! The dogs in this video are my mums. But my lot do make regular appearances too :-)

[@alififecook7761]

Thank you so much Emma, watching this has come at exactly the right time for me, it's been really brilliantly helpful.

[@soniagibbs3366]

Excellent framing video. Lots of super useful tips. Thanks so much for sharing this with us

[@EdithMcClelland]

Thank you for such an informative [and interesting!] video, Emma.

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

Gorgeous dogs, Emma!!

[@deeb2437]

Another really helpful video Emma, thank you.

[@sandrapinto534]

Thank you so much for all the great framing tips. I live in Argentina in a small town and I always wandered what mat was!!

[@dshe8637]

Very useful, thank you. I actually used a shop-bought box frame for my first pastel painting. It's a bit too deep, but i thought i had to keep it away from the glass and I didn'thave any mounts. It will be interesting to try some directly against glass, i think.

[@beverleywightman2413]

Thank you Emma, a really helpful video.

[@MarcusPocus]

❤❤❤ the devil is the details..thanks a lot for your teaching, i appreciate all of this!!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thanks for the great feedback!

[@Martina10London]

Emma, this is great! I have been trying to see how to put a channel in the bottom behind the mount as I’ve suffered a lot of falling dust in mounts (I tend to do large paintings)! And the idea of glass directly on painting, I used to do a lot when I’ve started, but might try again. With the double wooden frame, if pastel falls on it, do you say is cleanable? It happened to me in an exhibition that a big painting fell on the floor and the mount got dirty! And these made to measure mounts are expensive!! Have to see your second part of the video now , but this is awesome so far!!!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Best plus of the double frame idea instead of a mount is that it's easily cleaned if the worst happens. A mount almost always will need replaced, and yes that's pricey!

[@jcepri]

I love to create art so I'm currently taking a course where we try lots of different mediums. I liked pastels a lot, but I found them to be very messy, expensive and high maintenance. I still return to it on occasion for a change of pace, hence why I'm here. I'm wondering if a fixative would make the framing process easier by eliminating the need for the space between layers.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

That's a good question and many people do use fixative. I haven't made a video about it yet as I don't use it. But I did write an article with my thoughts on fixative and framing at pasteltoday.com/2022/12/23/using-fixative-emma-colbert-shares-her-opinion/

[@viviandibrell849]

Another excellent and detailed video! Thank you for all the trouble you went to to show all the options. I sure wish there was a way to stabilize pastel paintings more like acrylic or watercolor. I would probably do more pastel paintings. Even storing the unframed ones is a bother.

[@jodeesmith1685]

I have heard 5 coats of a fixative spray. Letting it dry completely between coats. And to spray it up on a support like a wall. Not on a table. That way the spray won't skip and sputter. And to stay back away from the work with the can. I am going to try that.

[@natasha563]

@@jodeesmith1685 Fixatives often change the colours of the finished piece, which is why most professional artists don't use it. Pastelmat can help with that, there isn't much falloff, but its always an issue with pastel

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you! I don't see a big problem with pastel to be honest. Once framed behind glass it's pretty stable. I've had pieces travel all over with me without any issues. And to store unframed I keep them covered over inside art folders with sheets of paper in between. Sure it's not as simple as a canvas that needs no frame, but I like frames anyway. I think they finish a piece nicely.

[@fauxurfancy]

This is great info. Thank you. I have a question after mat and framing, the next thing is how do you ship art to the client so it doesn’t get damaged? I’m really worried about that. Any suggestions would be great.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Here is a video about packaging a pastel kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5eYYmeMpr2GY7s

[@jekaterinanemeth3052]

Super! Merci! 💯👌🤩🤗🌞🍀💐🙏🇺🇦

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Emma....I'm not framing much as I'm a hobby pastelist...not selling much. I'm just preserving my work wrapping in baking paper and keeping aside. If I need to exhibit I get framed.

[@juliewilson6636]

Great but just wondered how you adhered or trapped the actual pastel paper to the mount or foam board?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I used the same white framing tape that I used on the outside to tape around the clean edge of the painting onto the backing board. I hope that explains.

[@cjmatviyak6606]

THANK you for such useful information. If wood is used in separation of the work and glass, isn't there a chance of fuming and acid causing deterioration? Could plastic be used instead?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

This is where you need to talk to a good framer. I think most moldings these days are not entirely wood, or are treated or coated in some way.

[@choochoochooseyou]

Wonderful video, Emma, very helpful. Do you treat Pastelmat and Velour exactly the same way?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

It's very similar. This video might be of interest where I directly compare the two. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTMppmtaKZqoZo

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Excellent...and extremely useful with lots real examples...very creative and interesting 👌👌👌👌

[@PatriciaAdamiak]

I have a question on framing a pastel piece against the glass , which you use on large pieces. Did you spray a protective finish spray on your pieces before framing them? Does this help with preventing shedding? Thanks! Patty

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Hi Patricia, no I don't spray my work. And when the glass touches the surface of the painting it does not move. The only way it could damage it is if the glass was loose and moving so rubbing the painting. There will be no loose pastel falling off if the glass is touching. It's mainly a method I've used on the large Velour pieces which has worked well. I also quite like the look of it as sometimes leaving the gap between the work and the glass creates more reflection. I think you need to be careful if you live in a very humid place. Some people talk about having condensation on the inside of their glass so that would not be good. But I have not encountered that.

[@PatriciaAdamiak]

Thank you for your reply. So kind of you to share. You said that living in Ireland, you obviously have humidity, but I live South Carolina in US. Different kind of humidity and summer is definitely an added issue, even with air conditioning. I am new to pastels, and do not anticipate creating large pieces, but I have been loving the pastel process so much...who knows! I would definitely have to experiment with your method to see how it goes. You did say that on smaller works, the reflection is not as big an issue.The main complaint I hear about spray finishing is that it can diminish the vibrancy of colors. I would love to hear your thoughts on why you do not do it to your work. Thanks!!! Patty

[@nattyw495]

Very interesting i dont even have pastels yet but im just learning about this art form what it encompasses...im just wondering how to you sign it..i miss seeing the artists name on front..

[@EmmaColbertArt]

My name is always in one of the bottom corners and I use a pastel pencil. Sometimes a dark colour, sometimes light depending on the painting. It's always there though :-)

[@julieburdon-stone4607]

Brilliant video Emma, really informative. The gorgeous Dachshunds acting as your assistants are beautiful too🐾

[@kaiw391]

Thank you for another very informative video Emma. I was just wondering if you would mount pastelmat directly against the glass? I can understand with the velour as it has a bit of a pile to it but pastelmat has a very slightly rough texture. I'd love your thoughts, thank you.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I would do it but haven't had the opportunity to lately. The first method I showed is how I've framed most Pastelmat pieces. And as you said, the velour is great framed against the glass because it sits against the deeper pile of the paper.

[@marjo-riittareinikainen9740]

What you think about plastic plexiglass instead of glass in framing pastel painting.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Some other materials might cause static. That is something to watch out for with pastel. Regular glass works better.

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

Do you have suggestions for where to get custom mounts in the UK, even for smaller pieces? A few years ago I got a couple outsourced and they were really quite poorly cut!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I'm not entirely sure. I know Jacksons Art do a good selection of cut mounts. For custom you'd maybe need a framer. But I have also outsourced where I live now and they were terrible. It made me get my own ancient cutter out again!

[@jfranflorez]

Hi, do you have any recommendations on shipping Pastel Art without framing?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I do have a video about packaging my pieces to post at kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5eYYmeMpr2GY7s I only post unframed.

[@agata4746]

Hello Emma it was very helpfull. Thank you☺️ But i wonder how many millimeters the gap must have between the passepartout and the art work? 1mm is enough? What's your experience?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Usually my gap will be the width of the foam board I mentioned which is often 5mm. But any gap is good.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

What do you call that cutting instrument and that scale?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

All I know is it's a mount cutter. There are more modern versions these days. Mine is quite old now.

[@33LB]

northern ireland!