Guide
Frame styles for artwork.
The frame is the first thing a viewer sees and the last thing they consciously notice. Pick a frame that argues for the work, not against it.
Dark walnut
Warm, quiet, gallery-standard. Flatters oil and mixed-media paintings, especially those with earth tones. Read as traditional and confident.
Light oak
Contemporary, Scandinavian, air. Works with pastel palettes, watercolor, and photography. Reads as fresh and modern.
Thin black
The neutral choice. Disappears around bold work and lets the image do the talking. Safe default for prints, drawings, and photography.
Floater frames on canvas
A small gap around the canvas that makes it read as an object, not a picture. Great for gallery-wrap canvases where the sides are painted.
Bare canvas
Legitimate for gallery-wrap pieces where the edges are part of the work. Reads as contemporary and confident, but only if the sides are actually finished — a raw staple line kills it.