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Framing and mounting sizes

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Ian

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Hi everyone I am somewhat confused as to what standard, if there is any, is frames sizes, mounts and apertures. As a relative newcomer to watercolour painting (I started last year) I don't necessarily want to mount everything I do but I am having great difficulty sourcing mounts of the correct aperture size. For example, I have completed paintings that are 14"x10" and as small as 9"x7" and 7"x5". Searching for mounts I find that websites are describing the overall size that includes the border and sometimes without the aperture size. To make it easier, I thought that if there was a standard size of painting I should aim for (in simple terms small, medium or large) or actual sizes such as 7"x5", 10"x8" or 14"x10" etc, then this would make it easier for me to source the right sized mounts. I'm probably making this harder work than it is but any help and advice would be much appreciated. Thank you, Ian.

Sylvia Evans

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A decent art shop should help you, those sound like usual sizes so I would have thought they were reasonably easy to find on line. But I would think the very best way is to go to a good framer. They can give you really good advice and cut them exactly as you would like them. I often find that mass produced ones are too narrow.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I do stick to standard sizes (the most common one I use for my watercolours is 18ins by 14ins landscape) but I either cut my own or get them cut for me - rates are okay when I buy in bulk. I never buy off the shelf mounts for one very simple reason - they are always far too narrow and I hate skimping on mounts. A narrow mount of anything less than about 2.5ins IMHO does no justice whatsoever to the artwork and looks so dated. The once held idea that the bottom of the mount should be wider (to prevent the picture looking as though it's about to fall out of the frame) seems to have gone by the wayside thank goodness. Generally I like my mounts to be 2.75 ins wide and for a small more modern piece and especially small abstracts I often like them displayed in a large frame with mounts anything up to about 4ins wide. All a matter of personal choice!

Alan Owen

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you can buy ready cut mounts from S A A and Jacksons .. to fit a quarter plate 15" x11"outside ( 42 cm x 30cm) cutout ( 20cm x 30cm) ` 16"x12" inside cut out of 12"x8" costs between £4,80 and £ 4.20 each sizes and prices are there for you ,,, ps//// photo mounts are to narrow

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by alanowen

michael

Michael Edwards

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I haven't checked it but if I remember correctly the SAA mounts are only 2ins wide which is far too narrow and it appears that Jacksons as quoted by Alan O above are the same. Don't understand why they make them so narrow. My local framer charges me £1.20 for an 18 by 14ins mount with 2.75ins wide border when I buy 12 at a time. Double mounts - don't use them very often - can look a bit dated. Like Alan B I also use a Logan - easy to use.

Ian

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Wow, thanks everyone for your replies. I'll re-read through them all again and take heed of the advice that has been given. I will loom out for a local framer and get a ballpark on figures for mounting and framing.

Kay Devlin

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I usually cut my own but I've recently considered changing my ways and creating paintings to fit into ready-made mounts, for convenience. There are a surprising number of shops about that sell them too.
michael

Michael Edwards

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When I cut mounts I do it on a large piece of floor covering - far better than the expensive mats you can buy which also very expensive and it doesn't blunt the tip of the blade.
michael

Michael Edwards

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One other point Alan - I use the reverse side of the cushion flooring - my piece has squares marked out which helps with lining up the board - it's also quite thick so no need for a mat underneath. I got a few off-cuts from a local flooring contractor

Kay Devlin

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I quite enjoy cutting my own mounts, I find it satisfying as it adds the finishing touch to the painting. I too cut a hinged backing board and tape the painting to this. I cut mine on the floor, on top of a cutting board, on top of a thick sheet of cardboard. It takes me ages though, hence why I'm thinking of buying ready made ones. Unless I just keep practising until I get better at it, which I suppose is what it's all about ... Kay.