What's in a Frame?

"Wild Roses on the Wolds" - original watercolour by Glenn Marshall

OK - here's the scenario. You have finished your masterpiece and very pleased you are with the result. Naturally you want people to see it. Watercolour does not look good on a wall if it is just stuck there with blue tack. So - you need it framing. Easy? No- in fact it can be quite tricky to get it right. When I first started I hadn't a clue about framing and I soon realised that the painter is probably the worst judge of the best frame for his painting. I think this is because we  focus on the painting itself - nothing wrong with that but we have to remember other people look at the whole package which includes the frame. I used to go to a frame shop and get the cheapest frames and mounts I could. This was good in theory but a bit harder in practice. I once ended up with some green frames and cream mounts. The best thing to say about them is that they were cheap - very! And why - because no one wanted a painting in a green frame that's why. I experimented with single mounts, double mounts ,double mounts in different colours, gold frames, wood frames and who remembers that hideous phase when silver frames were in  fashion. I've still got a few of those left too! The upshot of all my trials and tribulations is that a good frame can enhance your creation but a bad frame can destroy it. So here's a good tip - find a good framer who you can trust and listen to his advice. For 'Double Vision 2014' we decided to have all the work framed exactly the same format. Luckily we have a good framer we can trust and he produced us seventy high quality frames and mounts of various sizes. They are all black with a white mount. Classic - and the minute you enter the Gallery @ the Spa in Bridlington Spa, the whole exhibition harmonises giving the impression of a clear theme to the show. So here's a big thank you to Richard at Elliot Frames for all his hard work and support for the exhibition.
I came across 'Wild Roses on the Wolds" earlier this year. It was just such a lovely scene with the vivid hedges bursting with life and festooned with these wonderful wild flowers. The double crowned sycamore tree provided a perfect centre piece in the middle distance. I loved the place so much that I returned to it for a large winter painting "Winter Walk on Wykeham Road" and here they are together framed and sitting proudly on the wall:

"Winter Walk" and "Wild Roses"

I hope you agree that the frames enhance the paintings and that they look good together. We all have some great 'framing' stories. Here's one of mine. It was my first time as Artist in Residence at Burton Agnes Hall. This is a magnificent Elizabethan stately home and to be there for a month with a fantastic studio and gallery in the grounds was a great privilege. One day a lady came in and enthused about one of my paintings. "I want that" she said, "I'll go and get my husband to get it." Off she went leaving a very happy painter behind in the summer house. Back they came and once again she enthused about the painting. Finally she turned to him and said "Well dear - what do you think?" George (let's call him that) shuffled closer to the piece. He had his hands in his pocket (guarding his wallet no doubt) and peered suspiciously at the painting and then the price. Finally he gave his considered opinion, "Nay lass," he opined "It's amazing what a good bit of framing can do for a picture." And with that he  turned sharply on his heels and left leaving a very embarrassed wife and a very disappointed artist in his wake. Never mind this is Yorkshire and it's good to keep your feet firmly on the ground. I hope you can come and see the exhibition, frames and all. It runs up to November 27th. The gallery is open daily from around 9.30 am until 5.00 pm and admission is free and we will be there most days but certainly every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Look forward to seeing you. Glenn

See all works in 'Double Vision 2014