Framing Gallery Wraps

[Not your average framer]

If the canvas is a gallery wrap, then it won't have any staples into the sides, as they are all at the back. If I penetrate the sides with fixings then it is no longer possible to display it as originally intended.

This may or not matter, but in the spirit of not doing anything which I can't reverse, I try to avoid fixing into the sides of a gallery wrap, although if a canvas already has staples in the sides this would not be an issue.

I know about the method of using staple and either framers points or flexi points, but to me it looks less than professional and not in line with the way I like to present my work to my customers. I don't like it, but when push comes to shove I have done this too.

I also find the canvas offset clips from Lion very helpful and I like the fact that as a method of securing a stretched canvas into the frame, they do not result in any change of condition to the artwork as supplied for framing.

[Roboframer]

I don't see it as an issue - once the customer has decided to get the gallery wrap framed, it's no longer a gallery wrap!

The customer does not WANT it displayed as it was originally intended and you are doing nothing irreversible to the actual artwork i.e. the image area* - Plus, if faced with Peter's problem, or, to prevent from being faced with it, you'd need to re-stretch the canvas on to normal thickness bars and it's your call if you want to staple those on the back or the sides.

*If the image is wrapped around then that may be different.

[Not your average framer]

*If the image is wrapped around then that may be different.

I had assumed that is what is being refered to as a gallery wrap.

The blank canvases pre-stretched on deep stretchers, I would normally call box canvases as this is the way these things are described where I worked while being trained.

[Roboframer]

I've always taken 'Gallery Wrap' to be USA speak and 'Boxed Canvas' to be UK speak; either can have the image wrapped around or not - it's just a 'look' (and a pretty naff one IMHO)

I've done and seen plenty that show all of the image on the front only, with un-painted/printed canvas wrapped around. But even if the image IS wrapped around, it's got a dirty great crease around it, plus a whole mess of creases at the corners when removed from the stretcher - that wrapped-around part of the image has effectively been written off - you'd never ever want to flatten it out and show it with all those cracks and creases and if it was a high value thing - well, it wouldn't be boxed or 'gallery wrapped to start with.

There's a flip side I suppose - it could have been painted AFTER being gallery wrapped. Horses for courses - but I don't know of any artists that do this, at least not any who are one bit fussed about what they paint on the sides - most artists don't paint around corners.

[prospero]

To clarify: I use the term 'Gallery Wrap' as a board term to describe canvases on deep stretchers. 'Box canvas' is more apposite. A lot of pre-stretched blank canvases are done this way nowadays and they tend to be cheaper than 'proper' ones. Hence, artists use them without any intention of using the sides. The probs arise for the framer is when they are presented with a 12"x10" canvas that is 1 1/2" deep and the customer wants a 2" wide scoop frame with a beveled liner. I did one like this not so long ago. Hung on the wall it looked ridiculous. It got re-stretched on std bars. Thus negating any cost saving on the original blank canvas.

A note on canvas fixings. In general, my prefered method is to use spring clips. Lion do some that I find ideal. They don't have the scrolly bit on the end. The big advantage from my point of veiw is that a lot of the frames I make are for pro artists. They like to be able to switch frames on paintings. With spring clips it's a doddle. They also slightly hold the edge of the canvas away from the wall to allow bit of airflow behind. And if sometimes I want to add a back board for protection, it's easy to slip one under the clips. The clips can sometimes mark a painted wall. But the clips are big enough to attach a little bumper pad to.

[Not your average framer]

In general, my prefered method is to use spring clips. Lion do some that I find ideal. They don't have the scrolly bit on the end. The big advantage from my point of veiw is that a lot of the frames I make are for pro artists. They like to be able to switch frames on paintings. With spring clips it's a doddle. They also slightly hold the edge of the canvas away from the wall to allow bit of airflow behind. And if sometimes I want to add a back board for protection, it's easy to slip one under the clips. The clips can sometimes mark a painted wall. But the clips are big enough to attach a little bumper pad to.

Hi Peter,

IMHO, this is one of the best and most helpful tips I've seen posted for quite a while. Until now I've not used these clips but now I'll soon be trying them for myself.

I like your reasons for using them, which are well worth explaining to customers. Things like this are so helpful in convincing customers that they've found the right framer. And that's it's worth them paying a little extra, to come to you and get it done right.

Anything positive which marks you out as different to your competitors, (most framers don't use them), will always be beneficial to any business. Presentation and customer perception are so important.

Thanks for sharing the tip!