Introduction to Frame Making

The container can be as important as the content itself. For Coy Aballay, the person behind El Pez Enmarcado, the frames behind all artistic compositions should be functional, highlight the work, and make it shine. She has been framing works, prints, photos, and all kinds of objects for the past 13 years. Coy studied graphic design and photojournalism, something that helps her offer a unified view between work and frame.

In this course Coy will teach you how to make a box frame. You'll learn to compose an image or object to frame that you'll select and measure, before proceeding to work on the frame.

You'll meet Coy, the person behind El Pez Enmarcado, who will tell you how she got to dedicate herself to framing, and what her main influences are.

You'll start by looking at the most used frame styles, as well as the materials and tools that you'll use in the process. You'll learn the differences between the types of rods and how to give them color and style. In addition, you'll see how to use the passe-partout and you'll make the selection of the sheet, photograph, or object for your final framing project.

You'll measure the selected composition already mounted on the background, to start framing it. You'll learn to cut, starting with the rods and slats, with a miter saw; later, you'll see how to cut glass and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

You'll continue learning how to nail the rods using a wooden base to make the work easier. Afterward, you'll sand it and explore different shapes and materials to paint your frame.

Finally, you'll assemble everything, you'll learn how to close the frame and place wire to hang it where you like. Finally, Coy will give you some inspirational tips, and others that will help frame a series of artworks.

You'll create a box frame with medium size rods and slats (it will depend on the image you choose) that will contain a sheet, work, photograph or flat object, mounted on a base. You'll then paint it and leave it ready for hanging!

Anyone who wants to learn to frame and who loves working with their hands. Also to all those who want to know the process and materials that are used in the art framing process, so they can then be able to commission the frames to professionals.

You don’t need previous experience in framing to take this course because you'll learn everything from scratch.

As for materials, a manual miter saw will be very useful for cutting. You'll need rods, slats, ruler, pencil, white glue, small and medium nails, presses, wires, hooks, tweezers, a hammer, an Exacto knife, tape, sandpaper, papers, cardboard and an image or object (depending on what you choose) to frame.