FRAMING: TRAY FRAMES

London Atelier of Representational Art tutor LIZET DINGEMANS shows you how to measure up and attach a floating frame to give a stylish finish to your artwork

- LIZET DINGEMANS

While the Old Masters always finished their paintings with a frame, it has become popular to hang a pre-stretched canvas as it is, in order to create a contemporary, minimalist look. If that feels incomplete to you, a good, inexpensive option could be a tray frame.

Tray frames, sometimes referred to as floater frames, are a relatively new style of frame, perfect for framing artworks on canvas or board. The artwork is simply loaded at the front and attached as though it is “floating” within the frame. The big advantage of tray frames is that they do not have glass so the full extent of the artwork can be seen without being obscured by reflections.

Tray frames come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Of course, you can get your work framed at your local framer, but a much more versatile and budget friendly option is to assemble the frame yourself.

This article will explain and detail the various ways you can frame your artwork using a tray frame, be it on board or on canvas.

Lizet’s materials

•An Easyframe 12mm barefaced canvas floater frame

•A tape measure

•Thin strips of 18mm wood

•Gorilla two-part epoxy glue

•60-grit sandpaper

•Cambridge Traditional beeswax

•Off cuts of foamboard