This course will introduce the basics of framing; how to choose mounting and frame styles, and how to cut and join a frame using standard framing equipment equipment. It will cover different materials and how they will interact with your artwork, how to select the most suitable mounting, glazing and style of frame. Attention will be brought to issues of preservation which are often overlooked in DIY framing, as well as the aesthetic considerations when making colour and material choices.

Students are invited to bring up to four works on paper, which they can select from and frame during the course. These should be could be photographs, a watercolours, prints, poems, flyers, postcards or other mementos. Small canvases or works on panel or board may also be possible.

Options will be explained when there is more than one material or method, and why you might to choose one over the other.

You will learn how to calculate your frame size with the addition of a mount, cut mitres and join a frame that is structurally secure and perfectly sized. Students will also have the opportunity to cut glass to size, as well as a bevelled window mount. Mounting methods and decoration such as wash-lines, painted bevels and float mounting may also be covered, and students will be able to learn about methods and styles they may have particular interest in.

By the end of the course you will have something ready to hang on your wall and a good idea of the trade, whether it is something you have an interest in doing professionally or for your own framing needs.