I used this Covid-19 summer to take a break from volleyball and put my mental and physical health as a priority. During this time, I was able to tap into other passions of mine that have been until now taking the back seat.
This opportunity finally allowed me to step into my dad's sweet garage workshop and collaborate with his wood working expertise. My particular skills of choice have mostly surrounded that of charcoal supplies and paint brushes, though I had always wanted to extend my craft out to the world of wood- working. Who else to better learn from than a one Papa Dowd!
I was currently working on the "My Cowboy" project for a client when the idea of custom frame work came to mind. I was finishing up the drawing when I realized that the Presentation of the piece was going to be just as important as the drawing itself.
The more I work on a piece, the more personal connection I begin to form with it. The idea that there's a story lying within each paint stroke and charcoal blend is what makes Dowd Creatives so unique. I wanted to continue this personal touch all the way through to the structure of the art as well.
**Custom Framework is available upon request for additional pricing.**
Float Mounting:
We decided to display the "My Cowboy" piece using what's called the "Float Mounting" technique. This is where the art sits on top of the matting, instead of getting partially overlapped by the matte borders. You can choose to float mount for a number of reasons! A popular reason is to make the impression that the piece is floating within the frame, almost like a shallow, shadow box type of feel. You can also choose to float matte if the drawing or painting goes all the way to the edges of the paper. This way, you do not lose any part of the artwork when it gets matted and bordered.
Raised Look:
In order to get the floating look, space needs to be made between the matte border sheet and the artwork, as well as between the artwork and the glass casing. For space beneath the artwork, all you need is a left over heavy duty Home Depot cardboard box, and some double stick tape. We cut out small pieces of the thick cardboard and taped them beneath the artwork to the matte border sheet. The cardboard raised the artwork nearly half an inch, thus establishing the floating appearance.
Spacers:
It was then time to add "spacers" on the edges in between the wooden frame and the art piece. The spacers are about half an inch high with adhesive tape on either side. One sticky side attaches to the matte border paper, while the other sticks to the glass casing as seen below.
Layers:
The order of the frame elements go as followed: 1. Bottom: Backing of the frame
2. Matte border layer (heavy- duty)
3. Taped cardboard
4. Artwork
5. Glass Casing
6. Spacers (with adhesive one side to the matte paper and one to the glass cover)
Cuts: Since hardwood can endure more activity, we started with a 2" x 2" plank of maple wood. To fit the three main layers of stoppers, a series of router cuts needed to be made.
Sand and Color:
With some light sanding and a couple coats of black latex- based paint, the frame was ready for assembly. I designed the outer appearance of the frame to be rather simple because the drawing itself consisted of such detail. (The Dowd workshop supplies framework of all intricate designs upon request and additional pricing).
A presentation to Remember:
This is a feeling that I will never forget. Unveiling my work to my very first recipient was one of the most wholesome moments I have ever experienced. It really proved that art has the power to connect us all.
*Custom frames are available upon request*
Customized handcrafted frames and glass covers available upon request for additional purchase. Please visit the Contact to reach out for inquiries.
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