An entry · Work it
Picture Framer
The quiet trade that decides how you will meet a picture, and then disappears so the picture can speak.
Why the human is the point
A picture framer's best work is the work you never notice, the join you cannot find, the mat that makes a small drawing feel important. Every choice is a judgment about the art in front of them, this wood and not that, this width of breathing room, glass that guards without glaring. They cut mitres to a whisker, because a frame that is a hair out of square announces itself, and a good frame never should. What they are really protecting is somebody's memory or somebody's masterpiece, and they treat both with the same care. It is hospitality in wood and glass, made by a person who wants your picture to outlive you both.
Work it
Do the work.
Jobs, apprenticeships, and training that put a person in the room.
On now
- Association
Professional Picture Framers Association membership
Professional Picture Framers Association · United States
The long standing trade association for custom framers offers certification, a helpline, and a warm community you can join as a framer.
- Association
Fine Art Trade Guild membership
Fine Art Trade Guild · United Kingdom
Britain's trade guild for framers offers the Guild Certified Framer qualification, a technical helpline, and a directory you can join as a professional framer.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship
Framing-shop apprenticeship
Independent frame shops commonly train newcomers on the job, from cutting mats and mitres to fitting, sealing, and hanging.
- Course
Framing and mounting course
Trade bodies and art colleges run courses in conservation framing, mount cutting, and moulding joinery for those starting out.
- Entry job
Gallery workroom job
Galleries and print studios hire framing-room assistants, a dependable way to learn the craft while surrounded by art.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasLive it
Live the hour.
Experiences, classes, and places where the presence is the whole point.
On now
- Workshop
Complete Picture Framing Academy workshops
Charleston Frames · Hanahan, South Carolina
Learn to cut mats, mount art, and assemble a real frame in a hands on framing academy class near Charleston.
- Course
Picture framing and mounting for beginners
City Lit · London, United Kingdom
Learn to cut and join a frame, cut mount board, and present artwork properly in a friendly beginners framing course in central London.
Ways in
- Workshop
Mount-cutting workshop
Some art centers offer a short workshop where you cut a bevel mat and assemble a simple frame for your own print.
- Community
Frame your own piece
Community makerspaces with a framing bench let you build a frame for a picture you love, guided by a resident framer.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasKept nearby
