The Miniature Muse
by Sweet Pea Paintings Co
Hello! My name is Sadie Pennell, the miniature watercolorist behind Sweet Pea Paintings Co and author of The Miniature Muse. I paint pieces the size of a quarter or smaller. With pieces so small, I put a lot of consideration into framing as I want to not only bring attention to my tiny pieces, but amplify their beauty through gorgeous, and often times, ornate frames...but framing can be expensive! I am going to share with you my top 4 tips for framing gallery quality pieces on a budget.
Edith White Inspired Cat, Miniature Watercolor Painting, 2.4cm x 2.4cm
Let's dive in.
1. Thrift stores are your best friend.
I have been painting professionally for six years and only recently did I discover the absolute magic that are thrift stores for framing purposes. Depending on where you live, there are likely a variety of thrift stores in your area; from chains like Goodwill and The Arc, to local thrift stores. Check. Them. Out.
When planning our wedding for June of 2022, I wanted to save as much money as possible without necessarily sacrificing beautiful décor. When searching through DIY videos for wedding décor, I started coming across video after video of thrifted wedding décor finds. After watching about 20 of them, I headed off to my nearest thrift store, The Arc. I thrifted brass candle sticks, votive holders, and...you guessed it...frames. There was a massive selection of frames and I found what I was looking for with ease; a 5x7 frame for a polaroid camera sign, a 16x20 wood frame I turned into a polaroid hanging station, and a couple 4x6 frames to hold photos of us. Now let's jump ahead to August of 2023.
Upon entering a call for entry for miniature pieces, I wanted to upgrade my current Michaels and Hobby lobby miniature frames to something more unique? vintage? ornate? I immediately thought back to my time thrifting for our wedding and thought, why not see what they have before paying the big bucks for new or custom framing?
To The Arc!
The Arc is a chain thrift store in Col0rado with several locations around Colorado Springs. I checked out the majority of them. At each one, I found gorgeous vintage frames for a fraction of the price you could find anywhere else. On certain days of the week, that thrift store may even do additional discounts! On Saturdays, The Arc puts 4 of 6 tag colors at half off! See this 5x7 frame below? I spent $2.00 on the frame and $2.50 for the pre-cut mats from Hobby Lobby (more on mats below), totaling $4.50 for this stunning arrangement for my watercolor chocolate chip muffin.
Chocolate Chip Muffin, Miniature Watercolor Painting, 2.4cm x 2.4cm
Now, don't get me wrong, thrifting is never guaranteed, and often takes some hunting, but you will find pieces you may not be able to find anywhere else. Our gallery wall is now completely made up of thrifted frames, totaling about $30 in frames. At 12 frames, that averages $2.50 per frame. Pretty incredible right?
It gets better.
Our growing home gallery wall made up of entirely thrifted frames
2. Do Pre-Cut Mats (for the artist that doesn't want to cut their own, AKA, me).
Elevating your artwork is more than just a pretty frame. Mats are a phenomenal way to take your artwork up a notch and add that elegance to the work within. Who here has ever paid to get a custom-cut mat from Michaels or Hobby Lobby? If you said "Me...", you my friend are not alone. And it costs. I have been fortunate in that my paintings are small, costing the minimum price of $10 for each custom cut mat. However, that adds up incredibly quickly. If at all possible, try to size your artwork at standard framing sizes (2.5"x3", 5"x7", 8"x10", and on) so when you go to purchase a mat, you can pay around $5.00 per pre-cut, off the shelf mats. Hobby Lobby and Michaels sell a great variety of sizes in a couple simple colors. However, Michaels consistently offers coupons on regular priced items (mats) while Hobby Lobby's mats never go on sale and they don't do coupons...So keep that in mind.
Who knows, you may even find a frame that already has a mat like these two pieces below! Score!
Frame & Mat: $2.00
Frame & Mat: $0.99
3. Get Dust Covers and Wire-backings.
Thrifting frames is seriously where it's at. But keep in mind that while the frame can be stunning, the back of the frame might either need to be removed or replaced depending on what's back there. Don't shy away from a beautiful frame just because of the monstrosity that may be the back. Take for example these two square pieces below. These frames originally contained a mirror that was sealed in with cardboard, nails, and beat up construction paper backing. All it took to remove it was an Exact-o-knife, some plyers to remove the nails, and voila! But what do you do when you put your new artwork in and want to close it back up? Consider how you want to hang your pieces and choose a hanging method. I always gravitate towards adding a wire. Why? You never have to worry about hammering two nails in that are perfectly level. If you are an artist that occasionally submits pieces to galleries, most only accept wired backs. To me, that's the way to go. You can absolutely do this yourself. But if you don't yet know how or don't have the tools, take your otherwise fully assembled and cleaned piece to Hobby Lobby and they will put a dust cover and wire backing on for $3.00 no matter the size.
IMPORTANT: Otherwise fully assembled and cleaned. If they have to add a foam board to level out the back or clean your glass, you will definitely be paying quite a bit more- $9 for the foam board itself and installation and a $10 cleaning fee.
4. If you are framing for your home or a series to be put in an exhibition, consider framing according to a certain style and be open to a fixer upper.
As I am sure you've surmised by now, I love gold and wood frames varying from simple to more ornate styles. I framed all of my home pieces in the same style I framed my exhibition pieces for galleries. Vintage elegance is my jam so I work to find frames that adhere to that aesthetic.
You might be thinking, "That's great, but that is NOT my style." Maybe your style is farmhouse, you love black and white, boho, shabby chic, etc. Of course, look for frames that naturally fit the aesthetic or color scheme you are going for. BUT...If you find a frame whose bones you love but not the color, consider getting it anyway. It is incredible what a coat of matte chalk paint (spray paint or liquid can) or an antique metallic spray paint can do. This requires some vision but can come out l0oking one-of-a-kind gorgeous.
Left: Pancake Breakfast, Miniature Watercolor Painting, 2.4cm x 2.4cm (Miniature Exhibition Submission)
Right: Miniaturized Soul of the Rose, Miniature Watercolor Painting, 1.7cm x 1.8cm (Miniature Exhibition Submission)
Happy hunting!
Framing secondhand can take some time, searching, and elbow grease, but it can save you a ton of money, all while adding a truly professional feel to your artwork. I'd love to hear from you! Have you ever considered thrifting your frames? Have you or will you try it? Let me know by commenting below!
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I never would have thought. I know where I'm going this weekend! 😯 Thanks for the tips!