Can you frame a canvas board painting yourself? Yes, you absolutely can frame a canvas board painting yourself with some basic tools and a little patience. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right frame to securely mounting your artwork. Whether you have a small study or a large masterpiece, these DIY canvas framing techniques will help you achieve a professional look without the hefty price tag of custom canvas framing.
Why Frame Your Canvas Board Painting?
Framing isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s also about protection. A well-chosen frame can:
- Enhance the Artwork: The right frame draws attention to your painting, making it stand out and look more polished.
- Protect from Damage: Frames offer a barrier against dust, dirt, UV rays (if you use UV-protective glass), and accidental bumps.
- Complement Your Decor: A frame can tie your artwork into the existing style of your room.
- Add Value: Professionally framed artwork often commands a higher price if you ever decide to sell it.
Choosing Your Framing Style
There are several popular ways to frame a canvas board. The best choice for you will depend on your artwork’s style, your personal taste, and the desired look for your space.
Traditional Framing
This involves a frame with a lip that covers the edges of the canvas board.
- Pros: Offers maximum protection, classic look, wide variety of styles and materials.
- Cons: Can sometimes obscure a small portion of the artwork’s edge if not measured precisely.
Floating Frame Canvas
This creates a “floating” effect where the canvas appears to hover within the frame, with a small gap around the edges. This is a very popular choice for gallery wrap canvas pieces.
- Pros: Modern and elegant, showcases the full canvas, no part of the artwork is covered.
- Cons: Requires precise measurements and careful attachment to avoid the canvas appearing “off-center.”
Shadow Box Canvas
Ideal for artwork with texture or if you want to add other elements alongside the painting. The canvas sits within a deeper frame, creating a “shadow box” effect.
- Pros: Adds depth and dimension, can protect textured artwork, allows for added memorabilia.
- Cons: Requires a deeper frame, can be more complex to assemble.
Essential Tools and Materials for DIY Canvas Framing
Before you begin, gather everything you’ll need. This makes the process smoother.
Tools:
- Measuring Tape: For accurate measurements of your canvas and frame.
- Picture Framing Wire or D-rings: For hanging.
- Screwdriver: Small Phillips or flathead, depending on your hardware.
- Hammer: For tapping in small nails or brads.
- Miter Saw or Hand Saw with Miter Box: For cutting frame molding at precise 45-degree angles (if you’re building your own frame from molding).
- Staple Gun (Optional): Useful for securing backing materials.
- Utility Knife or Craft Knife: For trimming excess materials.
- Safety Glasses: Always protect your eyes, especially when cutting.
- Clamps (Optional but Recommended): To hold frame pieces together while glue dries or you add fasteners.
- Wood Glue: For joining frame corners.
- Sandpaper (various grits): For smoothing rough edges.
- Paint or Stain (if customizing frame color):
- Brushes: For applying paint or stain.
- Rag: For wiping excess stain or glue.
- Level: To ensure your finished piece hangs straight.
- Pencil: For marking measurements.
Materials:
- Canvas Board Painting: Your artwork!
- Picture Frame Molding: If building your own frame. Choose a style and width that complements your painting.
- Pre-made Frame: If you’re not building from scratch, you can buy a standard frame and modify it, or buy a frame specifically designed for canvas framing.
- Mounting Board or Foam Core: To provide a stable backing if needed.
- Mounting Tape or Adhesive: Acid-free, for securing the canvas to the backing.
- Backing Material: Such as mat board or acid-free paper.
- Glass or Acrylic Sheet (Optional): For added protection against dust and UV rays.
- Frame Hardware: D-rings, screws, wire for hanging.
Method 1: Framing a Canvas Board with a Pre-Made Frame
This is the simplest method, especially if you can find a frame that’s almost the right size.
Step 1: Measure Your Canvas Board
Measure the width and height of your canvas board precisely. Measure the depth as well, as this is important for fitting it into the frame.
Step 2: Select Your Pre-Made Frame
- Size: Look for a frame that is slightly larger than your canvas board. For traditional framing, you want the opening of the frame to be the exact size of your canvas. For a floating frame canvas, you’ll want a frame that is a few inches larger in both width and height than your canvas, and deep enough to accommodate the canvas board.
- Depth: Ensure the rabbet (the groove inside the frame where the artwork sits) is deep enough to hold your canvas board securely.
Step 3: Prepare the Frame (If Necessary)
- Cutting Down a Larger Frame: If your pre-made frame is too large, you can carefully cut it down to size using a miter saw or a miter box and hand saw. You’ll need to cut each side at a 45-degree angle to create new corners.
- Painting or Staining: If you want to change the color of the frame, now is the time. Lightly sand the frame, wipe it clean, and apply your chosen paint or stain. Allow it to dry completely according to the product instructions.
Step 4: Assemble the Frame (If Cut Down)
If you cut your frame pieces, you’ll need to join the corners.
- Apply wood glue to the mitered edges.
- Hold the corners together firmly. Use clamps if you have them.
- Reinforce the corners with small nails (brads) or framing points. Ensure the nails go in straight.
- Wipe away any excess glue immediately with a damp cloth.
- Let the glue dry completely.
Step 5: Mount the Canvas Board
For Traditional Framing:
- Place the Canvas: Carefully place your canvas board into the assembled frame.
- Secure the Backing: If the frame came with a backing board, place it over the canvas.
- Fasten: Use small nails or brads to secure the backing board to the frame. Hammer them in gently, ensuring they don’t go through the front of the frame or damage the canvas. You can also use staple gun if it provides a cleaner finish for your particular frame.
- Alternative Securing: Some frames come with flexible tabs that you bend to hold the artwork in place.
For Floating Frame Canvas:
- Attach D-Rings or Mounting Hardware: Turn your canvas board over. Measure in from the sides of the canvas about one-quarter of the way and screw in D-rings. Ensure they are at the same height on both sides.
- Attach Hanging Wire: Thread picture framing wire through the D-rings and twist it securely. Leave enough slack so the wire doesn’t show above the top of the frame when hung.
- Prepare the Frame: Ensure the inside of the frame is clean.
- Position the Canvas: Place the canvas inside the frame, ensuring there’s an even gap all around.
- Secure the Canvas: This is the trickiest part. You need to attach the canvas to the back of the frame without piercing the front of the canvas. The best way to do this is by using small brackets or L-shaped metal pieces.
- Place the canvas where you want it.
- Hold a bracket against the back edge of the frame and the edge of the canvas board.
- Screw the bracket into both the frame and the canvas board (pre-drilling small pilot holes in the canvas board can help prevent splitting).
- Repeat this at several points around the perimeter of the canvas. The goal is to hold it securely in place while keeping it centered.
Step 6: Add Hanging Hardware
- Measure and Mark: On the back of the frame, measure down from the top of the frame to where you want the wire to sit. Mark the center.
- Attach Hooks/Screws: Screw in appropriate picture-hanging hooks or eye screws at your marked points.
- Attach Wire: Thread picture framing wire through the hooks or screws and twist it securely. Ensure there’s enough slack for the painting to hang flat, but not so much that the wire is visible above the frame.
Method 2: Building a DIY Canvas Frame from Molding
This method gives you complete control over the look and size of your frame. It’s a great way to achieve custom canvas framing on a budget.
Step 1: Measure Your Canvas Board
Again, precise measurements are key. Note the width, height, and depth of your canvas board.
Step 2: Choose and Purchase Molding
- Material: Wood molding is common. You can find it at hardware stores or specialty lumber yards.
- Style: Choose a profile that complements your artwork. Consider whether you want a flat, ornate, or simple profile.
- Width: The width of the molding will affect the overall look. Wider molding can make a bold statement, while narrower molding is more subtle.
- Depth: Ensure the depth of the molding is at least as deep as your canvas board.
Step 3: Cut the Molding
This is where precision is crucial. You need to cut four pieces of molding at 45-degree angles to form a rectangle.
- Measure and Mark: For each piece of molding, measure from the inside edge of the frame to the point where you want the corner to be. This measurement will be the inner dimension of your frame (your canvas board’s width or height).
- Use a Miter Saw or Miter Box: Set your saw or miter box to 45 degrees.
- Make the Cuts:
- Start with one end of a molding piece. Set your saw/box to 45 degrees and cut.
- Measure the required inside length.
- Set your saw/box to the opposite 45-degree angle and make the cut.
- Repeat for all four sides, ensuring you alternate the direction of the 45-degree cut so you create a rectangular frame.
Tip: It’s often best to cut the pieces slightly long and then trim them down to the exact size after checking the fit. This avoids wasting molding if your initial cuts are slightly off.
Step 4: Assemble the Frame Corners
- Dry Fit: Place the four cut pieces together to ensure they form a perfect rectangle with no gaps at the corners.
- Apply Glue: Apply wood glue to the mitered edges of the frame pieces.
- Join the Corners: Bring the pieces together. Use corner clamps or a framing vise to hold them securely. If you don’t have clamps, you can use strong tape to hold the corners together while the glue dries.
- Reinforce (Optional but Recommended): For extra strength, you can add small brads or corner splines (thin triangular strips of wood glued into a pre-cut groove across the joint).
- Wipe Excess Glue: Clean up any glue that squeezes out with a damp cloth.
- Let it Dry: Allow the glue to dry completely for at least several hours, or overnight for maximum strength.
Step 5: Sand and Finish the Frame
- Sand: Once the glue is dry, lightly sand the entire frame, paying attention to the corners and any rough edges. Start with a medium-grit sandpaper (around 120-150) and finish with a finer grit (220) for a smooth finish.
- Clean: Wipe away all the dust with a tack cloth or a slightly damp cloth.
- Paint or Stain: Apply your chosen paint or stain. You may need multiple coats. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.
- Seal (Optional): You can apply a clear sealant or varnish for extra protection and a professional finish.
Step 6: Mount the Canvas Board (DIY Frame)
This is very similar to the pre-made frame method, depending on whether you want a traditional or floating look.
Traditional Framing:
- Reinforce the Rabbet (If needed): If your DIY frame doesn’t have a natural lip, you can add one by gluing thin strips of wood along the inside edges.
- Place Canvas: Position your canvas board into the frame’s rabbet.
- Secure: Use small nails, brads, or staple gun to secure the canvas board from the back, going into the frame.
Floating Frame Canvas:
- Attach Canvas to Backing (Optional): For added stability in a floating frame, you can adhere your canvas board to a piece of rigid foam core or thin plywood using acid-free mounting tape or spray adhesive. Ensure the backing is cut to the exact size of your canvas board.
- Position and Attach: Place the canvas (with or without backing) inside your DIY frame. Ensure there’s an even gap all around.
- Use Brackets: Use small metal L-brackets or corner braces. Position them so they attach to the back of the frame and the back of the canvas board (or its backing). Screw them in place. Make sure the screws are short enough not to go through the front of your canvas.
Step 7: Add Hanging Hardware
Follow the same steps as outlined in Method 1, Step 6.
Advanced Framing Techniques
For those who want to explore beyond the basic methods:
Stretching a Canvas
If your artwork is on a canvas roll and not a board, you’ll need to stretch it onto a wooden stretcher bar frame first. This is a different process but equally rewarding for achieving a true gallery wrap canvas look.
- Process: The canvas is pulled taut over wooden stretcher bars and stapled to the back. The excess canvas is then folded and stapled, creating a clean edge.
- Tools: Stretcher bars, canvas pliers, staple gun, staples, scissors.
Using a Mat Board
A mat board can be used with traditional frames to create a wider border around your artwork, giving it more breathing room and a classic gallery look.
- Process: You’ll need a frame that is larger than your canvas board, plus a custom-cut mat board with an opening the size of your canvas. The canvas is mounted to a backing board, which is then placed behind the mat.
- Considerations: Use acid-free mat board to protect your artwork. The mat opening needs to be slightly smaller than your canvas so the edges are covered.
Glass and Glazing
For extra protection, especially for valuable or delicate pieces, you can add glass or acrylic glazing to your frame.
- Types: Standard glass, UV-protective glass, anti-reflective glass, acrylic (plexi-glass) which is lighter and shatter-resistant.
- Mounting: The glass sits directly against the artwork or mat. Ensure your artwork is mounted with spacers if it’s textured or could touch the glass.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the best way to hang a framed canvas board?
The best way to hang a framed canvas board is by using a strong picture hanging wire attached to D-rings or eye screws secured to the back of the frame. Ensure the wire is rated for the weight of your framed artwork. Use the wire’s slack to allow the frame to hang flat against the wall. For heavier pieces, consider using wall anchors or finding wall studs.
Q2: Can I frame a canvas board without covering the edges?
Yes, you can frame a canvas board without covering the edges using a floating frame canvas technique. This involves mounting the canvas onto a backing board and then attaching it to the inside back of a larger frame, leaving a gap around all sides.
Q3: How do I clean a framed canvas board?
For the frame itself, dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth. For the artwork, if it’s behind glass or acrylic, you can clean the glazing with a glass cleaner, being careful not to spray directly onto the frame or artwork. If the artwork is not behind glass, a very soft brush or a gentle dusting with a microfiber cloth is usually best, but always test in an inconspicuous area first or consult a professional if the artwork is valuable.
Q4: What is a gallery wrap canvas?
A gallery wrap canvas is a painting where the canvas is stretched over stretcher bars and the edges are wrapped around the sides and stapled on the back. This creates a clean, frameless look that can be hung as is or placed in a floating frame.
Q5: How do I attach a canvas to a backing board for framing?
Use acid-free mounting tape or spray adhesive. Apply the adhesive evenly to either the backing board or the back of the canvas. Carefully align the canvas onto the backing board and press firmly to ensure good adhesion. Make sure the backing board is the same size as your canvas.
Q6: What are the different framing techniques for canvas boards?
Common framing techniques include traditional framing (where the frame lip covers the canvas edge), floating frames (creating a gap around the canvas), and shadow boxes (for adding depth or display items alongside the artwork).
Q7: How thick should a frame for a canvas board be?
The thickness of the frame depends on the depth of your canvas board and the style you want. For traditional frames, the rabbet depth needs to be at least the depth of your canvas board. For floating frames, the frame’s depth needs to be sufficient to house the canvas board, allowing for the desired gap.
Q8: Where can I buy affordable DIY framing supplies?
Affordable supplies can be found at craft stores, hardware stores, art supply stores, and online retailers like Amazon, Blick Art Materials, and Jerry’s Artarama. Look for sales and consider buying molding in longer lengths if you plan to frame multiple pieces.
By following these detailed steps and framing techniques, you can transform your canvas board paintings into beautifully presented pieces of art. Enjoy the satisfaction of a DIY canvas frame that perfectly complements your artwork and your home!