Frame Finds for Your Next Art Show

There are so many frame options out there to match your artist style and artist budget. No matter your circumstance, there is a frame for you. I’ve now seen frames through the eyes of an eager university art student, the vision of a new elementary art teacher and the lens of an older practicing artist. Your style and needs may change over the years, but information on how to find what you’re looking for will always be relevant. 

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE POLICY FOR MORE INFORMATION.

When to get a frame for your art

This could feel like a silly question for some, but it is something to consider. Do I want to buy my frame before I make my art and use the dimensions to guide my art making? Thus I will already know that the components of framing my completed art piece will all work seamlessly together.  Alternatively, do I want to buy a frame after I make art and have it match the size of my art? The second method may require a different approach to the acquisition of your frame especially if you have not worked on paper that complements standard frame sizes. I have tried to do this both ways. 

Browsing frames at large retail stores

Just like there are different styles of art, there are different preferences for artists. Frames can be found in many large retail stores, like Michaels and Hobby Lobby, which are usually the more readily available spaces if you live in smaller areas without access to other options. I remember my art school was in a small town and the only available art frames were 30 minutes away in the next town. You could shop at the local Walmart, always an option, but sometimes their selection was non-existent for pieces the size of a poster. Having to add a trip to the next town onto my list was always tough, especially while balancing school and work. The only other option was to go further into Dallas which was 45 min away, so many extra steps, but available if needed. This was almost 10 years ago and now I’ve seen options for nice frames even at the local Target. The accessibility has been amazing and closing the gap for an artist’s style and budget.

Purchase a frame from a local artist

Elder artists in my community who have been in the art world longer than I’ve been alive have created beautiful partnerships with fellow artists to create specialty frames. The costs can vary bearing on what kind of percentages you agree on with your frame artist and what their terms in pricing for creating the frame or if there’s a commission added to your final price sale at the gallery. I am working on being able to form that kind of relationship. I’m a little shy and awkward, but one day I’m gonna do it. You can look up local artists in your area that specialize in woodworking and commission them to make a frame. When I finally get a chance to try it myself I’ll add a new blog post about it.

Build a frame with your local art store

In larger cities I have found that specialty art stores like Jerry’s Artarama and Posner’s Art Store are available for custom framing services. This was so fun for me to use as an older artist because it was finally in my budget range. Gone were the days of my art student budget. I could stare at a wall of frame corners to see their sleek edges, their beveled curves and ask questions about price, weight and design to a professional framer. This was by far my favorite experience in acquiring frames. If you have never tried this method, I highly recommend it. My beautifully framed Wild and Free is absolutely gorgeous that I now hang above our piano in the reading room.

Finding Frames in unlikely places

I have not done this personally, as I am pressed for time especially with two little kids, but I have watched so many wonderful stories unravel on social media of frame finds in unlikely places. And I’ve seen frames found in thrift shops, second hand stores and garage sales. I hope to browse those spaces more often when both my kids are older, in school and I have more time for art exploration.

Accessible frame finds online

When the pandemic shut down happened in 2020 there was a huge adjustment to life at home and more thoughtful planning in purchases. We needed to explore the online world more and I found amazon frames to be perfect for our home gallery with our children. After joining a printmaking community in town, I began to learn more from older artists in my community who were more practiced in ordering frames online. I learned it was a more accessible option for many and I decided to try it too. There are great options from Blicks online and they come well packaged and wrapped so you have no issues.

No matter where you decide to find them, make sure the frame adds emphasis and complements your art piece.