When it comes to showcasing art, the frame plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall presentation. One popular choice among collectors is the floater frame. This type of frame is great because it doesn't require any of the painting surface to be behind the frame structure. It literally floats so you can see all the edges and detail. But how exactly can you frame art with a floater frame to achieve that professional gallery look? Let's dive into the details.
A floater frame is a type of frame that creates the illusion that the artwork is floating within the frame. It consists of a frame with a gap between the edge of the artwork and the frame itself, giving the artwork a unique and modern appearance, as well as room to breath. I looks a little like a shadow box frame if you're familiar with those.
Floater frames add an additional design element to the painting and your gallery wall. The recessed area (vs. the front surface) can be in contrasting colors, or all solid, like in my example from my reel below. When choosing contrast really think about this option. Here are a couple examples from my Shifted Perspective a collection.
This is probably the hardest part of the process. Every floater frame maker describes their dimensions a little differently. Below I illustrate the dimensions that matter the most. When measuring, jot down both the inches down to 1/8", and the metric dimensions. Depending upon the maker of the frame, they may only use metric.
Painting Dimensions
height x width, (aka front facing dimensions)
depth, (aka the side dimension)
Frame Dimensions
Frame listings will first list the dimension of the frame itself. The gold tone below would represent the outside height and width, but you can also specify depth. Deeper floater frames can be very dramatic. The listing should say what size canvas or panel it can accommodate.
Note that the depth dimensions are key. See the illustration with the blue canvas sitting on the cradle level. Floater frames can accommodate deeper or more shallow paintings. Worst case is the dimension from face down to cradle is more than the depth of your painting. You can use blocks and other tricks to raise the painting to be flush with the face.
There are a few other things to consider. The width of the face is an important element of consideration. You can achieve a very bold look with a wide face to the frame. It doesn't have to be equal to the float or shadow width. Also the surfaces within the shadow can be contrasting, or matching to the face. The face surface can be painted, like in the illustration above. For that matter though, the entire thing can be painted however you'd like. You can easily find unfinished floater frames so you an customize it to your needs.
What About Panels and Prints?
If you have purchased an original piece of art on a panel or have an art print you want in a floater frame, there are a couple tricks. Let's start with panel. The easiest way for me to describe this is to show it. Check out the reels below where I demonstrate this.
Similar to what is pictured in these reels, you can do the same with a paper art print piece. Purchase a cradled wood canvas that is the exactly same dimension as your print. To attach the print to the wood canvas, you're going to head to your nearest art supply store and purchase some Gel Medium. I use Golden Gel Matte Medium, but Mod Podge can also work. However the Gel Medium will be archival and is meant for art.
Just be very careful when you apply this to your art piece. It is recommended to apply the adhesive to both the wood canvas and the art. Make sure your finger tips are clean when you prepare to lay down the art onto the canvas. You don't want sticky fingers to stain your art piece on the front. It does take some steady hands.
I often paint the wood panel to either match the art or the floater area. In most cases you won't want the white of the cradled panel to show.
Attaching Art to the Frame
Once you have the right size frame, carefully place your artwork within the frame to ensure the size is accurate. It's never a snug fit, nor should it be, so to secure the artwork while you prepare for attachment, stuff some folded over cardboard between all sides to create tension and keep it in position. You may also use archival tape or painter's tape, then the cardboard. You don't want the canvas to hug one side and make your frame job look off center.
For attachment, you can use super glue, if you think you'll never want to change it. Many floater frames come with predrilled holes and screws to attach it directly. I share my favorites in a shopping guide below.
Hanging
When hanging a floater framed piece of art you have a few options. The frame will come with kits & wire. You can use a bracket or even eye screws. See the images below. These are the easiest. Make sure to add tiny rubber or felt dots to prevent it from marring your walls.
Displaying Your Art
Once you have framed your artwork in your floater frame, it's time to display it! Make sure the artwork is at eye level for optimal viewing, of in a gallery wall situation that the entire collection is at eye level, usually about 55" to the center of your collection.
Floater frames are a great way to create variety and depth on a gallery wall. Consider metallics or color to further enhance your design scheme. Hang your framed artwork on the wall using appropriate hanging hardware and enjoy the fruits of your labor! The floating effect adds a touch of "art gallery" sophistication to your space, making any piece of art a stunning focal point.
