How to Frame Portraits in Pencil

Pencil portraits can make striking pieces of art.

Pencil portraits can range in subject matter from beloved pets or a treasured partner to family members or favorite celebrities. Whatever the subject matter, making pencil portraits is a sure fire way to improve your artistic skills and fill up any spare wall spaces. Picking the right frame for your portraits can help enhance their beauty.

Instructions

1. Frame your pencil portrait in a pale surrounding mount. A mount is a thick border between a photograph or portrait and the surrounding frame. Most framing companies have a selection of pale color mounts available including ivory, cream and magnolia. Pick a pale color that blends in with the room’s decor for best results.

2. Hang your pencil portrait in a double-mounted frame. Double-mounted frames have a color surrounding the main image, with an additional thick outline around the perimeter edge of the picture inside. Choose two colors that complement each other for striking results.

3. Install your pencil portrait in a silver or dark-colored frame. These colors naturally complement the greyness of pencil portraits and create an attractive, old-fashioned effect. Select a double mount and use a white inlay to complement the black frame border.

4. Place pencil portraits with pale-colored mounts in wooden frames. Wooden frames create a warm, homey feel and provide an attractive contrast to pale mounts.

5. Frame portraits in oval mounts. Portraits of children or of bald people tend to look better in oval frames as the head shape naturally complements the shape of the frame.

6. Pick mount and frame colors to suit the mood of a portrait. For instance, choose a light blue finish for images of a baby boy or a rich red image to signify love and passion for a romantic portrait.

7. Select plain black and white frames for colored pencil portraits. This will allow the colors in the pictures to come to the surface. Choose a frame that matches the most resonant image in the colored sketch if you would prefer a colored frame. For instance, choose a red frame if the portrait is of a woman wearing a striking red dress.

References

• Pencil Sketch: Framing Pencil Portraits