How to Float a Painting in a Frame
A float frame or L-frame is perfect for presenting contemporary artwork on stretched canvas. The float frame gets its name because the canvas appears to be floating within the frame. Using an espresso, black or white frame complements the artwork and your home décor because the frame’s neutral color offsets the art from its surroundings.
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Things You'll Need
- Canvas artwork
- Measuring tape
- Picture framer saw or miter saw
- Picture framer clamp or screw clamps
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Sandpaper
- L-shaped wood strips or builder’s molding
- Paint or varnish
- Pencil
- Paper
- Towel
- Hammer
- Finishing nails
Instructions
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Measure the height and width of your canvas as well as the width of your molding. Accurate measurements are very important. To calculate the amount of molding that is necessary to make the float frame, add ten times the width of the molding to the perimeter of your canvas. For instance, an 11-by-14-inch stretched canvas with 2-inch molding would be calculated as 2x (11 + 14) + 10 x 2 = 70 inches of molding.
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Cut each side of your L-shaped wood frame at a 45-degree angle with the picture framer saw or miter saw. The inside edge of the frame will now measure 1 inch less than the dimension of the artwork that you are framing. For example, the inside edge of the frame for an 11-by-14-inch stretched canvas will measure 10 by 13 inches.
Optionally, you can allow for an additional 1/2-inch framing offset to both the height and width of your canvas. To do so for an 11-by-14-inch stretched canvas, the inside edge of the frame will be 11½ by 14½ inches. By doing so, there will be a 1/4-inch of space between the canvas and the float frame.
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Apply wood glue to the 45-degree angles of the L-shaped molding. Assemble the frame on a flat surface and wipe off any excess glue. Clamp the frame with the picture framer clamp or screw clamps, and let the glue “cure” or dry for six to eight hours.
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Remove the clamp from the frame once the glue is dry. Use the wood filler to cover any imperfections in the frame. Sandpaper the frame when the wood filler is dry to smooth the surface.
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Coat the frame with varnish or paint. When the varnish or paint is dry, lightly sand it, and then apply another coat. Repeat until you achieve your desired shade of color.
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Lay the frame on its face on a flat surface. Measure the back of the molding to locate the placement of the finishing nails, and mark it with a pencil. One nail on each side of the frame should be sufficient.
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Turn the frame over so it is face up and insert the stretched canvas. Insert folded paper in between the artwork and the inside of the frame to achieve uniform spacing for the offset.
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Lay a towel on a flat surface to protect the artwork from damage. Lay the frame and artwork on its face again. Hammer the finishing nails into the canvas stretcher bars to secure the artwork.
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Tips & Warnings
Order float frame material online or at a framing store if you prefer not build your own float frame.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
