How to Start an Art Framing Career

An art framing career is often the outgrowth of a fine art career, since artists often learn to frame their own art to save money. Framing art, though, is also an excellent career to pursue for its own sake. No formal schooling is required to begin an art framing career. A keen interest, hard work and some aptitude will take you far in this art related field.

Instructions

1. Assess your aptitude for an art framing career. To succeed in art framing you'll need an intuitive eye for design and color. You'll also need fine motor coordination and you should enjoy working with your hands. People skills are a must since framing art means handling other people's artwork and helping them feel their artwork has received the highest quality framing treatment. Art framing involves a lot of measuring and working with fractions, so you need solid math skills. Finally, you'll need basic business skills, which can be learned as you go.

2. Investigate art framing shops or studios in your town. Each art framing studio may offer different types of services ranging from shops that help customers with do-it-yourself framing to framing studios that offer high end custom framing to art galleries and museums. Many shops offer a broad range of services to accommodate the various needs of their customers.

3. Inquire into employment openings at the art framing studios you like best. Keep in mind that studios that offer less expensive framing options are more likely to hire inexperienced applicants who need a lot of training. Shops that offer do-it-yourself type art framing that involves customer participation are superior training grounds for aspiring art framers, since instructing other people in framing techniques solidifies understanding of the craft. Customer service skills are also finely honed in this type of environment.

4. Be meticulous in your work Art framing is not a good career for those who are impatient or work hastily. Materials can be very costly and are virtually worthless when cut to the wrong size. Even worse, accidentally damaged artwork can wreak havoc on the reputation and finances of a small art framing business. You may handle valuable pieces of art, and even those that have only sentimental value are priceless to their owners.

5. Learn basic business skills. While you work at your art framing job, also take classes in basic accounting and small business management. You can enroll in basic business classes at your local community college or continuing education center.

6. Learn more about art. If you are not already studying art, take a class or two in design and fine art. This will help you better understand the way some artwork is treated in framing. For instance, for gallery shows or museum display, some serious art should be matted only with white or off-white. Some pieces of valuable art must receive archival treatment for sake of preservation. Less serious art like poster prints can be treated more freely.

7. Advancement opportunities in your art framing career will come when your employer sees your enthusiasm for the craft of framing art. Be punctual and unfailingly honest; these things will give your employer confidence in you.

Tips & Warnings

• Safety is always stressed heavily in the business of framing art, and ignoring safety rules is a quick way to get fired from your job. Never forget to wear eye protection. Handle glass strictly as instructed. Also, many pieces of cutting equipment are used in art framing, and all of them have the capability of cutting off a finger or even a hand. Some equipment such as electric saws can catch long hair and cause serious scalp injuries.

Resources

• A look at conservation framing
• Picture Framing Magazine