Spent way too much to frame and mat three pictures

[tc]

We've had an intern from church living with us for a year. He's a fantastic artist. As a thank you, he painted a water color for us. It's a city scape, and is in four pictures. One big one and three smaller ones. The picture continues into the smaller one. It's hard to explain, but it's beautiful. We took it to the store to have the pics matted and framed. It will be in three separate frames, one for the big one (about 36" on each side), one for two small pics (about a foot on each side) and one for one small one (about 9"on each side). Okay, the total for conservation matting (because it's original work) and framing......... almost $800!!!

We put it all on layaway, and will pay it a little each month for 6 months.

It will be gorgeous when it's done, but isn't that excessive? Or is it just me. I've never framed art before, but I am still in shock.

 

[Tina]

I recently started framing stuff myself. It sure save a LOT of money. I don't think I would know how to mat a painting though. I've just been doing standard size stuff, like photos. I buy the precut mats, buy the frames, and voila - FRAMED ART!

 

[Kelsie]

I agree Kelli, try 'Hobby Lobby' next time you need something framed. It is very easy to do it yourself.

 

[Beauty]

Wow that does seem excessive to me. When we moved into the house I ordered some large southern mansion pictures and I also had two pictures from Disney that I bought...the $30 pics in the Gallery Store. So I believe if I'm remembering correctly it ended up being 11 pictures although one was already matted and the 2 from Disney didn't need mats. So to mat 8 pictures and to frame 11 (as I said they were all large) it was $738 dollars. I remember because I spent almost the same amount on buying the prints and framing them. I am so proud of them and they are gorgeous!!! But $800 for just 3....that seems like a really lot.

 

[Rajah]

Really depends on the quality of the mat and frame. For some mats and frames, that's reasonable. For others, that sounds about twice as expensive as it should be.

 

[tc]

Each painting is double matted, and the frames are wood with a mat black finish. I will definately look into Hobby Lobby next time. He's painting a picture taken from a photo of Stephen and I. I'll see what I can do cheaper for that one.

 

[RUDisney]

You may have selected the most expensive mats and frames, hence the shocking price. We had a hand-painted watercolor of St. Basil's Cathedral double matted and framed for about $100 this past year. It was an oddly shaped painting, so I couldn't go a cheaper, pre-cut route. I paid $10 for the painting on the street in Moscow and 10X as much to frame it. It looks gorgeous, though, and I'm very happy to have done it.

OTOH, you're paying alot of money for the framing. I know that I would never be able to cut a mat as evenly as a professional, so I'd chalk it up to "money well spent."

I have an aunt who is an artist. She painted a winter skating scene and gave it to me for my shower. Since she has had the opportunity to show her work, she asked if my painting could be borrowed back for the show. I can't tell you how many times she's told me that she wishes that she never gave it to me and that she could have made $X if she'd sold it in the show... blah, blah, blah...

I did get the painting back from her, but it had a pricetag on the back of it for $125. To me, that says she had planned to sell it if she could have.

The moral to my story is that if this artist comes back to you in 5 years to use this work in his gallery show, make sure you have something in writing saying that you'll get it back... especially after how much money you've put into its framing.

 

[Cindy B]

My friend does this (framing) for a living.. She does a lot of custom work/with originals/authentic pieces/and other things...

Her framing is expensive, but she is a professional, and works with many artists to display thier work. She also designs lobbies/corporate areas as well.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Also try Michael's Craft store... I believe they also have % off coupons on the front of their weekly flyers. I've had a signed Thomas Kinkade (print - not original work) framed & matted there.

But, I'm also the same person who took the $10 WDW Millenium poster to a local sole proprietor frame shop & paid over $150 for a custom frame alone.....because I LIKED IT!

 

[nativetxn]

Having things matted and framed is outrageously expensive. The finished products are so beautiful though. I hope you can post a photo of that watercolor for us, I'd love to see it.

Katholyn