03/30/2008 13:10:39

Lis:  Agood friend of mine and a fellow artist always gave me a discount at the frame shop, but it still costs between $100 and $200 for a decent size frame.  Minimum molding cost is about $18 per foot.  A typical experience is to pay $200 for a frame, sell the paintiing for $500 at the local Art League which takes %40, (another$200) and walk away with $100 for all the work.   Since I usually paint in odd sizes, custom frames are required, but the cost is prohibitive and most people who bought my paintings indicated that they were going to have them reframed anyway.  I started making my own with hardware store 1"x2" hardwood molding (60 cents a foot) that I routed to add a bead edge. I miter them using a table saw and some homemade jigs, glue them using Gorilla Glue and a quality 90 Degree framers Clamp.  A good clamp is really important, but costs less than a custom frame.  I then sand them and paint them flat black.  They are more than adequate.  Most of the comments that I get on them are that they are a little understated, but enhance the paintings. 

03/30/2008 07:22:33

I usually buy mass manufactured frames at {Omar deSerres} a Canadian store only I think. A 24" x 28" is approx. $45 then there is glass, foamcore and wire for a total of $65.

If I have it framed professionally it usually runs about $125. So right there you can imagine what one must have to charge for the framed painting to make a small profit. If the frame requires a mat, then you can add another $10 if I cut it myself. Welcome to The Poor House Lis. lol.   Rick