If you have read a few of my past posts you know that I am an experienced picture framer. So here is another nugget of knowledge I gleamed from my days on the sales/design counter. It's a very simple (but important) concept maybe that most of you are familiar with; if not, neither was I too aware of it before I became a picture framer - style families. Maybe I covered this a bit in a past post but I'll go into a little bit more detail here. Really it's a very simple design aesthetic; for example if you wanted to frame something that's from the renaissance period, or something similar you would maybe consider very large carved dark gold or silver frame, or if from the Victorian era the frame would be more intricately carved but maybe not as wide. For a Picasso print or even some Dali - maybe classical Spanish frames, again gold but the carving more curved and broad, less intricate, and the shape more round.
If you have a large contemporary painting you probably won't need a frame (regardless of what the framer tells you) in this case the width of the stretched canvas should be an inch or so and should be painted. Something impressionistic? - I would go with a softer silver/pewter frame with some kind of ordainment (carving, beading etc) and maybe add on a fillet (a small inner-set frame that matches the large frame, can be used under the mat or inside lining the frame) or a cloth covered liner (a flat downward sloping frame covered in a textured fabric, usually white or neutral, black).
When I say 'style family' (for lack of a better phrase) that could be as something as simple as using train pictures and large black frames if that's what gets you off, the idea is to set the basic style of the framed piece/pieces into a cohesive direction. One more example - Something Native American or from the southwest maybe a very rustic frame with a symbol based pattern carved in the top or bottom edge. Or for the American west (cowboys and whatnot, American history, folk-art, sewn items) a really rustic driftwood type frame. I personally for my own stuff like a nice simple well stained wood frame maybe with just a bit of a carved pattern or bit of color brushed on in the pattern.
Never forget the golden rule of framing though - frame for the piece of art. The ultimate decision should not take your eyes away from the art, and should only enhance the overall appearance, not overpower it.
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