How to frame!
April 1, 2012Here are a couple of miniatures, painted onto pages from books. These are the simplest images that I have been doing, (both in terms of content and form) and having had them mounted I am trying to figure out how to frame them. I see them as either devotional images requiring quiet contemplation and attention, or as museum exhibits from some arcane and ancient manuscript. I anticipate the viewer leaning in to scrutinise the pictures at close quarters.
Should the frames be simple and plain, to allow the viewer to focus on the images, or should they be detailed and decorative to add to the overall effect? Should they presented straightforwardly as art works, or as museum exhibits. They are influenced by medieval illumination so perhaps an elaborate surround, extending the decoration beyond the picture might be appropriate. Then again there is a quality about them that lands them to being presented as historical artefacts. I have had them generously mounted which I thought gives them a change to breathe, stand on their own, and force the viewer to focus in on the image.
If you click on the images, then zoom, they appear in close-up, much larger than actual size. There is a very interesting and attractive quality to these zoomed images, almost microscopic.
Oh decisions decisions!
Any suggestions? Perhaps you could advise me when we see you.