Training is available at three levels;-
professional, designed for those intending to make a business of framing for the general public;
semi-professional for those wishing to frame their own work with professional machinery, and
amateur, for the hobbyists and artists wishing to frame their own work, but using basic DIY equipment.
If it helps you to decide which category is appropriate, visit diyframing.com and look at machinery prices.
I have offered professional training up to Guild Commended Framer level for at least twenty years, using professional machinery and with an emphasis on conservation practices. The basic tenet is that nothing you do should harm the client’s artwork in any way, either now or in the future. The tuition is geared to the specific needs of the individual, and is normally one-on-one. (A partner is welcome, for an additional fee). In the past, I have tried to cram thirty-odd years of experience into one full day; at the end of the day I was mentally and physically exhausted, and the student had already forgotten what he learned in the morning. So, I now teach in three-hour modules, spread over a period of time of the student’s choosing. Each module covers a particular aspect of framing, from basic to advanced. The initial module, whichever that may be, will explain conservation framing practices.
Modules currently on offer:
- Frame & mount design: principles of colour/style/period/balance/width etc
- Mountcutting: single/double/floating/slip
- Mount decoration: washlining, etc
- Frame-making: cutting, joining,glazing and finishing ready to hang. Specialist glass.
- Preparation for framing: stretching canvases or needleworks, flattening, and relevant framing techniques
- Problem -solving: a catch-all for the problems likely to be encountered if framing for the general public
The choice of modules or combination thereof is entirely up to the student. If there is anything I haven’t covered above, please ask. I don’t teach hand-finishing or gilding (yet). The modules are not cast in stone;- if a student masters a particular module within the time allotted, I am willing to cover anything else we have time for! The cost for a three-hour session is £120, and £50 per hour thereafter for any tuition beyond the session booked. I would not recommend two modules in one day unless absolutely necessary – you won’t remember everything afterwards! (If you bring a partner, he/she may remember or pick up on things you missed. The additional cost is £20 per person)
By “Semi-Professional” I mean those who wish to frame , but not as a service to the general public. Maybe you have a gallery or gift shop selling inexpensive works of art, or you wish to frame your own work. Because the tuition is geared to your specific situation, I would need to discuss that with you, before designing the session. I would expect you to be willing to buy professional equipment (which is often available second-hand), and you would be taught what to expect from it. Tuition would still be based on three hour sessions, but some of the subjects covered in the professional modules would no longer be relevant.
Amateur training is presenting me with more of a problem; I’m still thinking about how to structure it, cost it, and indeed, where to do it. The average do-it-youselfer is not going to buy professional equipment; nor would he/she expect to pay £40 per hour for tuition. I can only make a success of this venture if the classes are 5 or more people, and at the moment, my premises are not suitable. Hiring the local village hall is a possibility, although it might still present its own problems – insurance, logistics,etc. I need to think this through before I can make any promises.