Plein Air vs Floater Frames

Buying a frame for your art sounds simple… until you realize there are a LOT of ways to do it wrong. 

Two styles I use all the time: plein air frames and floater frames.

A plein air frame has a wide, substantial profile and is a great choice when you want the frame to feel like part of the artwork. They’re especially pretty with landscapes, traditional pieces, and smaller paintings that could use a little more visual weight.

A floater frame leaves a small gap around the artwork so the piece looks like it’s “floating” inside the frame. They’re clean, simple and especially good for canvas art when you want a more modern look — and don’t want to cover up any of the edges.

My basic rule: let the art tell you what it needs. Some pieces need a beautiful frame to give them presence. Others just need something simple that gets out of the way.

And yes, sometimes I absolutely stand in the frame aisle holding two options up for way too long.