Introduction to Frame Making
A course by El Pez EnmarcadoDesigner and Framing Artist
A course by El Pez Enmarcado, Designer and Framing Artist
Learn basic techniques to build frames that highlight your pieces and make them shine
They say that the packaging is just as important as its contents. For Coy Aballay, the mind behind El Pez Enmarcado, the frame around a work of art should be functional, but also needs to showcase the piece and make it stand out from its surroundings. With over a decade and a half of experience, she's framed everything from paintings and prints to photographs and objects. Her education in graphic design and photojournalism helped her develop a keen eye for her craft, finding the perfect balance between the artwork and its frame.
In this course, learn how to build a box frame for an image or object of your choice. Coy guides you through the entire process, from selecting the piece for display to taking measurements and piece-by-piece assembly.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 14 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 12 seconds
Materials and tools
7 minutes, 3 seconds
Learning to cut
19 minutes, 59 seconds
Nail and sand
14 minutes, 26 seconds
Paint and polish
17 minutes, 43 seconds
Cut glass and bottom
12 minutes, 46 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know Coy, the mind behind El Pez Enmarcado. She tells you about how she built a career in framing and shares her biggest influences.
Continue with an introduction to the most commonly used frame styles and get an overview of the tools and materials you need to build one. Learn about the differences between types of strips and how to enhance them with color and style. Then, see what a mat board is used for and choose the photo, print, or object for your final project.
Measure your selected composition already in place on the mount and get to framing! Learn how to cut the strips and slats with a miter saw, as well as glass for the front and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for the back.
Coy then teaches you how to nail these parts together using a wooden base to make the process easier. Move on to sanding and painting your frame, exploring different materials and techniques.
Finally, discover how to fit everything together, close your frame, and add a wire so you can hang it wherever you'd like. Coy rounds out the course with some tips on finding inspiration for future projects and tricks for making a series of frames.
What is this course's project?
Build a medium-sized box frame (depends on your chosen item) for a photograph, print, artwork, or object using wooden strips, slats, and a mount. Add a layer of paint or varnish and it's ready to hang!
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who loves working with their hands and wants to learn the art of framing. This course is also great for anyone who wants to understand the process and materials involved to design their own frames and commission them to be built.
Requirements and materials
This is a beginner's course, so no framing experience is required.
In terms of materials, you need a hand miter saw for cutting, wooden strips and slats, a ruler, a pencil, carpentry glue, small- and medium-sized nails, clamps, wire, screws, pliers, a hammer, a cutter, sand paper, packing tape, paper and card stock, and an image or object of your choice to frame.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
ME ENCANTO EL CURSO DE LOS MEJOR QUE HE VISTO
- 2 months ago
Excelente curso, muy explicativo y claro. Definitivamente lo recomiendo a quien desea aprender esta labor.
- 4 months ago
la exposicion del curso es ordenado, claro, y absuelve dudas en el proceso, adicionando tips muy buenos y precisos, lo recomiendo.
- 5 months ago
Me encanta! es simle de entender y con herramientas basicas
- 5 months ago
muy buen curso, muy claras las explicaciones y la informacion
Her clients include illustrators, photographers, artists, and people who simply enjoy small-format art and decoration. She collaborates with Galería Mar Dulce and has built frames for a variety of exhibitions there; she has also worked with the brand VER making both classic and light-up frames in a range of sizes for their locations.
Content
- U1
Presentation
- Introduction
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Preparing the materials
- Framed styles
- Materials and tools
- Composition and image selection
- U3
Learning to frame
- Learning to cut
- Nail and sand
- Paint and polish
- Cut glass and bottom
- Close Frame 1
- Close Frame 2
- U4
Final tips
- Tips for framing in series
- To hang pictures
- FP
Final project
- Framing Initiation
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to select materials, cut and assemble frames, paint and customize wood, mount illustrations and objects, and apply professional techniques to create artistic compositions and showcase your work beautifully.
The course is designed for people with intermediate crafting or art skills, but the techniques are explained step-by-step, so no prior framing expertise is needed.
You’ll need wooden strips, a miter saw, sandpaper, hammer, glue, nails, glass cutter, cardboard, mat board, paints, double-sided tape, plus rulers and clamps to assemble the frames properly.
The 45-degree cut is made using a miter saw or a manual miter box, ensuring the strips join perfectly at the corners for a professional, sturdy finish.
Yes, the course covers techniques for framing unconventional objects, letting you create shadow box frames and custom arrangements for three-dimensional or collectible pieces.
You’ll learn how to pick mat board colors that highlight the image and complement your decor, using principles of contrast and color harmony to protect and enhance your artwork.
Mounting involves cutting and sanding the wood, assembling the frame, placing the image on cardboard or mat board, fitting the glass, and securing the back, ensuring stability and protection.