More design crit.

Marc Lizer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
Posts
1,545
Loc
North Hollywood, CA
Since it seem youze guyze like the black vs white crit, her is another.

Keep in mind 2 different customers came in and this is what they decided they wanted.

IMG_1397.JPG


IMG_1387.JPG


fire away . . .
 
Not too shabby. I'm not normally one for the float-it-and-stick-it-in-a-frame look, but it works well on a piece as graphic as this one.

Hands down I like the black(ish)frame much better than the gold. I think something that bold and dramatic needs a relatively simple (did I really say that?) frame. All that gold and design in the second one is just distracting.

Pity there are so few responses to these. We seem to be loathe to criticize a fellow framer's work, even when he or she asks for it.
 
Miter Man when you made the following s comments:

Hands down I like the black(ish)frame much better than the gold. I think something that bold and dramatic needs a relatively simple (did I really say that?) frame. All that gold and design in the second one is just distracting.

Pity there are so few responses to these. We seem to be loathe to criticize a fellow framer's work, even when he or she asks for it.

I think it should be pointed out that there maybe as many GOOD CHOICES as there are clients with differnt Taste. So while you like the Black frame ( I do also) the Gold one would look just as correct in a different setting. And it is exactly this that makes framers like me slow to critique another's work.

This reminds me of my CPF exam back in 88 . It hade a question that asked "given a certain decor what choice would you select in frameing materials" (Paraphrased drastiaclly) As I remeber it this question was removed from the test since there could be as many answers as there where choices given and NONE of them would be wrong.Which made the question useless.I think this was and is a very Valid point.
BUDDY
 
I tell the customer that the frame will be part of the furnishings and therefore must agree with the rest of the room and their taste. I would put down 2 corner samples such as the 2 mouldings you have shown here and normally I get a negative reaction to one of them and then I know what else to show.

Even though Mrs Pompies will only have the ornate gold and Mrs Chen wants nothing but sleek modern black I keep trying to temp them and one day perhaps their taste will change and I'll get to reframe all their art.
 
I know the " different strokes for different folks" mantra, however I asking what you (as in the collective "You Grumblerers out there in Grumbleland) think is a better treatment.

By and large, in my opinion, the dark frame looks better. However the gold frame was over twice the cost to the client.

Now if I can only frame the outstanding 24 pieces of the edition this way . . .
 
Originally posted by BUDDY:
Pity there are so few responses to these. We seem to be loathe to criticize a fellow framer's work, even when he or she asks for it.

I think it should be pointed out that there maybe as many GOOD CHOICES as there are clients with differnt Taste. So while you like the Black frame ( I do also) the Gold one would look just as correct in a different setting. And it is exactly this that makes framers like me slow to critique another's work.

This reminds me of my CPF exam back in 88 . It hade a question that asked "given a certain decor what choice would you select in frameing materials" (Paraphrased drastiaclly) As I remeber it this question was removed from the test since there could be as many answers as there where choices given and NONE of them would be wrong.Which made the question useless.I think this was and is a very Valid point.
BUDDY
Ok. I used the wrong word. Rather than criticize, I should have typed critique, to evaluate and point out the good with the bad. It's all a matter of taste, yes, but Marc asked out opinions and I gave mine.
 
I like the black one. The dramatic shape of the frame adding in the fillet is a good mix....at least I think that's what you did!

I would have preferred not floating with the gold frame. Fancy golds and floats don't work for me. A linen mat with gold fillet would have done the trick. Or, float -- and still add fillet and mat outside that?
 
Criticize / critique / comment / harsh upon / cast judgement / whatever.

It's not like anything someone says is going to offend me or hurt me.

And if all that fails: I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you. Nee-ner, Nee-ner, Nee-ner.

Or to put in adult terms and not playground terms: Dialog is good.
 
G'day Marc,

I like the use of the black frame, but I don't like the gold one much. In my opinion it has no relationship with the image and I would not consider showing that type of frame to a customer who had brought in that image.

I would have used mat colours that are more compatible with the image and would have covered more of that stark white around the image.(unless the signature, etc. went out that far. Or is it floated?) I would make the mat wider as well. I think the mat margin should be wider that the amount of white showing, to help step the eye in to the image.

I have copied your picture and will take it to work on monday and decide what I would have suggested to the customer and report back with my selections for you to criticize! (If I remember!)

No disrespect intended by my comments!
 
Marc,
On a number of occasions through the years I have framed the same image twice in 2 different styles such as you have shown and displayed them in the window with a sign "How do you like your Monet" or Picasso or ? - the modern style has always sold whereas the traditional ornate gold has often sold at half price a few months later. So I know the tastes in my area. I suggest other framers do simlar tests in their market. This helps me choose samples for my moulding displays.
 
If you consider the piece 'a capella', that is, just by itself, I think the black frame suits its graphic style, and modern feel better than the ornate gold.
But, we must often consider the piece "in situ", or where it will be hanging. In that case, I still like the black frame better, it goes with the industrial look of your concrete wall. ;)
 
The dark frame is good, but I don't like the float. Even with the float mat and the white border of the print it still looks crowded in there. A 3 or 4 inch neutral mat with a gold fillet would be nice. Mat width depending on the size of the piece. Hard to tell from a photo.

Don't like the gold frame at all. It's way too fussy for that piece. {Nobody at work would would believe I said that. They call ornate frames "Jan frames"}
 
Sounds like I'm outnumbered, but I like the gold frame, however, I agree w/rosetl - I think w/the fancy gold, the float looks unfinished -- I like the idea of a fillet & fabric mat.

Or, how 'bout a black mat? ...ugh -- I can see the stubborn fuzzies already
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I'd be tempted to throw silver into the mix -- silver fillet, black mat, silver frame. (?)

It would be neat with a black moulding that has a red-washed scroll-design (that could be kind of a happy-medium) ...feminine, which I think the rose needs, yet less formal than gold.

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Is is just me or does anyone else see the profile of a man's face (in the rose) -- hat, browline, nose, chin, jacket -- kind of "Sherlock Holmes" looking.
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That is Beast, and facing him is Beauty.

Y'know, as in "Beauty And The Beast." It was a film from a small local company that had moderate commercial success.
 
Marc,
Is that picture available anywhere? I'd like to get a copy if it is.
Denny
 
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