How to Build a Picture Frame by canida
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How to build a high-end wood picture frame to accommodate a large oil on canvas. Awesome art by Emily Keyishian.
 
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Step 1: Make or acquire art

Make something brilliant, or find someone who has and is willing to sell it to you for a reasonable price.

Most cities will hold artists' open studios, where you can walk around checking out neat art, meeting the artists, and generally poking through interesting live/work spaces. This means you can find work by young/unknown artists, who are usually much less expensive than big-name artists yet often just as talented, and that you don't have to pay exorbitant gallery markups. Get out and look around- meet some neat people, support a starving artist, and get inspired to make something yourself.

I found a neat piece by Emily Keyishian. You can check out her art during the SF open studios every October, or as listed on her website. Of course, this picture needed an equally impressive frame. Having spent all my money on art, I got to make the frame myself.
inflatable toys says: Feb 11, 2013. 2:35 AM
Tips for creating a professional gallery wall...http://www.wall-frames.net/
Burningeko says: Dec 12, 2012. 12:52 AM
Pro tip:
too keep your hands free of the whirling blade of death, use a push stick (I used to use a baseball bat that I squared off, good grip and nice flat edge)
rickharris says: Dec 10, 2012. 2:02 AM
1. Your circular saw should have a cap over the blade to prevent the wood riding up and being thrown back at you - It happens and it hurts (I know.)

2. It should have a riving blade behind the saw to keep the cut open - See point 1.

3. Your saw blade is blunt hence the burning.

4. Please use a push stick to push the wood through the saw rather than your delicate hands.

Other then that a neat well written instructable.
wolf86 says: Dec 19, 2009. 1:35 PM
wow! awesome painting and beautiful frame!
jakee117 says: Oct 17, 2008. 1:51 PM
Very cool art and frame... maybe some detil with a woodburning pen would be cool... just an idea.
canida (author) says: Oct 11, 2009. 8:17 PM
Ooh, neat idea! Thanks for the suggestion - will have to try it next time.
sleeepy2 says: Jun 13, 2008. 7:14 AM
I've always wanted a biscuit joiner. Do you use it often?
canida (author) says: Jun 16, 2008. 7:30 AM
I don't use it terribly often, but when I do it's usually invaluable.
FridaFreak says: Jul 25, 2007. 4:11 PM
This is excellent, saved me a lot of time and a trip to the craft store for help. Couldn't be easier.
Atomic645 says: May 30, 2007. 9:47 PM
Places like Home Depot will do the first few steps of wood cutting for you. Sadly, it means having to use their commercial, non-special wood. Still good if you don't have the fancy tools.
inertia18 says: May 10, 2007. 10:06 PM
Thanks, keep up the great work
inertia18 says: May 10, 2007. 8:40 PM
Do you have an easy way of doing this without using some specialized tools. thanks. Nice work !!!!
canida (author) says: May 10, 2007. 9:19 PM
You can easily get away without a biscuit joiner- just use finishing nails to connect the corners, countersink the nails (tap them in past the wood surface), and use putty to cover the holes. You could use a different type of saw to make the long cuts, but would have to be much more careful about keeping your lines straight. Does that answer your question?
Phill says: Feb 3, 2007. 7:23 PM
That's amazing! How much was this "yuppy hardwood" you speak of; I may be trying this out after I get some form of wood working skill.
canida (author) says: Feb 3, 2007. 7:54 PM
It was about $7-8/board foot.
Phill says: Feb 3, 2007. 8:54 PM
Thank You. =)
Pet Pepper says: Jan 27, 2007. 6:08 PM
very nice instructable... i will save a good amount of money now
and nice painture, by the way.
sam says: Dec 30, 2006. 11:34 PM
mmmm.. I love the smell of tung oil.. It's a wicked finish. This looks great.
Jafafa Hots says: Dec 30, 2006. 10:41 PM
Thanks. Well done, good walk-through and photos.
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