Pencil and Coloured Pencil Portraits - Notes on Framing Compiled by UK Portrait Artist.
The right frame will really bring out the best in your pencil portrait. A good framing outlet will take time to show you the different options, so take your portrait along.
This advice is to prepare you beforehand, or help you choose a ready-made frame and mount for your portrait. Remember that you may also ask a framer to cut you a new mount for a ready-made frame.
1. Pencil Portraits
Pencil portraits look good with pale mounts. Framers have selections of "whites" including ivory and cream. Your choice may depend upon your decor, so think about where your portrait will hang.
Cream Mount
A double mount can set off a pencil portrait beautifully at little extra cost:
Wide Double Mount
Simple dark or silver frames look good on most pencil portraits. Below, a white inlay mirrors the subject's dress.
Dark Frame on Double Mounted Portrait
Wooden frames have a warmer feel and suit cream or ivory mounts, as below:
You could also try a wider or moulded frame on your portrait:
Wide Frame on Pencil Portrait
Some portraits (coloured or pencil) look good in an oval mount:
Frames/mounts can also compliment a portrait's theme or mood, as below:
Baby Pencil Portrait Finished in Pink
Portrait of Young Couple in Modern Frame
2. Coloured Pencil Portraits
Coloured portraits always go well with simple black and white:
Alternatively, combine subtle colours to compliment those in the portrait:
Dark Blue/Soft Pink Finish
This coloured frame picks out the red in the roses:
A dark mount can work well if there are dark areas in your portrait:
As with the greyscale pencil portraits above, a frame can reflect a coloured portrait's theme. The classic style of portrait above might take a more ostentatious frame:
... and a bride's portrait could be framed in white:
In general, highly coloured portraits go best with the simplest arrangements:
Pet Portrait, Black Frame
Pencil portraits make wonderful gifts!
Contact the artist to commission family or pet portraits in pencil or coloured pencil.
The artist works from your favourite family or pet photos. Please see the main portraits page for pricing and FAQs.
Portrait Commissions:
Example Portraits:
Information:
Portrait Tutorials:
Other Pages:
