What is Neutral Framing? Questions to ask yourself

Neutral framing (to me) is when the frame, mat and art are in such harmony that no one element stands out from the rest.  When you look at the art and just go aaaahh!   
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"Neutral does not need to be just black, white or beige!"

When looking at art ask yourself these questions:

• What is the color I see the most of?
• What element of the art do you want to emphasize?
• What do you want to minimize?
• Does the style of art fit where I want to hang it?  
• Do the colors work in the room, with my furniture, with how I want the room to feel?
• ​Is this a trend piece or is it a piece to last many years?
• Do I like looking at it and will I like it for a long time?
• Did the art cost a lot of money or just a bit?

All of these questions factor into creating your custom framed art.  
​It helps guide how we design it, how much you spend and where it will hang in your home.

I define neutral framing as the items surrounding the art that enhance and help focus the art.

• Some designers and framers say that neutral framing is a white or off-white mat and a specific style of frame.

• Design with consideration of the “relative’ period and style of the artwork.
  
• Is it an abstract, figurative or a landscape.  
• Does the style have an antique feel, or is it in the style of the ‘20s, 60‘s or ?....

My working practice of neutral is to use the elements present in the artwork to design the frame presentation.  All these elements may have an affect on the outcome of the design.  In other words the framing is "neutral" to the artwork.  

I generally suggest the most common color (the color of first impression) as the top mat, then use the second, third, or fourth colors, etc. for accents in order of strength.  The stronger the color the less I suggest we use.  Framing this way the viewer's eye is not pulled from the art to the matting or framing.  If, when viewing art, your first impression is the frame or the mat, then the presentation is too strong for the image.  ​The viewer should want to linger on the art with visual excursions out to the framing presentation.

Last, but not least,  does it fit my personal style, can traditional be put with contemporary and visa versa or any other combination.  Most of the time yes, but this may require comfort with a non-conforming look.

​HIGH CONTRAST OR BLACK AND WHITE ART.

Ask yourself this.  
How much of the Black & White photograph/etching/monoprint....
image has areas of pure white or pure black or is it a variation of gray

High contrast art is sometimes the hardest to design. 
The question is, "What combination brings out the most details of the art and helps me to see the art first".

• The common perception is to use white or black mats and frames as white and black are often considered to be neutral.  But are they really?  Actually, they are the extremes:  the totality or absence of light/color.
• Instead, frame it in the gray that most makes the artwork come forward (neutral to the art).
• A light mat on a very dark photo or picture will make the picture appear darker ​and decrease the visible detail by having too much intensity for the subtleties of the photograph or artwork.
• Vis-à-vis the dark mat on a light artwork. 
• If the photo or artwork has large areas of dark or light use a mat that blends with the largest amount of color (black, white, or gray). 
• Several shades of white, grays or blacks can be tried until the balance is correct and the eye travels first to the photo.

This  applies to any art form that is extremely dark or light or high contrast