Best guide book for a beginner?

[SummerSun]

I'm planning to start framing my own work, and I thought the best way to get started is to get myself a good book on framing. I went to the Amazon.com -site and looked for books on framing...and there so many of them that I got a bit confused...

So does anyone know a really good and comprehensive guide book on framing? A book with good information on the materials, and where to get them, and on all the steps of the framing process. And not just the basic frame, but all types of frames? And since I'm a beginner on the subject, I'd like the book to be fairly easy to read, and with lots of photos :). Well, you know, a book for someone who is planning to frame quite a lot of paintings, but not become a professional framer...

Well, thanks in advance!

[Helen Zapata]

Hi Leena

I'm afraid I'm no help at all.. I wouldn't know where to start as far as books go. But just wanted to say hello, and also suggest that you might also want to search some of the threads in this forum. There's a ton of great information here. Enough so that it scared me off the whole idea of building my own frames. hahaha! (but I'm no woodworker, so don't let that intimidate you!) It does sound like it would be lots of fun!

Helen

[SummerSun]

Thanks, Helen. I've been browsing the framing forum, and yes, there are lots of good tips here, some of them are the kind of tips that you just won't be able to find in books. This forum is a great help.

I'm kind of old-fashioned in that way, that I rely a lot on books, and even if I can find the same information online, I still have to have that book available. In fact, I already ordered one book Home book of picture framing by Kenn Oberrecht (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811727939/qid=1098282181/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/102-0735287-1828113) that appeared to be fairly comprehensive, but I would still like to hear any recommendations you might have...

[colin]

This one looks very good too - but geared for absolute beginner

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830629092/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/002-8110446-1213649

I dont have any books on framing construction in particular ( only stuff on antique frames and surface app.s or decorative painting techniques ) but one good source for basic woodworking as in framing is to look in used book stores for the old Audell series . They published a million books back in the 40's on carpentry and woodworking geared for the home builder and are still valuable reference ( besides being like 50 cents at used
bookstore ! )

colin

[deLYNNEation]

I checked this book out of the library & held it for 3 weeks to study it. I'll buy this book soon - it's written by the manufacturer of Logan mat cutters but it's not biased or pushing that brand in a big way.

Informative, technical without being too boring, it also gives some great framing examples that are CURRENT and CONTEMPORARY, a combination I found hard to find in other books.



Good luck!

[deLYNNEation]

And here's the link - sorry:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823030385/qid=1098651289/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/102-1373663-6175314mat framing book by Logan (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823030385/qid=1098651289/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/102-1373663-6175314)

[SummerSun]

Thank you for all the book recommendations. The book I ordered (the one by Kenn Oberrecht) finally arrived a couple of days ago, and I think that I made an excellent purchase. The book seems to have pretty much everything one could need to know about framing. The only thing that's negative is the fact there aren't that many tips on choosing the right colors for the frame and mat. But I'm really pleased with the book anyway!