Small Art - Big Impact

How to Frame Small Artwork on a Budget

I love mini art. And if you’ve been following me for a while, or even fairly new to my artwork, you’ve probably already noticed this. I’ve recently been posting a lot of small pastel originals, painted on a very textural and soft cotton rag paper with a deckled edge. Here are some of my favourites, currently available: 

Also, for affordable frames, check out Opposite Wall for frames and picture mats. You can customize the size to each piece and they ship really quickly!! I'm not sponsored by them, but I've ordered from them a few times and it always has arrived exactly the way I need it to! 

Here are a few reasons why buying small art can be a wonderful addition to your home/ art collection.

1. I’ve always been drawn to small and meaningful artwork. While I love big and impressive pieces of art, my minimalist soul has such an appreciation for getting a message across in a small yet effective way. Small art draws you in and forces you to look at the details of the piece. And, in many ways as an artist, I love the challenge of communicating a message in a very concentrated way. The contrast between the scale and the meaning is what I find most appealing – both as an artist and as an art-lover. 

2. A small piece – whether it be a print or an original, framed in large frame makes for such a visual impact! It sort of screams, “look at me!” without being loud or obnoxious. Visually, the ‘white space’ around the piece is very understated but forces your eye to the piece. It’s extremely effective at holding your attention without overpowering.

3. It keeps your wallet happy. In general, it is reasonable to assume and say that the smaller the artwork, the less expensive. Now obviously there are exceptions to this rule but in general, when comparing two works from the same artist, the smaller piece will cost you less. In this way, you can build a very impressive collection of art without purchasing huge pieces if you’re on a budget.

4. You have a lot of creativity when it comes to mats and framing. Centered, off-centred, large, small… you can play around and use the mat around the piece and incorporate it as a whole. I particularly love when a piece is off-centre on the mat, and the white space around the piece is grand and says, “this piece deserves all this space, even if it’s blank!”

5. When getting a mini piece framed, think double of triple the length and width of the piece. So, if your mini artwork is 2 inches x 4 inches, get a mat around the piece that is atleast the same length or triple… Here is a little diagram with some spacing/sizing tips!

Don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside what is a traditional way of framing art and those proportions!