Where are you all getting frames near the Westside lately?
I just finished a batch of garden pieces for the Beverly Hills Art Show and realized my usual framer in Culver City has a three week wait. Three weeks. For eight small florals. I almost cried into my tea.
I've been spoiled by quick turnarounds for years, and now every framer I call is either backed up or has raised prices so much I'm second guessing whether to frame at all. I do simple white or natural wood floater frames, nothing complicated, so it feels like this shouldn't be this hard.
Anybody have a reliable framer on the Westside or even into the Valley who can turn things around in under two weeks without charging more than the painting is worth? I'm also open to buying direct and doing my own float mounts if someone knows a good local source for the hardware. I used to grab supplies at Blick on La Cienega but their frame selection has gotten thin.
Who's your go to right now?
Hey Josianne! Three weeks for eight small floater frames is brutal, especially with the Beverly Hills Art Show on the clock.
A few moves worth trying:
- Call American Frame or Frame Destination for pre-made floater frames shipped to your door. White and natural wood floaters in standard sizes are their bread and butter, and turnaround is usually under a week. For eight 18x24 or smaller pieces, you'll likely come in cheaper than a local shop too.
- If you want to stay local, check Frames USA on Pico. They've historically had faster turnaround than the Culver City shops and carry simple wood floaters in stock.
- For the Beverly Hills show specifically, buying pre-made floaters online and doing the fitting yourself is a 20 minute job per piece with a point driver (around $30 on Amazon). Simple floater frames are the easiest DIY frame job there is, no mat cutting, no glass. Worth owning that tool if you're doing shows regularly.
The garden pieces sound like they'll land perfectly at Beverly Hills. Hope someone closer to the Westside chimes in with their go-to spot too.
Other resources you might find helpful:
- Where are you getting frames near the Westside these days? — Artist discusses finding trusted framers on the Westside for original work with specific mat color considerations and odd sizing needs.
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