Custom Artwork Framing for Your Original Piece
You might own a painting you bought at a gallery, one you inherited from a grandparent, or a piece you made yourself. Unlike a photo or a print, it cannot be reprinted if something goes wrong. That means the frame has to protect the work as well as show it off.
At GC Printing & Framing in Burleigh Heads, our artwork framing service builds each frame around the original in front of us. Below, we explain how the build changes with the medium and what goes into protecting your piece.
Why an Original Needs a Different Frame
Damage to a one-off piece is permanent, which puts real weight on every choice of board, glass and fixing.
A watercolour on thin paper needs a window mat and glass, while an oil on stretched canvas often goes without glass. The piece’s value, to you or on the market, decides how far we go with glazing and board.
Original artwork we can frame includes:
- Oil and acrylic canvas paintings
- Watercolours and works on paper
- Pastel and charcoal drawings
- Mixed media pieces
- Textile and fabric art
- Inherited and family artworks
- Gallery and exhibition purchases
- Commissioned original pieces
Bringing the piece to one studio lets you see real mouldings, mats and glass held against it, so you choose with the actual colours and texture in view.
Thank you for reaching out. Please complete the form below with your enquiry details, and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible. We look forward to assisting you.
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Framing Options for Paintings, Paper and More
Framing a painting asks different questions than framing a charcoal sketch or a watercolour, so we match the build to the medium.
During business hours, we’re open for walk in consultations to walk through specific ideas.
Watercolours, Drawings and Prints
Archival window mats keep watercolours, drawings and prints from touching the glass. Conservators warn contact can transfer pigment, so a mat or spacers hold an air gap.
Paintings on Canvas
Custom artwork framing for an oil or acrylic painting can mean a float frame in a range of finishes or a traditional moulding. Glass is optional on most canvases.
Pastel Drawings
Framing advice is worth getting before you frame pastel or charcoal. Acrylic glazing holds static that can lift loose particles, so conservators prefer glass.
Layered Mixed Media
Shadow box framing gives thick paint, collage, textile art and mixed media the depth they need, with room left between raised areas and the glass.
Choosing the Glass
Our showroom in Burleigh Heads has standard clear, non-reflective, UV-protective and museum-grade glass. UV glass slows fading, and museum-grade suits delicate or high-value originals.
What Protection Goes Into Framing an Original Piece
Every material in the frame package should be chemically stable, the art should stay clear of the glazing, and mounts should lift off later without damage, keeping future reframing possible.
Your frame can include:
- Acid-free, archival-grade mats and backing
- Art held clear of the glazing
- UV-protective glass to slow fading
- Museum-grade glass for high-value pieces
- Non-reflective glass for bright rooms
- Timber mouldings in many finishes
- In-house framing on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast homes bring another risk, since the climate here is humid and coastal. Damp air can encourage mould and leave a canvas slack over time, so we weigh the backing board and the hanging spot before recommending a build.
Why Choose Our Studio for Artwork Framing
- Drop-in showroom: Bring your piece to our Burleigh Heads showroom during opening hours, with no appointment needed to browse mouldings, mats and glass.
- Free consultation: Talk through the medium, size and display spot with our team before deciding on any frame.
- In-house framing: Every frame is built in-house on the Gold Coast, from cutting the mat to fitting the glass and backing.
- Experienced team: We bring over 20 years of experience in printing and framing to every consultation and every frame we build.
Bring Your Artwork In for Framing
Start by telling us about the piece, including its medium, its size and the room where you plan to hang it.
We hold mouldings, mats and glass against your artwork at the consultation, then give a clear quote. If you can’t visit, email photos and we’ll talk it through by phone.
Get in touch to arrange your free consultation, or call our Burleigh Heads framing team directly on 0450 557 825.
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FAQs
Should an original painting on canvas go behind glass?
We recommend that a canvas painting doesn't go behind glass. Glass can trap moisture against the paint, which matters in Gold Coast humidity. A float frame gives the canvas a finished edge without glazing, and you can compare finishes in our Burleigh Heads showroom.
Will my artwork sit against the glass?
Not for works on paper. With watercolours, drawings and pastels, we keep a gap between the artwork and the glass, usually with a window mat, so the pigment can't transfer or stick to it. If you'd rather go without a mat, ask us about spacers.
What's the difference between UV-protective glass and regular glass?
Our showroom stocks clear, non-reflective, UV-protective and museum-grade glass. UV-protective glass filters out more of the light that fades paint and paper, so it's the one we suggest for originals hanging in a bright room. No glass blocks all UV, so we'll also talk through where the piece is going to hang.
Glass or acrylic for a pastel or charcoal drawing?
We frame pastel and charcoal under glass. Acrylic builds up static, which can pull loose pastel or charcoal off the paper. We also leave a gap so nothing on the drawing's surface touches the glass.
Does my original artwork need archival framing?
We recommend archival framing for any original or sentimental piece. It uses acid-free mats and backing with UV-protective glass, so the frame itself won't damage your artwork over time. Our guide to archival framing goes through the materials in more detail.
Do you tape artwork into the frame?
No. Tape is hard to remove and can stain or tear paper over time. We mount artwork so it can come out of the frame later without damage, which keeps reframing an option down the track.
Can you stretch and frame a canvas painting?
Yes. We stretch canvases in-house over a timber frame and can finish them with a float frame in a range of styles. Our artists' printing and framing page has more on how stretching works.
