The Matter of Framing

The Frame Matters. Looking back, it has been just over a year that I started experimenting with various framing systems and approaches, and two years since I started my first gridded landscape or Landscape Mosaic painting. The initial purpose of the gridded work has ironically yet to be fully realized. Originally, I wanted to be able work larger while traveling, and the gridded approach could be easily packed up for a plane ride or in a backpack for painting on site somewhere remote. Little did I know that tile management would consume two years of my life outside of work and lead me to a place of widening curiosity and delight.

September's Ever Flickering Light framed. Linnea the studio dog has been photobombing most of the videos/ photos during this week's session. An earlier version that was more complicated to make. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/foray-into-frames-part-3  In the end I went with something more sturdy. And the Final approach which I completed this week. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/adjustable-columnar-frame-for-grids

The simple prompt has unfolded an entire body of work that has evolved into new ways of conceptualizing my creative practice and bringing others into both the process of interacting and making art. July 2026 is quickly approaching for my show at Gallery A3 and I am eager to wrap up framing of the completed works already completed for the show.

Modular framing system of 8 columns. Backs of frames and sides are glued together, but interior ribs are "friction tight" allowing for adjustment to the system to accommodate individual variations in smaller canvases which make up the whole work.

Over the past year, as I've worked through various approaches, the system has simplified and adjusted to accommodate some of the nuances of the materials I'm working with. For example, the individual pre-made Canvas by Blick that make up many of my Landscape Mosaics, are not uniform in size! They vary as much as 1/2"! quite a bit of difference for canvases that are only 6" x 6". Also since the goal of Landscape Mosaics is to accommodate rearrangement of the works, framing systems that permanently ahere the frame to the canvas aren't desirable. Instead I've worked towards customizing a system that could be used for multiple pieces and adjusted and readjusted. For more on that process you can check out a previous blog post.

These frames were made with a few clamps, gorilla wood glue with 24 hour drying sessions, 1" x 2" pine, and 1/4" pine moulding. Tools for cutting included a chopsaw and moulding snips, a triangle, a metric ruler, pencil, and number 60 sandpaper and a finish sanding block. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/adjustable-columnar-frame-for-grids

With a working system finally fabricated, this week, I've been spending time in the studio, circling back with my new framing system to rephotograph some of the Landscape Mosaic Paintings. Here are some results from the photoshoot.

Dark Side of the Eclipse in columnar frames. This painting can also be displayed on a skew. See last year's blog post about an alternative methods and arrangements. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/foray-into-frames-part-4

Wave Mirror in the Columnar frames. See last year's blog post about alternative framing systems. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/foray-into-frames That system was quite a bit more clunky with visible brads. I am appreciating the simple line of the 1/4" framing edge against the canvas.

Worlds Beyond Worlds in the Columnar Frames. See previous post about the process of painting edges, and various configurations, This can be split in half and one half flipped to create the reflection in water of the image above. https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/worlds-within-worlds-part-b https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/edges-beyond-edges https://www.rachel-loeffler.com/post/grid-experiment-two-complete