(another rerun post from the series Tips from Framers)

Everybody’s got art stashed away, collecting dust, waiting to be framed. Under the bed, way back there in the whatnot closet, down in the basement. Cool prints still rolled up in the shipping tubes they came in. Canvases bought at some funky little art fair you stopped by during that vacation in wine country, and you got that weird little painting because you were buzzed on the splendor of the vacation mindset, not to mention the wine. Remember that? No you don’t, do you?

And what about your busted frames? Or the crummy, cheap, outdated ones that you got when you were in college and poor and knew no better? Those need to be replaced. And the other stuff, the forgotten art— all that needs to be framed. Trust me. I know. I work part time at an excellent little art and framing store in the neighborhood, KC Arts on Court Street in Brooklyn. The framing staff there knows their stuff. So here we go with part three of Tips from Framers.

Jordan Greenhalgh works seven days a week. He’s a trained animator, and he has Ralph Steadman (Hunter Thompson’s frequent artistic collaborator) illustrations tattooed on his head. He also works at Brooklyn’s KC Arts as a framer on the weekend. For fun a relaxation, I suppose.

His main piece of advice is: “when making something, consider pre-made frame sizes so you don’t have to spend money on custom framing.”

Thank you, Mr. Greenhalgh, for a sensible and cost-efficient tip. No, don’t get up, sir. We’re good.

Most frame shops offer a decent selection of standard-size frames (ask to see their “ready-mades”) which cost a fraction of a custom made frame. If you’re making a piece of art (or a photo or what have you) that you want to frame inexpensively, consider the canvas, the cropping or the paper you’re using. Popular standard sizes include 9″ x 12″, 11″ x 14″,  12″ x 16″, 14″ x 18″, 16″ x 20″, 18″ by 24″, 20″ x 24″ and 24″ by 36.”

Save a few bucks! Go standard, if you can.