Hand Finishing Moulding

Course Overview

This is a bespoke course tailored to your exact requirements within the time allowed. Students are encouraged to actively participate throughout. The aim is to produce a number of completed samples to take back to your workshop.  They will be the start of your hand-finishing portfolio, and mean that you will be ready to sell immediately. A number of elements can be achieved throughout the day, with more complicated or advanced finishes needing to be spread over two or more days.

Core subjects covered on all hand-finishing frames courses:

1. Health and safety discussion
2. Basics of wood types and their uses – including identifying problems to avoid
3. Practical demonstrations on the importance of wood preparation
4. Discussion on whether to finish in length, cut pieces or on joined frame
5. Marketing your hand-finished frames to your customers
6. Pricing – how to ensure you are covering your costs and making a profit
7. Structured discussion on suppliers and materials to suit finishes used

Tailored content – please select options from the list below:

Basics

1. Basic stains and paint finishes
2. Lime wax – including how to create texture and finishes with stains and paint
3. Multi layered paint options, with cut through and highlight colours
4. Stacking mouldings and how to achieve a final ‘one moulding’ look
5. Adding depth to mouldings then adding a seamless painted finish
6. Textured paint finishes
7. Washes
8. Creating finishes on mountboard and fillets
9. The finishing touch – protecting the finish and getting the frame ready for the artwork

Beyond the Basics

10. Understanding metal leaf
11. Preparing wood and materials for gilding
12. Traditional methods or modern products – the pros and cons
13. Basics of oil gilding
14. Basics of water gilding
15. Adding a wash
16. Distressing
17. The finishing touches – protecting the finish and getting the frame ready for the artwork

Fully bespoke

18. Bring an item for framing and follow the project through from start to finish
19. Reviewing your own project with in-person discussion and problem solving
20. This element is available at the discretion of the course tutor and will require additional materials to be purchased by the student in advance. Course time will be allocated over a number of days as required, with the potential to split each full day course into half day allocations.