Kosal Eang, owner of Framed by Kosal in Monroe, CT, was the third finalist in The 6th Annual Tru Vue® Custom Framing Competition, held at the West Coast Art and Frame Show in January. Unlike in years past where entrants chose what they framed, for this year’s competition, finalists framed one of three textiles each with a different color scheme from Chilean artist, Andrea Barrios Aguilar, commissioned for the competition.

 

 

The Inspiration

 

Kosal mimicked the texture and layering of the textile in his design. Using raw canvas as a primary material, he covers every piece of the frame and the backing with it, creating the effect of a recessed nook. The result is a complete package that gives the impression of a three-dimensional painting.

 

 

The Design

 

Beginning with a custom-milled frame, Kosal covered it with the canvas fabric, which was painted with white gesso, to emphasize the raw texture and brightness of its white color. The canvas is continued into the interior of the frame. As the fabric was forced across the layers of the interior, pleats formed in the corners, an intentional detail that accentuates the textured feel of the framing.

 

 

For contrast, Kosal used the vibrant colors of the artwork for accents. Around the outside perimeter of the piece is a wood border wrapped in red fabric and recessed into the frame. The inside edge of the frame was painted blue, which gives the effect of a shadow, and another red line in the interior of the frame can be seen only at certain angles, like the lining of a jacket. The last detail of this project was the little metal studs at the corners, which were patterned to mimic the texture of the fabric and emphasize the square shape of the piece.

 

 

The artwork is mounted very close to the backing of the piece using a frame that inserts into the stretcher bar that the textile is on to achieve wood-to-wood mounting.

 

 

Working with Optium Museum Acrylic®

 

Though Optium Museum Acrylic® was required for the competition, Kosal pointed out the many benefits it has for a piece like this. The anti-static properties are not only ideal for the textile, but also for the gesso paint on the canvas, as static could draw flaking to the glazing. Its 99% UV protection, scratch resistant, and shatter-resistant benefits are also important for the protection of the piece. Given the design emphasis on textural details, the glazing’s unparalleled level of clarity is essential for fully appreciating the piece.

 

 

For Kosal, one of the most important qualities of Optium Museum Acrylic is its handling. “I think Optium is the best glazing available,” said Kosal. “Once framers use it for the first time, they see how easy it is to work with. There are so many different things you can do with it. Optium really helps framers be creative with their designs.”