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I see so many paintings "ruined" by bad framing.

1. Incorrect framing.

If you are putting your painting into sales or shows and expect folks to pay money for them, the least you can do is make sure it's not going to fall off the wall or damage their paintwork.

So, no sawtooth hangers. They don't take the weight and can pop right out of the frame. Ditto for eyehooks - they can be pulled right out of the wood of the frame by the weight of the art, and also mark up the paint or other wall surface behind the art. The correct thing to use is a D-ring and wire.

The wire should be about 1/3 of the way down the painting, and pulled straight and tight across the back. When the wire is hung over the wall hook, this allows the top of the painting to tip away from the wall slightly, and the bottom corners should have bump-ons to protect the walls. The painting should not actually hang flat against the wall, but should angle slightly toward the viewer.

There are also hangers that look like D-rings, but are mounted vertically on both sides of the frame, rather than horizontally across the frame with a wire in between. These vertical hangers are designed to use with two hooks in the wall, level with each other, one ring on each hook. Do NOT put a wire on to such hangers or they will twist inward and often be ripped right out of the frame.

2. Damaged frames

A tiny scratch or dent can be camoflaged by a touch of felt pen, but if your frame has any type of substantial scratching, denting, separation at the corners, chips, cracks - well you get the idea - it is garbage. Throw it out.

3. Unsuitable frames

Then of course is the appearance of the painting - the wrong frame can detract from the art and the right frame can enhance it. People often try to save on framing by buying cheap frames, or "upcycled" frames, but the frame still needs to suit the art. If it is too dated, the wrong colour, too heavy or too thin, it can make a nice painting ugly. If your first impression is of the frame, that's bad - the first impression should be of the art and it should be difficult to even bring to mind what kind of frame it had!

A big mistake is matching the frame to your decor, or to other frames in the same room. The frame should suit the art.