I believe you absolutely can. In my painting class we are currently doing grisaille and are painting the sides of the canvas so we can do just what you are asking - hang them without frames!
Sharlabel

My husband and I have been going to art shows for years and have collected a lot of art. Most of the pieces we have framed. However, we have four canvases that have painted sides like you describe. I think they do have a more contemporary look to them unframed which is kind of funny because I have a very traditional home. But I like mixing things up and I like the unframed pieces I have. I think you are perfectly fine to hang them as is, especially with the sides being finished.

I love them! I bought a "fake" painting (excuse my crude way of referring to it but I really have no idea how it was printed onto the canvas!) for over my bed. Where I live I need to be careful what I hang over the bed. Canvases alone are lightweight, it's those heavy frames that are dangerous. I especially like seeing the image carried onto the sides. Whenever I see a wall with a mix of framed art and un-framed art I find it infinitely more interesting and less "heavy". Canvases alone have a softer look to them, which for me is more casual. The canvas hanging over my bed is not contemporary at all but I attribute that mostly to the subject matter.

Sharlabel - I would love to take a class like that. Are you using the grisaille as an underpainting or keeping it as a B&W painting?

Cind11 - do you hang the unframed ones in the same room as framed painting? I agree that they look more contemporary which is what caused me to question my choices. My home is more or less traditional too. I'm in the process of a mini budget redo of my dining room. It is pretty traditional and I just hung a painting that I did especially for that room. It is unframed and looks a little stark on the wall, but in a way I like that look. I may just have to look at it for a while.

They can look wonderful and add a spirit of eclecticism to a space that's very refreshing, in either a traditional or modern decor. It's just a matter of correct placement and what you put around the painting in terms of furniture and other accessories.

I think artists can sell their original paintings unframed on the thick canvases, or if they paint on masonite.
it's trendy to that, has been for years.
Now the canvas transfers are offered that way too.

That being said, I think the buyer of an original painting should have it framed, the frame is meant to protect the painting over the years, keep it stable. I used to have a gallery and sold unframed paintings; I offered the framing at my cost price and handled it for the client, I strongly suggested/recommended they do it, I would say half the people did .

Framing an original painting protects it and keeps it stable since you will most likely have it for a lifetime, it's worth the investment, imo.....

it is a matter of preference, i have most of my art in frames, but i have an antique oil on canvas hanging in my bedroom with no frame, will it be framed someday? we'll see, it isn't standard size so it would have to be custom and i'm just not there yet, but it is too pretty not to hang up..and enjoy in the meantime..

I'll add to my post that I did not have a selection of frames in my gallery, I had the paintings framed elsewhere and I only offered the classic gallery frame, square, 2 inches , in black or brown. Since I sold contemporary art, it was fitting of the style. All the paintings I personally own are framed the same way, except one large one in a very ornate frame.

I have seen art that appeared unframed, but the canvas art area was boarded with the outside edges of the canvas stiffened to rolled, curled and embellish with other materials. Art is what draws you in for another look.

Artlover13060,
We are using the Grisaille as an underpainting. I'm very excited about this technique. My instructor mostly teaches using acrylic but has taken a couple classes using Grisaille and is doing this with us now. We'll be added color to our paintings on Monday!
Sharlabel

Artlover,

Yes, I have framed and unframed art in the same room.

Mitchdesj,

How do the frames protect the canvases? There is no glass. My canvases are hung with wire strung across the back as if they were framed, so they seem pretty stable. I don't mean to dispute what you say, I'm just curious.

Anytime I've heard artists talk, they all cringe at the thought of frames. They prefer just the art, unframed. I've seen them frame as Bodica describes, though, with the unfinished wood slats along the edges. Similar to an unframed look that doesn't detract from the artwork. Maybe that's actually functional for additional support. I like all three methods, myself.

I'm glad you asked this artlover, I was thinking the same thing this week. Was looking online at art and wondering how I felt about unframed with my traditional decor and mixing them with framed and matted work. Interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on this. I had bought a large oil canvas for over my sofa and it had the thin black wooden frame that almost had the no frame look. I looked at it a while then ordered a wide wooden frame. I like it better in this case but I've been tempted to try other frameless art.

I have some very large paintings that were made by stretching canvas over a 2X2 frame. I have another canvas that I bought that's 1 3/4" and the sides are painted black. I think it's a good, contemporary look as long the edge is wrapped around the frame.

I think unframed art works beautifully in an unconventional setting. Some paintings just cry to speak for themselves. But, then, I'm an iconoclast.

I have both framed and unframed art, but I admit to a very eclectic style. I probably would not recommend plonking an unframed piece in an otherwise very traditional living space.

They are fine either way. Also, float frames can really add a nice finish these kind of canvases. I'm sure you've seen them, they are attached to the stretchers in the back and leave a small gap. I use these sometimes for shows. I got my last batch from Roma but I just Googled float frames and found these -

Here is a link that might be useful: floater frame

Sure you can leave them unframed. Sometimes a frame really doesn't add to the art but takes away from it. I have both in my home and enjoy them both ways.

Betty, good point about the floater frame, that's the way mine are framed, no mats.
my point about the protection part applied to the larger paintings, anything over 36 by 36; the framing protects against warping, specially if a painting is heavily textured.

I looked around my house last night, and I actually do have a few unframed paintings. I should take pictures and post examples, framed and unframed, a mix is interesting, no doubt about that.

This has been a very interesting thread. I love hearing all your thoughts and ideas on this. It is so nice to find people to talk to who love art and decorating. I learn something every time I log on.

I love the unframed ones. I've been buying art for my new house & that's all I've been getting. I do have one original that DH bought me a while back hanging here. I think it's your preference. I have found that I like the unframed ones because the focus is the art instead of the frame. I think it also partly depends on the subject matter. The unframed look is more casual & seems to be better suited to more contemporary type art.

All of my canvas or panel-based work is either on panels with wood sides that I either stain or paint, or in floater frames. For some reason I buy panels or gallery canvases that are 2" deep - I like the distance from the wall.

My woodcut prints are all matted and framed of course. The black floater frames help the 2 go together.

Think also, however, about how early modern art - late 19th early 20th century - work is framed in sometimes very ornate traditional frames. It can help a contemporary piece fit in a traditional setting in a very authentic way. Just in the last couple of weeks I saw some new abstract landscape-based paintings by Thomas Batista done this way and there was something very refreshing about it. Wouldn't work for mine though. As kittiemom mentions, the frame is supposed to bring your focus to the work, not to itself. A good framer is a fine thing to find.

I love unframed canvases! I especially like it when there's a grouping...and they are propped on ledges, mantles, backs of desks or tables against the wall. It's just rustic and artsy to me.

On the same lines...I have a problem with seeing unframed canvases hung as a focal point...it's a childhood memory. My mom is into traditional decor. She hung a canvas on the wall and never found (in her opinion) the "right" frame...so it hung in the spot frame-less for about 20 years. It always looked unfinished and weird...I believe because of her traditional style and everything surrounding you WAS finished.

About 5 years ago, my mom put the pic in a frame for something to do, and for the first time in my life I felt completeness from that wall. It was all about finishing/framing that 1 canvas so it didn't stick out as an unfinished oddity.

Like Flyingflower, I don't want to hang anything too heavy or with glass over the bed, so I have decided to do my own painting on a canvas frame. I see that Aaron Brothers is having a sale this weekend. I know what I want to do - real leaf prints in colors to match the room's decor -- but I know nothing about painting. Does anyone have any suggestions (or web links) that would give me a bit of a crash course on paint?

Kelpmermaid, if you Google "printing leaves" you will find several web sites that explain how to do this. The link below is about printing on fabric, but there is no reason you can't do this on canvas. It would be easier to do this on a canvas panel, but if you want to do it on canvas that is on a stretcher frame you would need to put something like a thick phone book under the center of the canvas so you would have something to press on when you imprint the leaf. Sounds like a great project. Have fun and let us know how it turns out.

Here is a link that might be useful: printing leaves

Artlover, thank you so much! That's exactly what I needed. With the Aaron Brothers sale on now, this may be my rainy day project tomorrow. I went over there today just to look and collected some leaves on the way home. I need something to brighten the bedroom and my spirits on the cheap.

I live in an apartment style condo. I have framed art in the living room but found some beautiful wrapped canvas prints that I want to hang in the dining room area. The walls are connected and two unframed pieces would be on the same wall as framed pieces. Is that ok? I feel like it would help seperate the rooms but this is also my first time decorating a new home and want it to be perfect ( for lack of a better word). Any ideas for me? I am looking at cityscape style prints and my current pieces are more framed iron with a colored mat. Thanks for any help!!!

I am considering the purchase of canvas art which is stretched over top of a backing frame for structure. The canvas sides, which wrap around the backing frame are a continuation of the art. My concern is dust... if it happens to accumulate on top of the frame. I am feeling it may not be easy to properly dust the top edge. Any one noticing this to be a problem?

2.5 year old thread.

No different than dusting a framed painting.

You joined to post that question?