Framing in Rockville

For 50 years, the owners and staffers of Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing have encouraged the artists of their community. They visit local fairs and set up booths for kids to color and craft, and they workshops, demos, and classes for artists of every age. As their name implies, they also outfit art makers of all skill levels with top-of-the-line materials, such as Gamblin oil paints, Prismacolor pens and markers, and custom frames perfect for saving a favorite art pieces or memorializing a sibling's failure to color within the lines.

A to Z Art & Framing provides full-service custom framing and fine art restoration to the greater DC area. Boasting a justice league of framing options, from traditional molding to surprisingly substantial shadow boxes, the store is equipped to artistically capture even the most devious of decorative pieces. The experienced staff will guide the memory-preserver through their options with suggestions of color and texture combinations that best compliment both the treasured artwork and the customer's personal style. Much like snowflakes or excuses for missing a dance recital, no two pieces of art are alike, so framing prices will vary. However, A to Z Art & Framing offers ready-made frames ideal for oil paintings in a variety of sizes up to 16"x20" at prices of $125 or less.

Image Ace’s frame forgers work to preserve memories by ensconcing treasured prints, paintings, and photographs in a variety of resplendent rims. The experienced picture protectors offer hundreds of frame styles ($4.99–$200/ft.), an extensive mat selection, including acid-free ($29.95) and fabric or simili-suede ($39.95), and glass available in regular, nonglare, and museum-grade varieties. Although the price of custom framing varies by project, clients can preserve a Matisse print in a standard 8”x10” frame with mat for an average price of $100 or lend an air of credibility to their knitting circle’s double-purled declaration of national sovereignty by preserving it in an 11”x14” frame with mat for approximately $125.

The Chesapeake Framing Company's talented designers ensnare treasured artwork and photographs in handcrafted borders, compiled from more than 5,000 custom frames and hundreds of custom mats. The bright and airy show room encompasses both traditional and innovative portrait protectors, which run the gamut from basic black and gilt-edged frames to polychromatic varietals and those whimsically compiled from out-of-work rulers. A fully assembled 11”x14” gold turner frame with 3-inch matting and regular glass (around $200) majestically displays an adorable family portrait or hallway mirror, while a similarly equipped 8”x10” (typically under $200) provides a perfect way to showcase a favorite candid shot or a neatly penned reminder to take a family portrait.

Crystal Framing Gallery's staff skillfully handles a range of customer requests, from traditional photography and portrait framing to special projects such as engraving, photo restoration, and object framing. Patrons choose from more than 2,000 available materials and framing styles that include conservation, shadow boxing, and glued macaroni.

L'Eclat de Verre's skilled technicians specialize in putting the finishing touches on precious works of art. Each image-wrangler has completed four years of framing school, mastering 18th century, contemporary, and rare fourth-dimensional techniques. Since no two pieces of art are alike, the method of construction will vary depending on what is being framed. All framing methods are conservation quality and use acid-free materials to ensure long-lasting displayability. For those looking to add a finishing flair to their pieces, more than 800 varieties of textured and handmade papers from all over the world are available as matting choices. As with wholesale pizza parlors, prices vary from piece to piece, with 8"x10" objects ranging from $85–$210 on average, 16"x20" objects ranging from $170–$380 on average, and 24"x36" objects ranging from $310–$625 on average.