Getting Lost (Repeatedly) in Venice – and Why That’s Not a Bad Thing
Lottie and I have just got back from a few days in Venice a city that, as it turns out, is very good at two things: incredible art… and making you completely lose your sense of direction.
I’m fairly certain we walked past the same café at least four times. At one point I was convinced Venice was just one long loop designed to test your patience. But in between all that wandering (and stopping for the occasional espresso to regroup), we found exactly what we were hoping for inspiration.
And quite a lot of it.
Frames That Steal the Show (Almost)
It’s easy to go to Venice and focus purely on the artwork and rightly so but what really stood out to me this time was the framing.
Some of the frames were so good they nearly upstaged the art itself (not something we’d officially recommend… but you could see why it happens).
Big, bold, unapologetically ornate. Gold leaf everywhere. Deep profiles that mean business. The sort of frames that don’t quietly sit in the background they announce themselves the moment you walk into the room.
It’s a world away from the “safe” choices people often lean towards, and a good reminder especially for us at Graham Harrison Framing that bespoke framing can do far more than simply hold something on the wall.
For anyone looking at London framing services, it’s a useful shift in perspective: a frame can be a feature, not just a finish.
Not Everything Needs to Be Perfect
One of the best things about what we saw was that not everything was pristine.
In fact, some of the most interesting frames were a bit worn, slightly uneven, and full of character. You could see the age in them the kind of finish you just can’t fake (or at least not easily).
It’s reassuring in a way. In a world where everything’s often expected to look brand new, there’s something great about pieces that have a bit of history and aren’t trying too hard to hide it.
It’s something we often talk about in the workshop at Graham Harrison Framing how materials, finishes and small imperfections can add depth and authenticity to a piece, especially in high end bespoke picture framing.
Lessons from Getting It Wrong (Direction-Wise)
Getting lost as much as we did actually turned out to be quite useful.
We ended up in smaller galleries, tucked-away workshops, and places we’d never have found if we’d stuck to a plan. And those were often the spots where the most interesting framing choices were hiding.
It’s a bit like framing itself sometimes the best results don’t come from playing it safe, but from exploring something slightly different.
(Although ideally with fewer wrong turns than we managed.)
For clients looking for custom framing in London, that willingness to explore options from subtle finishes to more statement designs is often where the best results come from.
Back to the Workshop
Trips like this always have a way of following you home.
You start looking at materials differently. Thinking more about texture, depth, and how far you can push things before they become too much… or just enough.
There’s definitely a balance not every piece needs a full Venetian-style gold statement frame but it’s a good reminder that framing can have personality. It doesn’t always have to sit quietly in the corner behaving itself.
At Graham Harrison Framing, that’s exactly what we aim to bring into every project whether it’s contemporary artwork, photography, or something more traditional requiring careful, considered fine art framing.
Final Thoughts (and Slightly Sore Feet)
Venice delivered exactly what we hoped for: great art, great food, and more inspiration than we could realistically carry back with us.
Also, a lot of steps. A lot of bridges. And a now very healthy respect for Google Maps… even when it’s wrong.
But most importantly, it reinforced something we already believe:
A good frame doesn’t just finish a piece it can completely change how you see it.
And occasionally, if it’s bold enough… it might even steal a bit of the spotlight.
