Art & Frame Approach
Preserve Your Story with Custom Framing in Colorado Springs
For custom framing in Colorado Springs, CO, our team at Art & Frame Approach brings together thoughtful design, skilled craftsmanship, and proven preservation methods. Since 1986, we have helped collectors, artists, professionals, families, and artwork owners display the pieces that matter most. From valuable originals and limited-edition prints to diplomas, photographs, textiles, and childhood keepsakes, every item receives our careful attention. Located at 1010 W Colorado Ave A with more than 3,000 custom frames, museum-quality framing options, and extensive conservation expertise, we create finished pieces that protect your memories while reflecting your personal style.
RECENT REVIEWS
See what our customers say!
Floyd Fernadez
Thomas Staves
i felt at home the instant we met. you are a creator of lovely and inspiring things. i haven’t felt like an artist for awhile, since i stopped painting. you brought all of that back today, I am forever grateful.
tommy”
Thomas Rhode
Explore More Than
3,000 Frame Styles
The frame should support the artwork, not compete with it. It should also feel at home in the room where the piece will be displayed. With this in mind, our extensive selection includes more than 3,000 frame mouldings, giving you far more freedom than you may find at a typical frame shop.
Our collection includes:
- Handcrafted water-gilded frames
- Rich traditional wood mouldings
- Clean contemporary profiles
- Minimal metal frames
- Rustic and natural finishes
- Ornate European-inspired designs
- Colorful and artistic statement frames
- Deep shadow box mouldings
- Frames for oversized artwork
- Versatile styles for homes and offices
A broad selection matters because a single piece can be framed successfully in many different ways. A dramatic gilded frame may bring out the history and detail in an oil painting. A narrow black profile may give a modern photograph a crisp, gallery-ready appearance. A warm wood frame may complement a family heirloom without making it feel overly formal.
Our goal is not to push you toward the trendiest or most expensive option. We help you find the combination that enhances the piece and fits your taste.
A Community Framing
Resource Since 1986
Art & Frame Approach has been part of the local creative community since 1986. Over the years, we have worked with generations of families, professional artists, interior designers, collectors, businesses, photographers, and individuals who simply want to frame something they love. That history gives us practical experience with an extraordinary variety of projects. We understand how different papers, canvases, textiles, photographs, digital prints, and mixed-media works respond to framing materials and environmental conditions.
Our years of experience also shape the way we serve our customers. We take time to listen. We explain options without overwhelming you. We offer guidance when you need it and space to explore when you want to participate closely in the design. Whether you arrive with a clear vision or no idea where to begin, we will help you create a framing solution that feels right.
Conservation Framing That
Protects What Matters
Displaying a treasured piece is only part of the job. The framing materials and methods should also help protect it from avoidable damage. Standard framing products can contain acids, unstable adhesives, and materials that discolor or deteriorate over time. Poor mounting methods may permanently alter artwork. Unfiltered light can fade pigments, photographs, signatures, and printed surfaces.
Our custom art framing and conservation services are designed to reduce those risks.
Depending on the item, we may recommend:
- Acid-free or conservation-grade matting
- Archival backing and mounting materials
- Reversible or minimally invasive mounting methods
- UV-filtering glazing
- Proper spacing between artwork and glass
- Support for fragile paper or textiles
- Museum-quality framing techniques
- Materials selected for long-term stability
Conservation framing is especially important for original artwork, historic documents, signed memorabilia, limited-edition prints, old photographs, textiles, and irreplaceable family keepsakes.
Preservation does not mean hiding an item away. It means displaying it thoughtfully while reducing the factors that can cause fading, staining, warping, adhesion, and other permanent changes.
Museum-Quality Framing for Fine
Art and Collections
Collectors and artwork owners often need more than an attractive presentation. They need confidence that the framing package respects the condition, value, and materials of the piece.
Our museum-quality framing process places artwork preservation at the center of every decision. We evaluate the medium, surface, age, condition, size, and mounting requirements before recommending a framing method.
We frequently assist with:
- Original paintings and drawings
- Fine art prints
- Limited editions
- Signed artwork
- Historic photographs
- Maps and documents
- Valuable collections
- Gallery and exhibition pieces
- Artist portfolios
- Corporate artwork
Every piece has different requirements. A charcoal drawing cannot be treated the same way as an oil painting. A historic letter has different needs than a contemporary digital print. Certain surfaces require additional spacing, while some works should never touch glazing.
Our experience helps us identify those distinctions and recommend an appropriate approach.
Custom Framing Is About More
Than Choosing a Frame
Life is a collection of meaningful moments. Births, graduations, marriages, travels, family milestones, and everyday experiences become part of the story we carry with us. Artwork, photographs, letters, awards, and collectibles give those memories a physical presence. Our role as custom picture framers is to help you protect and display those pieces with intention.
When you bring something into our frame shop, we do not see it as just another project. We want to understand why it matters to you, where it will be displayed, and how you want it to feel in the finished space. A valuable original painting may require advanced conservation framing, while a child’s handmade card may carry a kind of sentimental value that cannot be measured.
Both deserve care…
Our framing process combines preservation knowledge with collaborative design. We consider the artwork, your taste, your interior, and the long-term protection the piece requires. The result should feel natural, balanced, and completely personal.
Award-Winning Design with
a Personal Approach
Great art framing requires both technical knowledge and a strong design eye. Proportion, color, texture, scale, mat width, frame depth, and visual weight all influence how the finished piece looks. Our award-winning design approach begins with conversation. Some customers want to be involved in every choice. Others prefer to describe the room and let us develop several possibilities. Many people fall somewhere in the middle. We’re comfortable working in all three ways.
During a design consultation, we may compare several frame mouldings, mat colors, glazing options, and mounting approaches. We look at how each choice affects the artwork as a whole. Sometimes a subtle change in mat tone brings out a detail that had gone unnoticed. In other cases, simplifying the design allows a powerful piece to speak for itself.
Learn More…
A successful frame does not merely surround the art. It creates a visual relationship between the artwork, the room, and the person who treasures it.
Framing for Diplomas, Awards,
and Professional Achievements
A diploma represents years of work. A professional license, military recognition, or career award can mark an important chapter in someone’s life. These documents deserve more than a generic ready-made frame.
Our custom diploma and certificate framing services allow you to coordinate school colors, office decor, professional branding, and personal style. We can create a clean, formal presentation or a more distinctive design using layered mats, fillets, specialty mouldings, and conservation-grade materials.
We frame:
- College and university diplomas
- Professional certifications
- Military honors
- Academic awards
- Licenses and credentials
- Retirement recognitions
- Corporate achievements
- Newspaper features and announcements
We can also design coordinated framing for multiple degrees or credentials, helping you create a polished wall display for an office, study, clinic, or professional space.
Shadow Boxes for Memorabilia,
Textiles, and Collectibles
Some of the most meaningful objects are not flat. Jerseys, medals, wedding accessories, musical memorabilia, military items, and travel keepsakes require dimensional framing that supports and protects each element.
Our custom shadow boxes are designed around the size, weight, material, and story of the collection. We arrange items carefully so the display feels organized and visually engaging without looking crowded.
Shadow box projects may include:
- Sports jerseys and equipment
- Military medals and uniforms
- Wedding bouquets and accessories
- Baby clothing and keepsakes
- Coins, pins, and badges
- Travel memorabilia
- Musical instruments and concert items
- Religious or cultural textiles
- Family collections
- Three-dimensional artwork
Whenever possible, we use mounting techniques that protect the object and avoid unnecessary permanent alteration.
Preserving Family Heirlooms
and Personal History
A great-great-grandmother’s wedding photograph may not belong in a public museum, but it is part of your family’s history. A handwritten recipe, old Valentine, child’s drawing, or inherited textile may carry memories that become more valuable with each generation. We treat sentimental pieces with the same seriousness we bring to fine art.
Before framing an heirloom, we consider its current condition and the materials from which it was made. Older paper may be brittle. Historic photographs may react poorly to adhesives. Fabric can require additional support. Newspaper clippings may be highly acidic and prone to rapid deterioration. Our recommendations are designed to preserve the piece in its present condition as much as reasonably possible. We also explain which materials and environmental factors may affect it in the future.
The value of an heirloom is not determined by a price tag.
Its value comes from the story only your family can tell.
Modern Preservation for Digital
Prints and Photography
Preservation techniques continue to evolve, especially as digital photography and inkjet printing technologies change. Different inks, coatings, papers, and substrates can react differently to moisture, heat, light, adhesives, and glazing.
We stay informed about current conservation practices through continuing education, formal coursework, industry research, and hands-on experience. That ongoing study helps us make more informed recommendations for both traditional and modern media.
Our photography framing services can support:
- Fine art photography
- Family portraits
- Digital art prints
- Panoramic photographs
- Black-and-white photography
- Wedding images
- Professional portfolios
- Exhibition prints
We select materials based on the characteristics of the piece rather than treating every print the same way.
Professional Framing for Artists,
Designers, and Businesses
Artists and creative professionals need a framing partner who understands deadlines, consistency, presentation standards, and the importance of protecting the artwork.
We work with painters, photographers, galleries, interior designers, architects, businesses, and other professionals on both individual projects and larger collections. Our team can help coordinate frame styles across a series, prepare pieces for exhibitions, develop framing specifications, or create cohesive artwork displays for commercial interiors.
Professional services may include:
- Artist framing and presentation
- Exhibition preparation
- Gallery-ready framing
- Corporate artwork programs
- Interior design collaboration
- Framing for hospitality spaces
- Multi-piece installations
- Oversized framing
- Collection updates
- Frame replacement and reframing
Our customers come from throughout El Paso County and neighboring Front Range communities, including Monument, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Woodland Park, and nearby areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing depends on the size of the piece, frame moulding, matting, glazing, mounting method, and preservation requirements. We help you compare options and develop a design that respects both the artwork and your budget.
Turnaround time varies based on material availability, project complexity, and current production volume. We provide a realistic completion estimate after finalizing the design and materials.
Not every item requires the same level of protection. We typically recommend conservation materials for original art, valuable prints, photographs, documents, heirlooms, collectibles, and anything you want to preserve long term.
Museum-quality framing uses carefully selected archival materials, preservation-focused mounting techniques, and protective glazing. The goal is to limit avoidable changes to the artwork while supporting long-term display.
Yes. We design custom shadow boxes for jerseys, textiles, medals, memorabilia, keepsakes, and many other dimensional objects. Each display is built around the item’s size, weight, condition, and mounting needs.
UV-filtering glazing can significantly reduce exposure to damaging ultraviolet light, but no glazing blocks every source of deterioration. We also recommend thoughtful placement away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, and moisture.
Yes. We can evaluate the existing frame, materials, mounting, and condition of the piece. We may recommend replacing harmful materials, updating the design, improving protection, or preserving useful components of the original presentation.
Walk-ins may be welcome, but contacting us in advance can help ensure we have enough time to discuss complex projects, collections, oversized art, or multiple pieces without rushing the design process.
Why Choose Our
Local Frame Shop?
Custom framing is an investment in both presentation and protection. The person designing and assembling the frame should understand the materials, the artwork, and the long-term consequences of each choice.
Customers choose Art & Frame Approach because we offer:
- A community presence dating back to 1986
- More than 3,000 frame mouldings
- Award-winning custom design
- Conservation and archival expertise
- Museum-quality craftsmanship
- Personalized, collaborative service
- Framing for both valuable and sentimental pieces
- Continuing education in preservation techniques
- Careful treatment of every item
We combine a large selection with the kind of specialized attention that only an experienced independent frame shop can provide.
Give Your Artwork and Memories
the Presentation They Deserve
The right frame helps you experience a meaningful piece every day while protecting it for the future. At Art & Frame Approach, we bring nearly four decades of design knowledge, conservation expertise, and gallery-quality craftsmanship to every project. Whether we are framing fine art, a professional achievement, a family photograph, or a handwritten note, our goal remains the same: preserve the story and create a presentation that feels distinctly yours. So visit our Colorado Springs frame shop or contact our team today to begin your custom framing consultation.