Our Stories
The Art of Framing with Victoria Zschommler
Photographer Victoria Zschommler finds beauty in the unexpected.
Inspired by her surroundings, Victoria’s work celebrates the simplicity of everyday moments, from the quiet still of a sunrise to the wild growth of a flower farm.
Victoria recently welcomed us into her home to discuss her creative process and how she uses art to tie a space together.
Can you tell us a little bit about your work?
I shoot objects and products; products on objects, and products on people. I also like to shoot nature and our natural surroundings. My home is in Melbourne, and I work between multiple cities. Until more recently I was sharing my time very regularly with clients in Paris, but now that I am a mother to a one-and-a-half-year-old, my trips back and forth to Paris are less regular and instead more of a work residency with the family.
Can you describe your artistic process? Where do you find inspiration?
My artistic process varies depending on the output of the project. A shoot for a personal project or art series vs an editorial to be printed in a magazine, or a commercial client's campaign—each comes with a slightly different mindset. My inspirations and references will differ depending on each project. Some require quick thinking and decision-making, whereas I might ruminate on another for a while. I find inspiration in shape, shadow and tone. I have a big collection of books and magazines that span across works of multidisciplinary artists, painters, sculptors and potters. As well as gardeners, photographers, and architects. I may look to these to help spark a thought or feeling I’ve had towards a project. My aim is to always stay true to my practice and to feel proud of the work I produce.
When it comes to framing prints or artworks, can you share a couple of tips?
I personally love the process of framing artworks. Whether it be for my own shows or with other artists' work for my home, I get excited to see a complete piece hanging nicely. I think people should be adventurous with their choice of scale and size. A small and intimately framed piece can hold just as much attention as a show-stopping large one. My tip: Keep your room finishes in mind when choosing a frame colour and style. What colour are your door handles, curtain rails, pendant lights and cords—black, white or silver? If you have timbers in your room, are they light or dark tones? I think it’s best not to overcomplicate the number of colours and finishes you have in a room. If you want to bring space to a busy image or artwork, a white mat board can be great for that.
How do you ensure an artwork ties into the surrounding space or room?
Stay true to your style, and if your style is eclectic, then that same rule applies!
What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve been working on launching some new personal art prints on my website. It’s not something I’ve done a lot of in the past, but I haven’t exhibited since late 2019 and have had a lot of people reach out about my art prints. Putting a selection of images together to be shown online has felt strangely intimate and modest. Of course, my hope is that the images are then printed and enjoyed as they should be in a tactile way!
