Save money on framing

I always try to pinch pennies by framing prints in standard size frames instead of having a custom size made. I also suggest this to my customers.

Tip contributed by pencil drawing artist Amanda Raithel

Selecting frames and mats

For me, as an artist, the cost of framing a piece of work can be daunting and overwhelming for a top-notch job. It was important for me to remind myself (as a poor graduate student at the time), that I was preserving these works of art for a lifetime. A one time cost for long term enjoyment and preservation. You aren’t going to frame things lots of times, so it is important to do things right the first time and not skimp. Frame selection and mat selection are also important, and some of that is personal preference (I don’t claim to be an expert here!).

Tip contributed by drawing artist Laurie Winkelman.

Make the frame as unique as the art

My tip would be choosing a frame for your art. I use the Kentucky Barn Wood frames that are hand made by Owen Tomlin in Jacksonville, KY. The nice part about this is that it's another hand-made product along with the art, it's two-fold artistry! Owen even tears down the barns himself for the wood and he is 73 years old.

The barn wood can be stained to match your decor, brown, dark brown, black, barn red, or weathered natural gray. The nice thing about these frames is that they come with bumps and scratches and even nail holes, so if you nick or damage them, they are no worse for wear!

Today's tip provided by mixed media artist, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

How to make the art fit the room

A mistake I made early on with decorating with art was hanging the art to fit the center of the wall space, rather than the furniture or other items close to wall. For example:

• Art should hang at eye level! Don't place it above a bookcase just because you have the blank wall space.
• Hang it in relation to what's close to it. Place a large painting within a couple of inches of the sofa, not centered between the top of the sofa and the ceiling.
• White space can be a good thing. Every available open space doesn't have to have something on it.

Today's tips provided by jewelry artist Kathy McComb Swift

Friday's website of interest to art enthusiasts: SELECTING MATS FOR ART

Today's article of interest to art enthusiasts is on different considerations for selecting mats for an art purchase. While a frame is important to a piece of art, mats are just as important for helping to complement the piece. This article goes over some basic considerations in selecting the right mat for a piece.