Friday's art article - SELECTING ART MATS

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.

How to Hang Pictures on a Wall

Today's art article is actually a video I found on the Lowe's You Tube channel. It shows you how to hang artwork on various kinds of wall surfaces. It also shows the different hardware options and tools needed to complete a project.

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

Help with your art and home decorating needs

We get A LOT of decorating questions from fans and customers. It can be a bit intimidating or overwhelming to frame, display, and care for your original art purchase. In lieu of a featured artist this month, Cow Art and More will instead be sharing art decorating tips on our blog. Our cow art artists will be sharing some of their best advice on how to get the most from your piece of cow art.

Normally, the month's featured artist has free shipping on their work. This month, we will rotate the pieces available for free shipping. Check our specials section frequently to see if your favorite artist has free shipping!

How to Hang Art

Hanging and displaying art can be a daunting task. Need some help? This three minute video will give you ideas on how to give your art collection the attention it deserves.

Friday's art article - Displaying and Grouping wall art

So just how can you pull several images together into one cohesive wall display? Check out this article on Displaying and Grouping Wall Art, which gives readers several ideas on how to bring different pieces of art together into one beautiful display.

Friday's art article - How to judge art

When many people are asked about whether or not they like a piece of art, they can give you a "yes or no", but not necessarily the why. The article How to judge art breaks down some of the simple reasons why people may find a piece of art to their liking. The review lists five areas and discusses them in detail about how people evaluate art.

Friday's art article: All About Picture Framing - How to Pick the Right Glass for a Picture Frame

There are so many considerations when deciding how to frame a piece of two dimensional art. One such thing to think about is what type of glass to use with your frame. This brief video gives examples of three glass choices and price estimates.

How to Choose the Right Picture Hangers or Wall Fasteners: Home Repair & Maintenance Tips | eHow.com

Today's art related article gives some examples of the different types of picture hangers available to hang artwork. This two minute video briefly explains and gives examples of different hangers and when they might be appropriate to use.


How to Choose the Right Picture Hangers or Wall Fasteners -- powered by eHow.com

Friday's art article: How to frame your art

Why frame your art?

The main reasons to frame your art is (1) to enhance your work and compliment it and (2) to protect it from damage from elements like moisture and dust; and from physical damage from handling, touching and transporting. All works of art do not need to be framed. Often canvas paintings are gallery wrapped instead, which is where the canvas is wrapped around thick stretcher bars and secured to the back of the bars, leaving no visible attachment on the sides. While this may be good for some works art on canvas, works of art on paper and board will usually require framing for structure and protection.

How to Choose your art frame moulding

There are different schools of thought when choosing the style and color of moulding when framing your art. Most would agree though that a frame moulding should be selected that enhances and compliments the work of art first, and that the decor of the room is a secondary consideration. Then the art and frame combination may be chosen as one entity to compliment a particular decor. For example a traditional or classic style painting may best be suited by a wide gold leaf or wood tone moulding, whereas a contemporary or abstract piece may be better framed in a slim solid color moulding. A traditional or classic artwork and frame can also look very good in a modern decor and a modern artwork and frame can look good in a traditional decor.

Large works of art generally look better with wider mouldings, and smaller works of art generally look better with thinner mouldings, however this is not always the case. A large oversized frame can give a small size painting a look comparable to a diamond in a setting. If wall space is a limitation when framing a large work of art, then a floater frame may be used. A floater frame is a frame with a solid back to which the artwork is attached, so that the moulding does not touch the artwork itself, giving the illusion that the artwork is floating in the frame. A floater frame may add 1"- 4" to the height and width of the piece whereas a regular frame may add as much as 12".

More than one mouldings are often used to create a unique look. Oil paintings often use an inner frame called a linen liner that is covered in a white or neutral fabric and a fillet (pronounced 'fill-it'), a decorative moulding that fits inside the frame or underneath the mat. A fillet can be used with or without a linen liner. A frame moulding and it's linen liner should never be the same width, the frame is usually wider than the liner.

Choosing the color of the moulding is pretty much common sense, you want to choose a color that compliments and enhances the colors in the artwork, not something that is going to clash. You also wouldn't want a busy looking frame to go with a busy image.


Framing Works of Art on Paper

Special considerations must be made when framing works of art on paper due to the sensitivity to light, moisture, temperature, and restriction of movement. A practice called Conservation Mounting is used to protect the work not only from the elements, but also to avoid any damage to the work by the mounting method itself. You want to be able to remove the work from the framing without any visible indication that the artwork has ever been framed.

The artwork must be mounted on some type of support or mount board prior to being framed. The piece will be in direct contact with the mount board, so the choice of mount board is critical. It must be constructed of acid free material. Archival Foam Board is an excellent choice and will prevent moisture from entering through the back of the frame. All materials used when mounting the artwork should be acid free. Acid free adhesives and acid free corner pockets should be used to secure the artwork to the mount. Adhesives should be easy to remove, and should not stain or darken with age. An ideal adhesive is freshly made wheat or rice starch paste. Pressure sensitive tapes and masking tapes should never be used because they can permanently damage the picture and become difficult or even impossible to remove.

Framing works of art of paper usually requires framing under glass for protection. The glass or glazing as it called protects the picture from physical damage, moisture, pollutants, and damaging ultra-violet rays. There are several types of glazing used including regular glass, non-glare, museum, and acrylic (Plexiglass). Conservation glazing may be applied to glass which offers up to 97% UV protection.

A matboard, (also called a mat, matte or matting) is a paper board or sheet with a cutout window that separates the artwork from the glass, and also serves as a border around the artwork. Matting also serves in the presentation of the artwork. A spacer may be used instead of a mat. The spacer is placed in the rabbet to keep the artwork from coming in contact with the frame or glass.


Fitting the Frame

When measuring your artwork for the frame there is more to consider than just the height and width of the work itself. The rabbet or rebate as it is sometimes called, is where everything must fit. The frame moulding is routed slightly larger than the measurement of your art work so there is allowance for expansion and a little play. The rabbet depth should be deep enough to accommodate the artwork, mount board, matting, spacers, glass etc. The exception to this is when you want the frame to appear to "float" on the wall, held off the wall slightly by the mount board or canvas stretcher bars.

For more information on framing art, photographs, crafts, or memorabilia; and a large selection of wood picture frame mouldings, visit Artist's Wholesale Framing today.

Artist's Wholesale Framing was created to provide artists, photographers, crafters, and hobbyists with a fast, top quality, inexpensive alternative to over-priced retail art and picture frames.

Frame mouldings are cut-to-order, usually ship within 24 hours, and assemble in minutes.

Check out our moulding selection today and never pay retail again!

Artist's Wholesale Framing

(c)2010 Artist's Wholesale Framing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_W_Parker

Friday's art article of interest: HOW TO FLATTEN ROLLED ARTWORK

Shipping artwork is a tricky business. While shipping artwork in a flat container is ideal, it makes shipping the item more expensive. Rolling the artwork and shipping in a tube is more economical, but it requires the recipient or framer to flatten the piece before displaying. Today's art article of interest from Wiki How shows to how to flatten a piece of art in order to frame or display it.

How to Flatten a Rolled Map or Poster

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Rolled wall maps or posters are hard to put on the wall if they're trying to roll back up. Here's how to get them to straighten up.

Steps

• Roll your poster opposite from the way that it curls. Start loose and tighten it up as you go, to avoid creasing it. Sometimes this is enough to flatten it, depending on the paper and how long it has been rolled.

• Wrap rubber bands around your opposite-rolled poster.

• Let your poster sit like this for a few hours.

• Remove the rubber bands and place your poster flat on a clean surface. Put it so that the side towards which it's curling.

• Smooth out the poster and place weights on the corners and in the center of your poster for 2 to 4 hours. Books are a good choice.

• 

  Remove the weights.

• Hang the poster.

Tips

• If your poster continues to curl after completing step 5, keep the weights on for longer.
  
• Good substitutes for paperweights include smooth rocks, glass jars, bean bags, and heavy books. Don't put heavy weights on the poster on a soft surface. The poster could crinkle.
  
• Work gently to avoid crinkling the poster.
  
• If you place the poster on the floor to flatten it, make sure it is out of the way so that nobody steps on it.
  

Warnings

• Ironing does not work for flattening posters.
  
• If you want to flatten a vintage poster, please take it to a professional.
  
• If you want to laminate a poster, flatten it first.
  
• Do not use rubber bands that have ink stamps on them, as they may stain your paper.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cover Your Room With Posters
  
• How to Mount a Map or Poster Without Damaging It
  
• How to Center a Heading on a Poster or Other Headline
  
• How to Make a Poster
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Flatten a Rolled Map or Poster. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Friday's art article : (Video) How to Pick a Mat for Picture Framing

You've got a piece of art selected and bought. Next is finding the perfect mat. Help! This is a short, two minute video showing examples of 4 different types of matting options for the same art print.

Friday's art article: How to Mount a Watercolor Painting on Board

This video by Annie Strack (@anniestrack) shows how to mount a watercolor painting on paper to cradled art board.The resulting artwork can be displayed without frames, mats or glass!

Friday's art related article: How To Add Hanging Wire to a Picture Frame

This short video (less than two minutes) details the proper way to add a hanging wire to the back of your framed piece of art.


How to Add Hanging Wire to Photo Frame -- powered by eHow.com

How to Hang Heavy Objects Using Toggle Bolts

So you have the really nice painting you want to hang in your foyer, but you're not sure how to do it. This is a 100 second video that shows viewers how to use toggle bolts to hang a heavy object on a plaster wall.

Friday's art related article: How To Select Art for your Home

Today's art themed article helps readers Select Art for your Home. Purchasing art can be an intimidating experience. What if I choose the wrong thing? What if I'm overpaying? What if it doesn't look right in my home? This article helps to put readers at ease by telling them a few key points to consider before making an art purchase.

Friday's art related article: How To Choose the Right Frame For a Picture

A quick video that sums up just how to pick the right frame and mat for a piece of art.

Friday's art themed article: How to hang a picture on a wall

Through our email box, we receive questions from customers on just how to display their art once they receive it. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much help is a video?! Enjoy this short (approximately 2 minute) video on how to hang a lightweight painting.

How to Choose the Right Picture Frame For Your Art

Choosing the right picture frame is a big deal for many people. When you have a special photo or painting, the right frame can enhance and draw attention to it.

There are many different types of picture frames on the market today. Big ones, small ones, humorous and elegant, antique or modern; wood, metal ceramic or plastic, choosing the right frame for your photo or painting is very important.

Before you go shopping for frames, look at the picture. Determining what type the picture is will assist you in deciding what type of frame to purchase. If the photo is a professional portrait then you may want to consider a wood or etched frame, something that is somber or elegant. It is also important that you set a limit on how much you want to spend on your frame. Picture frames can range in price for just a few dollars up to hundreds of dollars.

Another consideration is where you will be displaying the frame. Consider the décor of the room and the color scheme. If you are thinking of a colored frame, choose a color that will not only draw attention to the photo, but also blend in with the colors of the room. Many people opt for a natural wood because it not only blends well into any décor, it can also be painted or stained should you change your décor.

The room where you will be placing the picture or painting is a major factor in deciding on which type of frame to use. Choosing a frame for a nursery is very different than choosing one for a living room. A ceramic frame with pink and blue balloons may be perfect for a baby's room, however it does not go well in a living room. It is important that you take into consideration where the frame will be placed.

Choosing the right size frame is critical to any décor. If you have small frames already, choosing a large frame for your photo or painting may seem like it is out of place. Taking the photo with you and placing it in different frames will assist narrowing your choices.

Another factor you want to consider is whether or not you want a border around your photo. A border can enhance a photo, especially if you match it to subtle colors of the photo.

Photos that are lighthearted or humorous are always incredible reminders of a family vacation or special events, and displaying them in frames that match the personality of the photo can give it a more special meaning. This is not always the easiest task, however you will find the right frame.

Choosing a frame for a painting can be a little more tedious, especially if the painting has sentimental value. Paintings of landscapes are beautiful, and you want to display them in a frame that will only enhance the beauty. Elegant frames such as etched wood are the perfect frame for paintings that have a natural beauty all their own.

Choosing the right frame for your photo or painting does not have to be difficult if you decide before hand what you want, the most important factor is finding the perfect frame. If you are having a difficult time in deciding, ask the assist of friends or relatives for their assistance.

Photos come in all sizes, as do picture frames. It can take a while to find the right frame, however when you do, you will proudly display it where everyone can see.

Peter Geisheker is the CEO of The Geisheker Group marketing firm. One of Peter's clients is GNP Frames, a manufacturer of high quality picture frames for photographers and artists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Geisheker