Hanging your Art
What to do with it after you have bought it!
Bought it unframed? It can be a lot of fun choosing a frame to complement your new piece of art, but you should ensure it's done properly so that you show off the work to best advantage.
Most neighbourhoods have framing shops that can advise on suitable frames. The ranges that they stock can be mind-boggling; take the artwork in with you so that they can help with your choice. Frames can either be bought readymade so that you put the artwork in, or a framer will offer a framing service for you. If you do feel that you can put the frame and artwork together yourself then why not go online and buy your frame, or go to a shop such as IKEA, Habitat, John Lewis which all have ranges of frames for sale.
Mounts, (the card edging around the artwork in the frame); Only the lucky few can cut mounts themselves. It is definitely a skill that takes time, patience and the right equipment. For the average Joe Bloggs it is better to ‘send in the professionals’ or don’t put in a mount at all. Again mounts can be bought readymade from retailers, the internet or cut to size from a framing shop
You have chosen the artwork, frame and mount, you or a framer have assembled it. It looks good. Now it will need to go on the wall. You could hang your picture over the fireplace, but you don’t have to. Inspiration can be found in any aspirational interior design magazine (Elle Design, Livingetc, Wallpaper, to name but a few) all feature new and traditional ways to hang pictures. When choosing your spot don’t place your picture in bright or direct daylight as this will fade the work, also hanging over a direct heat sources can cause discolouration and deterioration of paper and paint over time. Your picture is on the wall to be seen, so it needs to be at a comfortable eye level for people to enjoy without bending down or standing on tiptoe.
Traditionally picture wire, attached by hooks, across the back of the frame is used to hang the picture, a good choice for individual pictures, but a fiddly procedure if you are trying to hang a line of pictures, consider mirror plates for groups. Finally it is down to measuring carefully, drilling a hole and inserting a screw, nail or picture hook.
Now stand back and enjoy a job well done…
Lyn Medcalf
