Ready, Set, Frame
After sorting through the different formats, choosing the right art, received the new treasure - it’s time to frame or hang! Depending on what format you purchased, you may have a few options.
Stretched Canvas: Your canvas art can be shipped stretched over a wooden frame or rolled. If it arrives stretched, you can hang from the frame or for better support (especially for larger peices) you can hang from a wire, (see video here). You can always get a custom frame made for your artwork as well. Check Yelp for the best reviews on local framers.
Rolled Canvas: Large works (original or giclee) are frequently sold rolled with or without their stretcher bars. This is because most shipping companies have maximum dimensions they are willing to manage for product & driver safety. You can take your rolled canvas to a reputable framer in your area (call first to make sure they mount canvas) or if you’re handy, you can give it a go yourself!
Pastels and Charcoals: These delicate works require special handling. While a fixative may have been applied to the surface, in order to keep the colors bright and fresh, it is a light layer. That means your surface will be susceptible to smudging and rough handling may shake powder from the surface. Let your framer know it’s a pastel or charcoal and ensure they know to place a spacer between the work and the glass so there is no contact. Handle these beauties with care!
Prints: Prints can be displayed in a variety of ways, the most common (and in my opinon, best to show off the work) is matted and framed. You might have a matte and frame handy or head to your local framing shop to see what is available. Custom mattes and frames can be costly, but the visual impact can be sigificant and worth it! See if your framer can show you a visual representation of how it should look when completed.
Ready to hang? Gather a measuring tape, a level, hammer, picture hangers and a pencil. For canvases and larger/heavier works, I prefer these nail/hook combinations and I typically use two for added safety along with a wire. Hanging by a wire means your two nails don’t have to be perfectly even (handy if you’re prone to not measuring 100% accurately!). If you are using two nails without a wire (i.e. hanging directly from the frame), your nails must be at the exact same level or your art will be crooked. You can typically check mounting hardware for weight recommendations to be on the safe side! For smaller works, you can use one picture hanger and check with the level once hung.
