| 1. First decide what sort of impression you want to | | | | long term pulling on the mitres which can eventually pull |
| make with "pictures". Do you want to be fashionable | | | | the corners apart. Secondly such wide wiring will also |
| and arty or do you want to display family photos, | | | | give the picture a tendency to sway more thus |
| nostalgia or personal interests? If you wish you can | | | | hanging out of line. Central back board fixings are |
| include all of the above, but you may make a better | | | | much more balanced and sturdy. |
| job of it if you have designated areas for each. For | | | | 11. The coloured cardboard edging that framers use to |
| example you may want to make a statement with an | | | | surround a picture when framing is called a Mount, Mat |
| impressive single abstract piece in your living room, | | | | or Pass Pa Tu. Always try to include such a feature |
| while in the hall or dining room you could display more | | | | when framing a print or water colour. In truth it is often |
| personal items. There are no rules as such, but try to | | | | an essential component in the frames structure, used |
| harmonise your displays so that they do not compete | | | | by the framer to hold the picture in place. However, it |
| for the viewer's attention. If you can try and rationalise | | | | also provides another dynamic to the overall look, |
| where and why you hang each item. Ultimately you will | | | | keeps your print away from the glass and when used |
| get more out of each piece and your guests will sense | | | | properly, protects your print from any acidity in the |
| yours to be an organised and methodical household. | | | | frame that may cause damage over the years. |
| 2. Keep your choice of art in proportion to where you | | | | Photographs especially benefit from a Mount as when |
| will hang it. If a picture is too large it will look cramped | | | | placed against glass can often stick or give the |
| and suffocated, if it is too small it will look lost and | | | | appearance of wet patches which are at least, very |
| insignificant. Many people think that if there is room for | | | | unsightly. |
| a picture to squeeze in between the mantelpiece and | | | | 12. The terms "Portrait" and "Landscape" are more |
| the ceiling it will work there. Not so, you must allow the | | | | accurately applied to the attitude of the picture, that is, |
| space around the picture to become part of the | | | | "Tall" or "Wide" rather than to the picture content. A |
| framing too. All surrounding space must be balanced | | | | portrait does not necessarily have to be a picture of a |
| and equal. | | | | person any more than a landscape has to feature |
| 3. Never try to save money by forcing a picture into a | | | | fields and trees etc. |
| frame that neither suits it, fits it or displays it to the best | | | | 13. Always insist on a wooden frame as opposed to a |
| advantage. A cheap frame is a false economy for | | | | "composite" which will be made from extruded and |
| you can end up with a dreadful result that simply looks | | | | pressed plastic. The latter may be cheaper and lighter |
| "make-do". Compared to furniture and flooring, pictures | | | | but they are usually hard to join securely and will often |
| can often be thought of as of minor importance in the | | | | show gaps at the mitres. Larger pictures will often |
| grand scheme of the room. This is not so at all. Think | | | | bow over time and require re-framing. While often |
| of a picture as the Tiara on the Bride or the Cream on | | | | very attractive, they are not the best investment in my |
| the Cake. It is the finishing touch that will often turn into | | | | opinion. |
| the major focal point of the room. If it looks denied its | | | | 14. When framing family pictures consider placing more |
| full potential splendour - so will the room. | | | | than one in each frame. Modern mount cutting |
| 4. Always consider the picture first when framing it | | | | equipment is computerised and a good quality framer |
| and not the décor of the room. The picture will | | | | will have such equipment to enable him to produce |
| always stay the same and is a complete entity in its | | | | almost anything you ask for. It will save money too. |
| own right. Its position in the house or the décor of | | | | Displaying three 8" x 10" photos in one frame can cost |
| the room may change many times in its life with you, | | | | up to a third less than it will cost to frame them |
| so make sure the picture is "right" in itself and is not | | | | individually. |
| dictated to by the colour of the curtains it hangs next | | | | 15. Non reflective Glass will usually cost you up to |
| to. Such influences can ensure the picture is actually | | | | double the price of regular 2mm float glass in your |
| diminished in stature by forcing it to conform with its | | | | frames. However, it will cut down glare by up to 80% |
| surroundings. | | | | and reduce the damage to your art from UV light by |
| 5. Always choose images "you" like and not what | | | | around 70%. Usually, after you choose non reflective |
| "Mavis across the road" considers to be good taste. | | | | glass once it is unlikely you will ever go back to the |
| Certainly never take the advice of anyone likely to say | | | | cheaper alternative. |
| something like "Well I think it will look good in your place | | | | 16. If you are buying an Oil Painting stick to these two |
| but, of course, I'd never hang it in my house". Have the | | | | rules: Buy what you like and spend what you can |
| courage to be guided by your own taste. Other people | | | | afford. Never buy as an investment as in 99% of |
| not liking it does not make it bad. Art is very personal | | | | cases - it won't be. Make sure the picture is an original |
| and you should never set out to please others outside | | | | painted by one artist and don't be fooled by the |
| your own family. | | | | factory painted originals from the Far East. They often |
| 6. If you buy a print or painting for a good price don't | | | | look good and are okay to buy so long as you know |
| allow the fact to convince you it only deserves a | | | | what you are getting for your money. The "original" |
| cheap frame. If you got a bargain - great! Now invest | | | | you fall in love with could be just one of hundreds that |
| the money you saved on a frame that will really make | | | | look exactly the same painted on a conveyer belt |
| it look fantastic. The value of a good picture is not | | | | principle. |
| necessarily determined by how much you paid for it, | | | | 17. Try and avoid fancy baroque style gold frames |
| but much more by how it looks and what it does for | | | | "unless" they suit your décor. Elaborate or fancy |
| your home. | | | | frames take attention away from the picture itself, the |
| 7. If you have short or narrow rooms you can make | | | | important part. The modern way is simple straight lines |
| them look longer by displaying long panoramic pieces | | | | with more attention to clever mounting than fancy |
| that carry the eye along the wall. This works especially | | | | frames. Your framer will advise you. |
| well along the length of a dining table or across the | | | | 18. Beware of Fads! Wacky art may look great when |
| back of a settee. Alternatively you can use three to | | | | you first see it, but how quickly might it become out |
| six smaller square pieces hanging in a balanced, evenly | | | | dated? If you are fashion conscious you must either |
| spaced line. | | | | be prepared to spend your money chasing the "latest |
| 8. Another space illusion can be achieved by matching | | | | thing" or preferably choose more carefully, selecting |
| your framed art with a similarly treated mirror. Not only | | | | items that won't date so fast. Abstracts are often |
| will this give the illusion of more space, it will also help to | | | | good at deflecting the passage of time but choose a |
| spread more light around the room. | | | | good one, some would say "anyone could paint that" |
| 9. Picture rails seem to be coming back into fashion, | | | | but believe me - they can't! |
| but think long and hard before you decide to actually | | | | 19. We've all seen them, those clever pictures that light |
| use them to support your pictures. Long wires required | | | | up, dazzle us with flowing waterfalls, sparkling |
| to suspend pictures at the proper height can introduce | | | | backgrounds, foil images often purchased from |
| ugly lines to otherwise clear walls and can complicate | | | | salespeople at the door. Well, they all fall into one |
| the overall effect. The best way to hang a picture is | | | | category - Junk. The best advice when considering |
| as if "by magic" with no apparent evidence for its | | | | buying something along these lines is - Don't! |
| maintained position. | | | | 20. Take a look at the old pictures you have in your |
| 10. Always insist your pictures are strung for hanging | | | | home right now. If you are thinking of getting rid of |
| with a good quality wire and not cord. The use of cord | | | | them - ask yourself why? Do you hate the picture |
| can often ensure a future trip to the framer to repair a | | | | itself or has the whole ensemble simply started to look |
| picture that "suddenly fell off the wall for no reason". | | | | tired or tatty? Very often the existing pictures in your |
| The reason is of course fatigue and rotting which will | | | | home are exactly the new thing you are looking for, |
| eventually occur in most cords regardless of quality. | | | | they just need smartening up. A new frame, clean |
| Also insist that your wires are fitted into the back | | | | glass and a different mount can make all the |
| board of the picture and not to the frame itself. This is | | | | difference and provide something both new and |
| for two reasons. Firstly, such frame fixings will ensure | | | | familiar you will be very happy with. |