Decoding Decor

Art Display – Part III- Sleeping Beauty: About Art Conservation

Aug 25th, 2010 by Cindy Lee Bergersen

She slept over 100 years

never aging a day

waiting for her prince to come

Prince or not, how will your beautiful art age?

The “time equals aging” equation comes to all things eventually and is merciless. Your artwork will look like an old stack of newspapers (i.e. faded, brittle and disintegrating) unless you employ a checklist of conservation materials for your framing project.

Use these and your art will be a

veritable “sleeping beauty” of stability

for a hundred years.

Your best bet is to work with a serious conservation framer to cover all the bases because the materials involved have very particular specifications.

To wit: Conservation framing uses acid free materials for the hinges, mat and board backing to prevent the buildup of vapors from the framing materials. Over time acidic vapors cause staining, fading, embrittlement, deterioration and actual decomposition.

The mat boards should be 100% cotton rag or high-alpha-cellulose content, acid free virgin pulp. Practically speaking, the mat provides a means to keep the artwork from touching the glass directly, which will help preserve it.

The backing should also be puncture proof and water resistant as well. Glazing materials, either glass (shatterproof to protect the art if the frame falls) or acrylic should be chosen for their ability to protect against ultraviolet (UV) light. In the case of photographs, special conservation matting is required because of the chemicals in the developing emulsion.

Sticker Shock – As you can see, just any old frame, made of non-specified materials probably isn’t going to do the deed of enhancing your artwork and preserving same for a long period of time. Of course, the specificity of conservation materials will naturally add to the cost of framing.

Don’t be surprised if your first choice of “the right frame”

could cost you more than the artwork itself.

Fortunately, you will be able to find more than one “right frame” if you decide in advance a price range for the framing expenses.

Next Time: Art Display – Part IV – Context and Location For Hanging

Art Display – Part I – Selecting The Perfect Frame

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part I -First Things First

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part II – The Low Down On How High

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part III – Where Does This Go?

Photo: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/sb2.jpg

This is part of a recent article I wrote for publication on Hamptons.com. It’s represented here as a foundation for further topic discussion, updates and commentaries…

Questions? Write to: DecodingDecor@Gmail.Com

Tags: acidic vapors, art conservation, conservation framing, UV rays

Posted in How To Frame Your Art | No Comments »

Art Display – Part II – The Marriage Of Mat And Frame

Aug 20th, 2010 by Cindy Lee Bergersen

Can’t decide

which mat with what frame

for that art?

Coward…

No Art, No Mat, No Problem

Suck it up, Cupcake.

You can do this

Your artwork will thank you…

…which isn’t to say all arts need a mat, or even a frame for that matter.

However, you should at least ponder benefit and suitability for your better pieces. The right frame and matting draws your attention to the artwork itself, rather than allowing it to fade into the background in any way. Like a frame, a mat enhances the art with the end game being that all three components, art, mat and frame create a cohesive display.

This is about making the most of a visual display and showing off paintings, photographs, etc. to best advantage.

What color works best?

Usual and customary are mats in neutral shades but there are other options.

In the same way one might pull a medium to dark shade from the artwork itself for the frame color, one could also do the same with mat color. A black mat (used with a black frame) would bring emphasis to any black figures within the picture.

Not all mats are made the same. Linen and silk mats add subtle texture and richness even in neutral colors.

While there are no rules, sepia toned photographs or those with an antique quality, usually look best in a vintage cream colored mat, while more contemporary works can stand up to bright white. In some cases photo gray is a good option too.

Work With What You Have

The basic formula for standard matting dimensions is that the mat be about two and a half times the width of the frame. This is generally the best proportion to show off a larger photos.

A very small photo doesn’t automatically demand

a very small mat and frame.

Use a vertical format and increase the standard dimensions to four inches on the top and sides with five inches on the bottom. Placing the photo high into the top third of the mat will also create a compelling effect.

Sometimes a round peg in a square hole actually works,

visually that is.

A round opening for the photo in a square frame will draw you right into the picture. This is obviously an uncommon option and not all framers will have the equipment to cut a mat this way. You may have to research for the framers that do.

A horizontal work can become a panoramic view by making a horizontal presentation with a mat that is narrow top and bottom and wider on the sides.

What if your art is frayed on the edges, or is even an historical document, you can play up the “been around for years” look by floating it on top of the mat to show the imperfections. Here’s a case where double matting is be a good idea to allow breathing room between the art and the glass or acrylic surface.

You have a choice to reveal or conceal a photographer’s signature, unless the autograph is intended to be part of the art, in which case, make sure it shows.

Next time: Sleeping Beauty – about art conservation…

Art Display: Selecting The Perfect Frame – Part I

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part I -First Things First

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part II – The Low Down On How High

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part III – Where Does This Go?

Photo: http://www.twolia.com/blogs/dwellingsanddecor/files/2009/03/sfgirlbybayblogspot1.jpg

This is part of a recent article I wrote for publication on Hamptons.com. It’s represented here as a foundation for further topic discussion, updates and commentaries…

Questions? Write to: DecodingDecor@Gmail.Com

Tags: framing art, how to select a mat, mat color, paintings, photographs, picture frame

Posted in How To Frame Your Art | No Comments »

Art Display – Part I – Selecting The Perfect Frame

Aug 11th, 2010 by Cindy Lee Bergersen

Every Picture Tells A Story

Even a Corot wants a frame, poster or not

If a picture is worth a thousand words,

then be sure the picture can speak well for itself.

Certainly an argument can be made that with large-scale contemporary pieces, a frame would actually detract from the visual experience. For the most part, though, the right frame is your first line of defense against an otherwise wonderful piece of art fading into relative obscurity against your wall.

Viewed in this context, frames are critical to showing your art to best advantage. The frame should not only enhance the composition of the work but also create a harmonious tie with the surroundings where it will be hung.

You want the frame to be a seamless part of the artwork,

as if the artist intended for exactly that one frame

to be used when the project was conceived.

Period frames have come to be valued for their stand-alone beauty and have themselves become collectibles in recent years. Empty frames displayed under picture lights or used on mirrors are attractive in their own right.

While choosing a frame that reflects the period of the artwork is an acceptable method of selection,

you could opt for a more finely tuned solution over authenticity

and get a more dynamic result.

Here are some ideas:

Pull out a medium to dark shade from the piece for the frame color. In this way you will contain and detail the art while supporting the overall aesthetic.

If there is a tiny pattern running through the picture, then choosing a frame with a texture that references the pattern could lend continuity.

Watercolors have magical color over-laps that are part of the medium. Select a frame that offers some variation in the finish to compliment the effect.

Think of the frame as a kind visual container to help move the viewer’s eye around the artwork without pinpointing one aspect or area. If the frame is too light in color or heft, the viewer’s eye will just keep moving without really stopping to notice the art. If you choose a frame that’s too dark and/or big, it will overpower the piece. It will look strange too, like bushy black eyebrows on a platinum blonde. Black frames have a place but not with artwork that is delicately layered with pastel color washes.

Pictures Of Lily (Lilies) – Photography is where black frames can be used to great effect. A minimalist approach with the simplest frame possible is best, so as not to compete with the photo. At one time, photographs were always put into narrow metal section frames with no distinction, as one might do for exhibition only. This trend is no longer in vogue. Photographs are treated as individual works rather than part of a grouping by default, with dark frames in a wider profile than used in the past

Next Time: Art Display: The Marriage of Mat and Frame

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part I -First Things First

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part II – The Low Down On How High

The Art Of Hanging Art – Part III – Where Does This Go?

Photo: http://www.squidoo.com/camille-corot