ARTWORK

QUESTION: I am planning to paint my great room walls and re-hang some existing artwork I love.  I also have other small objects that I would like to incorporate into this area.  Is this possible and where do I start.

ART:  Works of art can be painting, drawings, prints, photographs, posters and collectable items.  Not only do we work with and frame artwork, we also enjoy using objects, which are three dimensional (such a miniature pots, antique door knobs, family heirlooms, etc.) and frame them as art objects.  Truly, the sky is the limit when it comes to selecting items that can become “framed art”.

When selecting a frame for your works of art, remember that a frame visually encloses pictures and should contribute to their importance and effectiveness.  The frames and glass not only protect the artwork, but also form a boundary and establishes an important relationship between the artwork and the architectural elements. 

The first duty of frames and matting is to enhance the picture or piece; and the second duty of the framing is to help establish a relationship between the framed piece and the room setting.  This relationship between the room and the art is very important to recognize.  Using a design expert to assist in the proper selections of mats and frames can help eliminate costly errors.  It is important that the mat selections do not overpower the piece, and that the selections create a fine balance that compliments the size, scale, character and color without overpowering or understating.

The scale, color, texture, and style must all enter in when selecting artwork, frames and mats.  Besides making the correct selection for the framing, it is also important to understand what type of product is being used in the actual mat.

Regular mat board paper is made from wood pulp.  It tends to have a cream colored core.  It is typically buffered on the back with calcium carbonate.  Regular mat board colors tend to fade and bleed over time.  If exposed to sunlight the lignins will turn to acid and cause a burn on the artwork.  Regular mat boards are only recommended for non-conservation framing.

Acid-Free mat board is made from boiled wood pulp.  By boiling the wood pulp, it removed the lignin, which in turn removes the potential for producing acid.  Acid-free mat board tends to be fade and bleed resistant and colors maintain true for several years.  Acid-Free mat board will not cause acid burns on the artwork and is highly recommended for conservation framing, but not for museum framing.

Rag Mat board is made from 100% cotton fiber.  Rag mat board is 100% acid, lignin and speck free.  Rag mat board has permanent natural colors and will not fade.  This is the only type of mat board that is recommended by the Library of Congress for art preservation.

QUESTION:  Can you explain how professional interior designers determine how to hang artwork and how much artwork should go into one room?

ANSWER: There are basic rules which a person can follow for hanging artwork (such as using a symmetrical pattern or using an asymmetrical pattern), however, there are many other elements which come into play.

An interior designer will develop a plan for accessorizing a room and hanging artwork after the designer has become familiar with the client, the clients’ spaces, reviewed scale of the room and style.  If you are working with your own spaces, photograph your areas, make a list of what you are actually seeing in the spaces and eliminate the items that do not appeal to you. 

Your artwork should relate to your interior spaces in subject matter, colors, theme, style, and textures; however, RULES ARE ONLY RULES and introducing a sudden contrast or surprise art piece or object can always add interest if addressed properly.  In interior design, there is always great fun and success in breaking the rules.  Experiment!

Starting with the following basic rules might be most comfortable for the beginning project.  One trick is to place all of the artwork on the floor in front of the wall you will be hanging on.  Move the pieces around until a comfortable arrangement has been achieved.  You can then feel comfortable hanging the pieces.

BASIC RULES

A large scaled room would be able to handle a single large oversized piece of art while a smaller, more intimate setting could look great with a grouping with lesser scale.  There are two common ways to arrange your artwork or collectibles.

Symmetrical balance.  Symmetrical balance, is also know as a more formal, traditional and classical style.  Symmetrical balance is achieved when one side of something is the exact reverse (mirror image) of the other side.  A symmetrical arrangement tends to stress the center and is easy to appreciate as the eye does not work as hard to gather the information.

Asymmetrical balance.  Asymmetrical balance refers to an informal and active balance.  Asymmetrical balance is achieved when visual weights are equivalent, but not identical.  Visualize a see-saw with two children on one side of the see-saw and an adult on the other side.  An asymmetrical balance tends to convey informality and flexibility.

Color. Deeper, brighter colors in a piece will appear to have more weight than a softer pastel. A very strong piece of art may be the only item necessary to dress a wall, where a display of soft water colors and drawings could cover an entire wall without becoming busy and overpowering.