Guidelines For Showing Off Art Works

by Jerry Carpos on June 14, 2010

If you have a magnificent work of art that you would like to show off, then there are rules that you should follow. That does not mean you have to follow them down to the letter, but a lot of home design folks use them and they work great! The point of having art is to view it, appreciate it and perhaps even be moved by it. Art is not required to match furniture, as tempted as you might be do so. Adding pillows to your sofa in a similar color as in your artwork or using a fruit bowl with like shades can be a nice touch. When you display your artwork, it should be placed on the display surface where the eye can see it easily. When you visit an art gallery, you will notice that most pieces are hung so that they are no more than 5 feet off the floor. Halogen bulbs cast a true white light and are an excellent choice for bringing out the colors in your artwork. You artwork was not cheap, and you should not use cheap methods for hanging; use appropriate, high quality hooks and wires. Give each piece of artwork two hooks for additional security.

There are few innovative trends for art placement, including leaning the piece on the wall while it rests on the floor or sits on a shelf or other piece of furniture. Big works that have been framed are the best pieces to display in this manner. In order to truly let your art shine, the best mat to use is colored white. If you’d like an accent mat, use a slightly larger colored mat. This is known as a ‘filet’ and is placed behind the white to add a glimpse of color between the actual artwork and the white mat.

Creating a sense of balance is the goal of making an artwork grouping. If the group of pieces that you plan to hang are varying dimensions, make sure you utilize the center of the artwork to determine placement, not the edges. Prior to hanging the art on your wall, draw out the grouping or arrange them on your floor just as you would on the wall. Don’t forget that the space between the pictures is important, too. Repeating the space pattern between the art creates coherency. Interior designers like to leave more than one and one-half inches between the pieces so that your grouping doesn’t look too squished. Even if all the art work or photos you are arranging are the exact same size, you should still sketch out their hanging order or put them out on the floor before you start hammering nails into your wall. If you chose varying frames for similar pieces, you will create a more intriguing effect. Contemporary art looks best in simple frames. However, if your artwork is more detailed or styled in an older technique, an ornate frame would be more suitable.

If you have a smaller, more significant piece of art that you want to fill in a larger area, then you should always consider adding a larger white matte around it to fill in space. An eggshell or white paint can really compliment your art to its best advantage. Designing your ideal space should include artwork from the get-go and it should not be an afterthought. Use the art you choose to inform the decisions you make about the rest of your decor.

Looking for pieces of art can be both rewarding and time consuming, depending on your mindset when you start the process. Most professionals will suggest that you find artwork that brings out a visceral reaction for the viewer. Art is easily found while traveling or thorugh one’s family and friends, or even with artists local to your area. It doesn’t matter where the art comes from; whether it’s a French print put with a set of hand-made glass balls to a collection of rocks with painted phrases on them with a set of marble elephant bookends, as long as they have a story, then they work together. Traveling artisits enjoy finding pieces that move them in some way.

When you are framing your artwork, remember that different frames can compliment each other and provide an additional level of interest. Just make sure that you are displaying your piece of art and not the actual frame! Reputable galleries usually have a policy of letting you make a depost on a piece and take it for a test run. If you decide the piece isn’t right for your home, you can bring it back for an exchange. In some situations, you may be able to test out up to 20 different art pieces.

Get more help on the topic of photos into paintings. Further information on photo into canvas art can be found there.