Making Your Artwork Stand-Out – Simply

Myron Arndt

In the search for presentation of your artwork, sometimes the most obvious and simplest solutions are elusive in the vast array of frame, mat and mounting options.

Here are a few of the simple ones to consider:

1. Clearly Glass

   Float your artwork between two pieces of glass. For example, take an 8 x 10 photo, painting or drawing and mount it with adhesive transfer tape or glue to a piece of 11 x 14 glass – centering the artwork. Overlay this with a second 11 x 14 glass and pop into a simple wood frame with no backing board. Secure with small brads or even clear silicon along the back. Make sure you use a saw-tooth hanger and not wire to hang the frame.

Benefit: Place this on a colored wall and it will look like you have a mat (same color as the wall) around your artwork!

2. Minis are Marvelous!

   Mini mats are an excellent value for artists and a terrific opportunity to feature key “elements” of your artwork or photography. Here is the idea:

   Take some of your “busiest” photos, paintings, drawings etc - cut out the “elements” that would be attention getters on their own such as people, interesting archaetecture, focal points or colour elements – or create original miniatures – and place them inside mini mats. These mats come in 5 x 7 sizes with 2 or 3 inch openings and are a great value as they are usually made from the off cut inner sizes of larger mats. You can create groupings of similar design, color etc and come up with hundreds of pieces of unique art. Pop these minis into clip frames – also available in 5 x 7 sizes – and you can create and entire wall of art “elements”.

   Benefit: The cost is minimal – but the result is worth a lot!

3. Floating on Foam

   Foam board is sold under several product names such as Bienfang, Foamcore, Sintra and more. It is compressed foam with a paper surface, ideal for mounting artwork on. You can have a piece cut to a standard size – say 11 x 14 and center your 8 x 10 photo and “Voila” you have a piece of displayed artwork. To dress it up – layer your mounts – ie: Mount a piece of uncut colored matboard on top of foamboard and then a piece of unique paper – then your artwork – allowing a bit of each layer to reveal on top of the one below it. To finish it even more – pop inside a clip frame, metal backload frame or small wood frame and you have an inexpensive but elegantly mounted piece of art.

HAVE FUN AND KEEP IT SIMPLE!