The man responsible for all of the art framing at the newest Art Series hotel The Johnson in Brisbane, Mark Heydon of Creative Framing is an experienced Melbourne-based framer and art collector. We caught up with him recently to discuss his top art hanging tips.
Fixings
“Always use two fixings in the wall positioned 100mm from the frame edge. This will reduce the pressure on the sides of the frame and lessen the risk of bowing the frame edge and breaking the mitre joins,” says Mark. This type of fixing will also stop a framed piece from moving on the wall.
UV
“Never hang art in direct sunlight and even with a lot of ambient daylight light or fluorescent light, UV absorbing glazing should be used in the frame to protect it from fading,” says Mark. Not only are there fading issues but hanging art in direct sunlight, or warm areas, can cause canvas and paper distortion too.
Gallery hanging system
“Many people have art collections that are too extensive for constant display or have limited space,” says Mark who recommends investing in a gallery hanging system to allow you to change up your artworks and their positions without making new holes in the walls.
Think outside the box (ha!)
“Well trained framers can frame almost anything and it’s great to get those old war medals, odd collections and family heirlooms out on display,” says Mark whose recent work has seen him frame a variety of items including skulls, bugs, bolts, coins and an old set of woodworking tools. “They all looked sensational,” says Mark.
Create a gallery wall
“Clusters of separately framed photos look more interesting than multiple photos in one frame. This also enables other pieces to be added later with ease. Use a variety of frames that work together – it looks more interesting and frame moulding is a fashion item these days, so the frame you started with may not be available later,” says Mark.
How high?
When it comes to artwork hanging, most people hang their pieces too high or low. “When hanging, position the centre of the artwork at eye level. Unless you live by yourself this generally means compromise. I hang most pieces with the centre at 160 cm from the floor,” says Mark.
Trial run
Take the guesswork out of art hanging by making paper templates to stick on the wall before you get the drill out. “Use paper cut to the size of your frames to assist in determining the best positions for your framed pieces,” says Mark.
Consult an expert
If you find yourself struggling with the art hanging process, there are professionals you can call on. “If you are at all uncertain of your hanging ability or the correct hardware, consult a professional picture hanger. Good framers will be able to direct you to one,” says Mark.
Check out more of Mark’s work online.
