Tips

Thank you for visiting the ArtSource Web Site. One of the things we pride ourselves on is giving help to our customers when they are choosing art. Here are some tips:




Ever wonder how high to hang a picture? Start by measuring the picture itself top to bottom; divide by two to find the mid-point. The picture should be hung so that this point is around 58" off the floor. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule -- in pediatric wards you might want to hang pictures more at the eye level of a small child. Or in rooms where you are usually seated, like a conference room or cafeteria, you might hang art slightly lower to accommodate the lower vantage point. But in general, the 58" rule is a good one to follow and will give a consistent look to your art.
 
 You would generally match the wood frame used on your pictures with your case goods (desks, tables) in the offices. Mat colors can be varied, using carpet or seating color palettes.
 
 When you're purchasing a group of 5 or more pictures for decorating an office, it's usually best to select one wood or metal frame to put on all the art. This way you can move pictures around to get the look you want and still coordinate the total environment.
 
 When planning a corporate art program, vary the mediums you use, selecting works on paper, oils, original photography, sculpture, watercolors, and so on. Frame pieces in a neutral way. Both these decisions will make your collection less "dated" as time goes on and popular styles and colors change.
 
 When deciding whether to use metal or wood frames, use the following guidelines. Usually metal frames or colored lacquer frames give a more contemporary look; woods represent a more traditional look. Some woods are more informal, like oaks; others are more contemporary, like smooth cherrys or maples. Gold and silver wood frames, particularly those with carvings and designs, are more formal.
 
 Always request that your prints/posters and their mats be vacuum mounted onto .25" white foam board to prevent the rippling that can occur with humidity changes. This is part of the standard package that ArtSource offers. Of course, more valuable fine art should be conservation mounted as appropriate.
 
 Consider the age range of patient populations when selecting artwork for health care facilities. For example, teen-agers dislike softer pastels, opting instead for more vibrant color palettes. Babies and infants are more attuned to shapes than colors in the early years. Aging adults have difficulty with soft, impressionist-style paintings and lose the ability to distinguish more subtle shades of blues and greens. The art consultants at ArtSource can help you make good choices given your site requirements.
 
 When selecting artwork for hospital or health care settings, pick a scene with both foreground and background, letting the patient "travel" within the picture. This will help them escape their surroundings for awhile. A landscape with a church in the background and maybe a road leading to the church is a better choice than a static still life of a bouquet in a vase.
 
 Pair your artwork with actual objects in less formal settings. For example, use a picture of a birdhouse, paired with 4 small pictures of birds, and then hang an actual wooden birdhouse you might find at a craft fair in a hallway in a nursing home. Or take a set of quilted pillows, attach them to the wall, and add in a print with quilt patterns in it.
 
 When using small pictures, treat them as a unit and intersperse them with larger, coordinating pictures. The difference in sizes will make for a more visually interesting wall.
 
 When designing senior living facilities, try to include lots of pictures of children and animals. This type of subject matter is particularly appealing to this age group. Avoid solitary pictures with empty benches, bare branches, or other "lonely" or "pensive" themes that can be depressing.
 
 Use abstract art when you want to add a splash of color and liveliness to an otherwise drab area. While you wouldn't necessarily want bolder, brighter colors in your permanent seating or your carpet, adding it through artwork on the walls can be a real energy booster.
 
 Put pictures far enough away from staff who use computer screens extensively so that they can use the picture seen from a distance to change their cornea shape temporarily, resulting in less eyestrain.
 
 If your staff works mainly in cubicles, you can still decorate with pictures. Just sort by the "small" category during the poster search, and request artwork be framed using plexiglass. Then the pieces can be mounted directly onto panel surfaces using double-faced velcro strips.
 
 To create a balanced look to your art, vary the width of the matting and the width of your frame. Most matting is done 3-3.5". We usually select wood frames that are no more than 2.5" wide as a result. If you want a wider, more ornate frame, then lessen the amount of mat, or use an even wider mat width in order to create a contrast.
 
 The same principle applies to how wide to do inner mats. If you are triple matting a piece, vary the width of the second and third inner mats, making one slightly larger, unless you are purposely trying to create a very "cookie-cutter" look for effect.
 
 A good picture installer can hang around 5 pictures an hour with security systems after they have been placed in the appropriate locations. Allow extra time to unpack, place, and clean up afterwards. Hammer-and-nail type hanging should take one hour for each 10-12 pictures.
 
 Always try to put in budget items for art early in the process of the project. You can estimate the budget you need by allowing $1-$2 per square foot of relevant space (eliminate warehouse, closets, store rooms, etc) or planning actual locations (this guideline is only for decorative artwork).
 
 Another reason to plan ahead for artwork needs is that original artwork may require special structural considerations. A heavy sculpture may require extra footing in the foundation; special lighting or wall support may be needed to highlight a special piece of fabric or an original oil. Banners hung in an open atrium may need to be considered when planning both windows and air conditioning venting.
 
 To clean pictures, always spray the cloth or towel first, then wipe the picture clean. If you spray directly on the picture, the liquid can run down into the bottom channel, resulting in damage.
 
 Pictures framed with plexiglass or acrylic need to be cleaned with special acrylic cleaner, not commercial window cleaning products. They also should be wiped with a clean cloth, rather than a paper towel to prevent scratching.
 
 If your art is being placed in a location that gets a great deal of direct sunlight, consider using plexiglass for this piece. It contains 98% UV protection. Another alternative is to use a canvas replica or oil, which is sealed with coating that cut down fading.
 
 There are all kinds of ways to dress up pictures, particularly in the matting area, for just a few dollars more. These treatments can be used in specialty areas with higher traffic or more visibility. Call us to receive our brochure on special mat techniques or just request that our designers use their imagination to create a unique design just for you.
 

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