ALL ABOUT FRAMING AND GALERIE SEVERN

1. GETTING STARTED

Whether decorating a new house, room, or office for the first time or changing from what you have now, the process of deciding what to select can be challenging or rewarding. We at Galerie Severn are here to assist you in the process.  If you follow some simple guidelines your selection process can be more rewarding than challenging.

The first step is to decide what areas to decorate first, second etc. A good rule of thumb is work on high visibility areas that are focal points for the room.  Take a picture or measure the wall space available for the art. Try not to predetermine a size, let an art and framing specialist at Galerie Severn assist you in selecting the proper size and shape.  We are knowledgeable in establishing proportion and scale requirements to create an effective display of the selected art.

2. SELECTING YOUR ART

The next step is to verbalize the type of image that makes you feel good, but at the same time be open to other ideas images.  Try NOT to make a decision based on room color or style. Art should be for your enjoyment. Contrast in color and or style will add interest to the room.  Mixing styles is very acceptable and can be effective in creating a welcome environment.

Suzy Toronto says’ “ART DOES NOT HAVE TO MATCH YOUR SOFA” !!!!

            “… art is not meant to decorate your home… Art is meant to decorate your soul. It is the signature of every civilization that ever left its mark on the earth. It breaks all the rules and shakes off the dust of everyday life. With a power like that, who cares if it matches your sofa? Let it match your soul!

 

After selecting the art, the choice of framing is next. This can be the most challenging process.  However, with our experience and training we can help you design the best frame package for your art selection.  The design will take into consideration area, proportion, scale  then style and color . Generally, the frame doesn’t have to match the room but should enhance the art.

<CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLES OF FRAMED WORK>

 

3. FRAMING MATERIALS

Framing can make the difference between having the inexpensive artwork look expensive or the expensive piece look inexpensive.

The majority of our inventory is unframed and unstretched, so you can be part of the design process!!

Once you have selected something to have custom framed, whether it is memorabilia, needle art, canvas, or paper, the process of selecting the frame package begins.  Like a book, the outside cover does not always tell the story of how an item was framed.

If you have difficulty in visualizing the finished piece, our state-of-the –art INTEGRATED FRAMER software can provide you with a picture of the completed project. It allows us to switch colors, frames and other elements in the frame design with a few clicks of the computer mouse.

Working with many different frame manufacturers, we can offer a diverse and distinctive selection of frames including a selection of antique reproduction closed corner styles.

At Galerie Severn, we utilize the latest materials and techniques for preserving your artwork. Through continuous education from other industry experts our staff is on the cutting edge of such procedures. Some key points to remember when framing include:

1. Materials
• Matboards – acid , lignin and alum free
• Mounting boards – acid, lignin and alum free Glazing – UV filtering 98%
2. Mounting
• Paper hinges
• Mylar pockets
• Properly designed mounts for objects
3. Avoid
• Non Water soluble tapes
• Heat mounting films
• Spray mounting adhesives

NOTE: Sometimes spray adhesives or heat mounting films may be used on inexpensive posters that are not collectable

<CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLES OF DAMAGE FROM IMPROPER MATERIALS>

 

4. GALERIE SEVERN SERVICES

Our website is designed to provide you with a sampling of our art inventory and services. Art should be a visual and tactile experience. We encourage you to visit our Gallery to fully experience the enjoyment of selecting art for your home or office.  Color, texture and depth are difficult to capture in an image on the web.

If you desire, we can bring a selection of artwork to your home or office so you can see how it looks in the place where it will live. Sometimes that piece that looks great in the gallery just doesn’t look as stunning elsewhere.

If you are searching for something specific we may be able to assist you. Fill out the ART INQUIRY form and email it to us. We will try to locate the item for you.

 

5. ART INQUIRY FORM

Name: Email: Phone: Artist: Title: Medium: Type:

Description:

Additionally, we offer CANVAS TRANSFER services. Select a poster from one of our catalogs and it may be transferred to canvas. Due to copyrights we are not allowed to offer this service on all images.

One service we do not offer is APPRAISALS on your holdings. This is a very specialized service and requires much research and education.

 

6. DISPLAYING YOUR ART

1. Try to avoid direct sunlight. Especially for paper based art. Depending on the art, fading can occur in a relatively short time frame.
2. If you hang art on an outside wall try and make sure the wall is insulated.
3. If over a fireplace that is used - a wide mantle shelf will help deflect the heat from the art. If you don’t use the fireplace then the flue area should be insulated.
4. Try and avoid heating and a/c ducts where direct air stream will impact the art.
5. Make sure there is air space between the back of the art and the wall.
6. Use two hangers to help stabilize the art from moving and reduce stress on the frame and hanging hardware. The hangers should be spaced so the wire if used is at a 60-degree angle.
7. If you use picture lights, they should  illuminate as much of the art as possible. Narrow beams may cause fading over time. The current recommendation for lighting is MR16 halogen bulbs.
8. Be sure the display of your artwork is balanced.  Try not to overload one wall, leaving other walls empty.
9. The best height to hang is the center of the work at eye level of the average person in the household. Generally, lower is better than higher.

When preparing a grouping, odd numbers work better than even. Don’t use a stepped look, unless with stairs.  You can vary size and shape to  give a balanced look to the group.

 

7. MAINTAINING YOUR COLLECTION

Frames – Dust with a feather type duster or light vacuum regularly
Unglazed art – same as for frames
Glazed art – DO NOT spray liquid cleaner directly on glazing. Spray on soft cloth and wipe until dry. DO NOT use any type of ammonia based or abrasive cleaners. For specialty glazing, do not rub in one place, gently wipe until dry.

Besides the materials and procedures used to produce your artwork, environmental conditions will have an impact on its longevity.

Since most of us like to display our art in less than ideal conditions, the art/frame package should be inspected regurlary for signs of change. A basic visual inspection for signs of moisture or infestations from insects monthly. A more extensive inspection by a framing specialist should be made every 2-5 years. This inspection removes the dustcover to inspect the interior.

 

8. IMPORTANT POLICIES

ALL ART AND FRAMING PURCHASES ARE NOT RETURNABLE     FOR REFUND OR CREDIT. ALL SALES FINAL.

ITEMS ON THE WEBSITE ARE SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE. PRICES MAY CHANGE DUE TO INVENTORY LEVELS AND AVAILABILITY SO MAY NOT BE CURRENT.

Privacy policy.
Our policy is simple. We respect your privacy. All personal information that you supply to us will be used only for the purpose of processing your order and conducting business with Galerie Severn and Accents Inc. While we encourage you to join our mailing lists for notification of specials or new products, you are free to request removal at any time. AT NO TIME WILL WE SHARE INFORAMATION WITH ANY THIRD PARTY WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.

 

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