Canvas Art » Art Print

Is Your Canvas Art Print Coated Or Not? That is the Question

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:45:09 +0000

You have just gone out and bought a lovely canvas art print that looks amazing and will fit in nicely with the furniture in your living room. However, you don’t even think about how long it will last because the shop you bought it from says the canvas art will last 100 years.

This may not be entirely true, and even if it is to last a 100 years the chances are it will look like a wrinkly old faded fabric hanging on your wall for your great grand kids to enjoy. If this is exactly what you wanted then clearly the answer is no, you do not need a coating on your canvas art print.

Instead, if you would like your canvas art to look as young and as colorful as the day you bought it then it would require a protective coating on the surface.

What is a canvas coating?
It is quite simply in most cases a fine film of laminate that covers the surface of the canvas to protect from dust, splashes of water and other harmful things that may come in its path over the years. It is carefully heated to join onto the canvas art print itself to make it inseparable.

How do I know if the canvas has a laminate / coating?
When and if you are in a shop and are looking at a canvas art print, it can sometimes be quite difficult to check whether it has a protective layer. The main things to do are the following:
- Ask the shop keeper / online shop about whether the canvas art print has a coating on it. Chances are if they say yes then it will have it, if they reply with ‘a what on it?’ they most probably haven’t
- Some laminates / protective coatings leave a subtle shine on the surface
- Have they advertised that their canvas art prints are protected?

If it is clear after this that the canvas has not been coated with any form of protection, then you need to handle it with care and follow these steps:
1: Ask the shop to laminate it / or coat with protective layer (make sure you take a picture before and after to check for any damage) ask about their protection process as some coatings can leave a canvas with a yellow tint over time, Google it to check the quality of the laminate they are using. If they refuse either get a refund or go next:
2: There should be professional art businesses in your area, ask them if they can point you in the direction of a laminator or canvas studio (or go to another shop that does laminate canvas art)
3: Do it yourself: Although not advised!!! And can end up damaging rather than improving the canvas art print. If your canvas art print has cost you as it has some others a small fortune, then make sure that you get it coated by a professional.

I hope this has helped some what in identifying how important it is to get your canvas art print coated. If you have it well coated, the chances are it will last almost as long as the shop keeper told you at the start.

Tips On How To Buy Canvas Art As A Gift

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:44:01 +0000

Canvas art, the perfect gift for the person who has everything…

A well selected canvas art print is something to be cherished for a life time by someone who may seem to have everything. They make wonderful wedding presents, birthday presents and anniversary presents, but also make for a great gift on Mothers Day, St Valentines Day, or any other special occassion.

Here are a few points to consider before choosing canvas art as a gift:

Think about their personal taste

You need to think about the personal taste of the person. How do they dress? are they conservative or bold when it comes to clothes and hairstyle? Do they wear clothes with bold colours and patterns or do they prefer plainer colours and more classic styles? If they are fairly conservative then go for an abstract in two or three key colours. If they are more out going then consider some colourful and flamboyant pop art or a retro geometric design. Maybe they drive a mini, love dogs, or they’re a huge fan of Madonna, if so go for a design with a very personal theme, such as a stylized celebrity portrait.

Think about their home

What do you know about the décor of their home? Think colour, themes, patterns and style, and consider what type of art will fit in well? Remember, the personal style of the person could actually be very different to that of their home. Consider that the canvas art is going to need to fit in with their interior design, and not their wardrobe. Often people have homes that are decorated and furnished very differently from their own personal style because of the other members of the household. This is more often true with men, but also women.

What space do they have available for the canvas art?

Once you have decided on the style of the canvas art that you are considering buying, you need to be sure that the recipient has the available wall space on which to hang it. Is there space available in the room that the piece would most suit?

What’s your budget?

Establish how much you are prepared to spend and look at the size of prints that fall within your budget. Remember size does not really matter when it comes to choosing canvas art. The recipient is far more likely to appreciate a smaller piece of canvas art that meets all of the previous requirements, rather than a larger piece that you felt made it appear that you had spent more money.

Does it need to be a surprise gift?

Remember, you always have the option of asking the recipient for their opinion. You can do this discreetly or directly, depending on how much of a surprise you want the gift of canvas art to be. Often it is better to check with them (or their partner/spouse) that it is something that they would really appreciate, rather than buy the wrong gift.

Canvas Art Gift Certificates

If you think a canvas art print would make a great gift, but are struggling to choose a design then consider giving a gift certificate instead. These are available to suit all budgets.

TIP: Worried about how to gift wrap a large piece of canvas art? Well don’t wrap it, instead take a photo of the piece, put it into a box, and wrap that instead. Then simply present them with the canvas art after they have opened the box. This is also a great idea if you are handing over the canvas art gift at a wedding reception or party.

How to Choose Canvas Art For Your Home

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:41:23 +0000

The keys to success are figuring out what kind of canvas art you like, how it will compliment your current interior design, and how to exhibit the

art print to the best effect in your home.

There are several key aspects you need to consider when choosing canvas art;

Colour

Size & Shape

Style & Subject

Colour

Choosing art that is colour coordinated with your home.

When selecting a canvas art print to match an existing colour in your room, select one or two of the boldest, most prominent colours in your room and look for art that has those colours in it. You’re not looking for an exact colour match here. Simply picking up one or two similar colours will send a message that the canvas belongs in this environment. The psychology of colour.

Colour is very powerful. Psychologists believe it can influence our moods and how we feel about spending time in a particular room. When choosing your canvas think about what mood or feeling you want the art to create…

Brown and shades of brown (beige, coffee, coco etc), is neutral, warm, and homely. Brown instils calm, comfort, tranquillity and harmony. All great moods for any room in the home, but especially good for adding a relaxed feel to living rooms and bedrooms.

Red is sexy, chic, warm and modern. It symbolizes passion, activity and excitement, it catches the eye and stimulates the mind. Great for brightening up dull, dreary rooms, rousing appetites in dining rooms and kitchens, and quickening the pulse in the bedroom…

Orange is young, sunny, happy and carefree. Bold, warm and energetic it uplifts the mood, inspires activity and promotes well-being. Ideal for brightening kitchens, hallways and children’s rooms or for adding a wow-factor to a living or dining room.

Yellow is bright, clean, warm and cheerful. It increases energy, promotes happiness and stirs the creative juices. Good for adding light and energy to bathrooms and kitchens, as well as being a great colour for a bold canvas to lift the mood of a dull, poorly lit room.

Green is soothing, reassuring, and natural. It refreshes and rejuvenates and instils a feeling of vibrancy, cleanliness, health and well-being. Ideal for rooms to relax in – such as bedrooms, bathrooms and conservatories.

Blue is calming, clean, soothing and cool. The world’s favourite colour represents sky and water. It relaxes the mind, refreshes and produces tranquil feelings and peaceful moods. Ideal in any room to promote relaxation and peace.

Purple and violet suggests grandeur, glamour and opulence. Modern, rich and indulgent it encourages creativity, and adds luxury and comfort. Deep purples are rich and dreamy whilst lighter violets are feminine and chic . Superb colour for the modern bedroom, living room or snug.

Pink is feminine, romantic and luxurious. It lightens the mood and encourages affection. Adds a tranquil and calming feeling to a room. Ideal in bedrooms.

White and cream is pure, stylish and goes with everything. It amplifies the effects of other colours as well as radiating peace, purity and clarity. An ideal choice for any room.

Black is sleek, strong and elegant. The ultimate timeless, neutral colour, it implies strength, authority and boldness of character. A classic colour choice for the modern hallway, living room and dining room.

Other types of mood setting colours. The following colour schemes also invoke particular moods and portray a certain style….

Greyscale and Sepia is the subtle, aged look found on old and black and white photographs. It’s used in modern art and photography to remove the impact of colour, allowing the subject of the canvas to take centre stage. Great for interesting and thought provoking pieces of art.

Good conversation started in dining rooms, kitchens and living rooms.

Multi-coloured art gives a bold, bright and modern look. Rainbow colours can add a feeling of fun, humour and boldness to a room.

Hard to miss, bright multi-coloured art is a great centre piece and conversation starter. It also portrays a certain confidence of character of its buyer…

Size & Shape

The second thing to consider after colour is size and shape. Get this wrong and even a canvas print that perfectly matches the decor and style of your room can look totally out of place.

Getting the size right

Your canvas art should look in proportion to the wall space it occupies and the surrounding furnishings. If its too big it will overwhelm, if it’s too small then it will look lost.

Its a good idea not to pack your art into alcoves, or narrow walls. Try to always leave at least 20 to 30cm (8″ to 12″ inches) gap around the canvas and the surrounding walls and ceiling. Your canvas will usually look good when placed centrally (horizontally) on a wall with the vertical centre of the canvas at eye level. If your canvas is large then it’s often not possible to have the centre at eye level, but you should still be able to gauge a good height for maximum effect.

A big canvas can look great above a sofa, or fireplace. Small canvases look great in small alcoves, in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways.

Smaller matching canvases also look great hung together in 2′s, 3′s or 4′s.

Getting the shape right

Basically, if you want to play safe, go square. A square print, if the right size shouldn’t look out of place no matter where it’s placed. If you want a rectangular print then you need to consider a few other factors. A landscape style print (one that’s wider than it is tall) goes well above a bed, a fire place, sideboard, or sofa. Portrait style print (one that’s taller than it is wide) goes well in alcoves, hallways, stairways and narrow walls between doors and windows.

A basic rule of thumb is; match the canvas height and width ratio to the height and width ratio of the wall. For example if you have wall space

above your fireplace that’s 2 metres wide and 1.5 metres high then a landscape print will look good, but a tall print on this space may look out of place.

You can also use multiple prints to create a landscape or portrait effect. For example you can hang 3 coordinated square prints closely together above a sofa. This is often a great way to give your canvas art a real ‘wow factor’.

Style & Subject

Styles of canvas art To be honest when choosing the style and subject of your canvas print then it’s all down to personal taste. But here are a few guidelines;

Think about the style of your furniture and decor.

Will that funky modern pop art print really compliment your home? or is an abstract a safer bet?

Does your room have a theme already?

Flowers, circles, stripes, swirls? If so try to coordinate with that theme. For example if you have circular patterns in your cushions, curtains or

carpet then consider an abstract print with a similar patterns.

Five Places to Avoid Hanging Art

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:34:47 +0000

You’ve finally moved into your new home and have bought some art prints to decorate your walls. Well, finding places to hang art is easy. However there are certain places you should try to avoid hanging art for reasons of prolonging the life of the art print and also for the safety of your family members and visitors. This article will give you some pointers on places you should try to avoid hanging your art pieces if possible.

1. Narrow and dark corridors

Some homes, especially small apartments, have narrow and dark corridors leading from the living area to the bedrooms. As someone walking along the corridor will be of very close proximity to the walls, an art piece hanging there could be unnoticeable. If you still want to hang art in this area, stick to small art pieces, and group several of them together to add a nice balance. If the corridor is dark, use some lighting to bring focus to them. This will make the art pieces more noticeable to your visitors. Try not to use a large art piece in this area, as large pieces are better appreciated from a distance. Another thing to be concerned about when hanging art in small and narrow spaces is safety; avoid hanging it in an area where someone could accidentally knock it off the wall while walking by, causing damage to the frame and also hurting himself. To avoid someone brushing against the art piece and knocking it off, you could put a small side table against the wall to create some space between the art piece and human traffic.

2. Next to your child’s bed

If you want to hang art pieces in your child’s bedroom, avoid hanging it next to his bed or cot (If the bed is against the wall). If it is not hung high enough, your child could easily reach out and accidentally dislodge it from the wall, thereby hurting himself. Hang the art pieces in areas where your child can’t easily reach them. Also, try to use small and light art pieces just in case your child dislodges it and it falls on him. To be on the safe side, you can avoid framing the art prints that you want to hang in the baby’s room. Although this may look “poster” like, it will definitely give you peace of mind that your child is safe.

3. Kitchen

You might see it often in interior design magazines. Hanging art in the kitchen could make it look a lot more beautiful. But for practical reasons, I would advise against doing that. This is especially so if you cook regularly. The oil and grease coming from the cooking could be damaging for your art in the long run. Try hanging it elsewhere; the dining area, if it is outside the kitchen, will be a good choice. If you still want to hang your art in the kitchen, you can do that but you should frame it with a good quality frame, and you also need to maintain it regularly by cleaning off the grease and grime that might accumulate over time.

4. Avoid hanging an art piece next to a mirror

Avoid hanging an art piece right next to a mirror. People almost always prefer to look at their own reflection rather than at art, no matter how beautiful it is. The mirror will pull attention away from the art piece. But that said; putting an art piece next to a mirror is still somewhat subjective. Some people do it and it still looks quite pleasant.

5. Anywhere that’s in the path of direct sunlight

Avoid putting your art anywhere that’s in the direct path of sunlight. The long term effects of sunrays could cause discoloring and fading of your art piece. Put it in an area that’s shaded from direct sunlight, and use creative lighting to bring attention to it. Choose a good quality frame with ultraviolet filtering glass for extra protection against UV light.

There you have it! I hope the above pointers will help you in every little way to prolong the lifespan of your art pieces so that you, your family and friends can enjoy them for the years to come. Enjoy your art!