So I admit it, with a full time job and art business already on my plate writing quality posts is getting hard. Right now I am busy getting ready for big art show next week so I thought I would try to kill two birds with one stone and tell you a little about some of the more inventive things I’ve used to mount or frame my art. As I’ve said before I am a big fan of Ikea’s As Is department, so I keep an eye out when I am there for things to use for my art. The first things I bought there for that purpose were a set of four dark wood trays, about 8×10 each with shallow square edges. These looked great with a series of abstract nature prints in them, and I sold them at a gallery the first time I showed them! My latest find is two black doors. I took the hinges off, screwed in eyes and wires on back, and used double stick to mount prints to it. Turned out great and will be going to my next show.
I also found four 5×7 pieces of thick clear acrylic which were only 20 cents each! Wasn’t sure how I would use it, but 20 cents, come on! They had holes drilled in them, but I thought I could either use that as a decorative element or cover with print. Wiring them to hang was a head scratcher, still not sure I made the best choice since you can see the wire, would have been nice if the whole thing seemed to magically float, but not bad looking, planning on a series again with this. Series make it seem more deliberate and a weight to your choice of materials.
I also have this piece from a couple years ago where I had pics from an old grocery store reproduction, lovely old can goods which I thought would work well on a more industrial mounting. I bought a sheet of zinc and spray mounted the prints all together.
Really you are only limited by your imagination, I often find regular frames so limiting and predictable, which has got me into arguments with galleries as to what is ‘proper’. Fah! Isn’t that what’s fun about art, being improper! The only rule I try to have is not to have a frame which detracts or is overpowering to the art, it should add to and support your theme. So what things have you tried?
Big plans for next weeks post, I have amazing idea for a sculptural concrete project, so be sure to tune in.
We all can use more Cheapness in our lives right now, so share with your social network of choice!
Update to this post
I also got a bunch of 7×9 pieces of glass with holes in corner (which I threaded ribbon thru) at Ikea’s As Is department for 50 cents each, just finished mounting photos on those for upcoming show I am doing, they look great!
Read more about finding goodies at Ikeas As Is department in my post on that subject, you’ll find it under ‘shopping’ in my archives.
- Framing Decoupage (darncrafty.wordpress.com)
- Framed. (kaylaeiten.wordpress.com)
