New Collaborative Project: Photography, Digital vs. Print - CAT THRASHER

I am so excited about this project!

It is so obvious how fast images zoom by us today, and alongside those images are the special moments that go along with them.

Poof, they're here, then gone, or filed away in a folder with many others, in the vast world of your computer. In the past, an old photo was 20 years old. Today, a day is already too much age for an image to be interesting.

We're at the border of still remembering going through old inherited or stashed away boxes of old photographs in our parents' attic or basement, and the speed of the newest generation that almost never bothers to print out images and may not even care about any of that "old stuff". 

I remember finding photos of distant (or past) relatives and asking: "Who is that?".

That will soon become a thing of the past unless we reconsider how we treat our photographs or images (and memories).

I invited some of my favorite C'Ville photographers to participate in a collaboration, featuring their view on digital vs. print (and consequently framing and preserving those prints (and their art), and introducing them and displaying them in your every day environment.

First up:

CAT THRASHER

Cat Thrasher Photography

CatThrasher.com

"In this digital age, it's unsettling how few people print and frame their photographs. 

You have to ask yourself, when you take a picture, what does it mean to you? 

Is it significant? Is it special?"

Cat Thrasher

"I would argue that anything that begins and exists in 1s and 0s, on a computer, is a copy. There is no original...there's only a first copy. So when you print and frame a photograph, you're actually creating the first one. That's it, that's the original, hanging on your wall. Until you get to that point, your photographs don't exist in real life."

"When I think about framing my black and white studio portraits, the first thing I think about is how prominent the frame will be, and what impact that will have on the image. When you look at a print, sitting on a table, you have to consider that it is naked, and framing it is like putting on its clothes. One thing I've been obsessed with lately is museum glass, because there is no glare or reflection from the ambient light around the frame, which can really distract from the photo. You get the best view of your photographs through it. I also love to play with the size of the mat, for instance: a big mat with a small photo or a large photo with a smaller mat. You really have to think about the individual image and what kind of treatment it needs. But don't think so hard that you don't do it at all. That's the point where I think some folks get hung up. Because, in the end, the best frame is the one that is hanging on the wall, with the photo in it."

You can also find

 Cat Thrasher Photography

on Facebook!

 Thanks Cat!

I look forward to continuing this conversation.

I've invited several other photographers to participate in this exchange - 

check back with us for more!

Ciao, Beate

La Linea Bella ! 

Fantastic Framing & Art

www.lalineabella.com

copyright La Linea Bella 2014.

All Rights Reserved.

How to Hang Art Like a Pro - Via ELLE Decor

Thanks to our friends at ELLE DECOR for this great post on how to hang Art and not lose your mind!

There are so many things to consider, I hope this gives you some inspiration to how to hang your next project with some panache and courage!

"The joy of purchasing a new piece of art can quickly turn to stress when it comes time to hang it. How high should it be mounted on the wall? How can it be arranged with other pieces to create an inspired statement? And, crucially, how can you be sure it’s safe and secure and won’t end up crashing to the floor?

To help answer these questions, we turned to David Kassel, the founder of ILevel, a New York–based professional art placement and installation service that counts Albert Hadley, Bunny Williams, and Victoria Hagan among its many clients.

Hanging Basics

First, Kassel discussed the nuts and bolts of hanging art securely. Contrary to popular belief, he says you needn’t hammer nails into studs, nor install hefty drywall anchors to support art. Here’s how he does it:

•Use picture-hanging hooks, rather than heavy nails or screws. Although they may seem dainty, they are very secure. “It’s all based on shear weight,” says Kassel. “The picture hooks go into the wall on an angle, like a cat’s claw—it’s a whole different set of physics.”

(NOTE: At LLB, we recommend asking your picture framer for the appropriate weight hook to hang your art on. Also, we believe that hanging your art on studs is more secure, and that using two hooks will keep your art straight at all times and saves the frame from any stress of the wire pulling on it.)

•Buy the right type of hook for your artwork’s weight. “There are basically three types,” says Kassel. “A one-nail picture hook holds things that are 30 pounds or lighter. A two-nail picture hook holds pieces that are about 50 pounds. A three-nail picture hook holds pieces that are about 75 to 100 pounds.

•Use two picture hooks per artwork. Not only does this provide added security but it helps art remain level over time, compared to items hung from a single point.

•When possible, install two D-rings, rather than a wire, on the backs of frames, to hang from the picture hooks. “Then it’s stationary, and not swinging on a wire,” says Kassel. “There’s no pendulum effect involved.”
(We think this is a great idea! Check out our tips on the website here.)

•Use a level and ruler to ensure that both the picture hooks and D-rings are aligned when installed.

Stylish Arrangements 

When you’re ready to hang the art, the next step is choosing where each piece should reside. Again, Kassel has a few helpful rules of thumb:

•Recruit a helper who can hold pieces against the wall before you begin hammering in the picture hooks. “Then you can take a step back to see what the space is going to look like with the piece there,” says Kassel. “You get a sense of the proportions and colors, and see it against all the other design elements.”

•When hanging a single piece on a wall, the center of the picture should be about 60 inches off the ground, which places it at eye level.

(We have found that 62" - 67" is the best height for most eye levels, depending on how tall your family is.)

•When hanging a pair of works, one above the other, treat them as one large picture (whether they’re the same or different sizes). Find the center point between them, and use the same 60-inch rule.

•For spacing between art on the same wall, “Generally, we’ll use two inches between larger pictures,” says Kassel. “If they’re all smaller family photos, we might use an inch and a half between them.” That goes for the spacing above, below, and on either side of each frame.

•When arranging multiple pieces, don’t just think in terms of a grid. “What’s really becoming popular are salon installations—a group of often disparate images or frames,” clustered together, says Kassel, who notes that such installations often stretch from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. “There’s no right or wrong way to do it,” he says. “We just start in the middle and work our way out. It’s something you feel proportionally, or you can decide based on whether Aunt Rose should be next to Uncle Jim.”

Kassel says the most important tip is to have fun when hanging art, and not to worry too much about getting things perfect. “You’re not doing anything structural to your walls, and your house isn’t going to fall down if you don’t hang the pictures right,” he says. “If you hang something up and want to move it, it’s really easy to fix the problem,” with a little spackle. In fact, Kassel suggests changing displays of art every once in a while: “I think a lot of people like moving pictures around, just like they move furniture around to freshen things up.”

Click here to visit the original article by Elle Decor.

La Linea Bella !

Fantastic Framing & Art

McIntire Plaza, Charlottesville  - www.lalineabella.com

Advice on Framing - for Artists

Any artist who has been invited to display their work knows what an exciting and also nerve-wracking event this can be. 

One of the most nicely framed shows I have had the pleasure of hosting was Donna Clark's WIDE OPEN SPACES last year. Her frames were tastefully chosen and everyone who left with one of her paintings was thrilled with her frame choices. (Pictured above.)

Framing your art is part of this process, and framing many shows, here is some advice LLB has for an artist who is about to embark on such a soul-bearing journey.

ASSESS WHAT TYPE OF FRAMING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. Frames and proper materials are expensive and are an investment, no doubt. As we see it, there are two different directions you can take, Before anything, SET A BUDGET. Once you've set your budget, your framer can help you decide how your goals and your budget can combine into one happy product.

KNOW WHAT YOUR STYLE IS. Look around and take note on what other artists are doing.

Ask what materials or mouldings they have used and do some research so that the process is not so overwhelming once you have to make the actual choice. Being emotional about one's show is natural, so this is helpful in making your final decision.

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? Would you like to get your art on the walls in a complementary, budget friendly way, knowing that most clients will re-frame your piece to suit their environment?

In this case, your frame is a short term vehicle that presents your art in the best  or most neutral way possible while not stripping your budget. There are more inexpensive options that will do this. They will not always be as high quality as a beautifully finished wood or gilt frame, but they can do the trick just fine. 

If, on the other hand, you would like to present the client or purchaser with an option that will have LONGEVITY and will protect your art on its new path, be prepared to invest in the appropriate materials. U. V. Protective or Museum Glazing, finer mouldings and frame choices, and museum quality boards will do just this and will be worth the investment in this case.

Some artists are very particular about how they would like to see their works framed now and in the future, and in this case it is wise to be prepared to invest in this type of framing and to incorporate this expectation into your budget to ensure that your expectations are met and kept.

Another tip: sometimes adding some width to your matting (e.g. not squishing it in a frame due to budget constraints) will give your art much more presence on the wall, will separate it from its surrounding, and present it more dramatically and effectively.

Lastly, many other artists are also very savvy about framing and are a great source of help for a frame-seeking artist. In this case, you would probably be looking for a temporary, budget friendly housing for your art that can be ordered in a standard size online and then, with help of a fellow artist, installed into said frame. Artists often have a lower overhead and can better accommodate your budget with their rates. And, hopefully, they will have the know-how to frame your work to your expectations - and you might have fun participating in the process.

www.lalineabella.com

La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

McIntire Plaza, Charlottesville, VA

(434) 244-3050

Radiant Orchid, say adieu!

While you may have great difficulty convincing Titus that his favorite bow tie in the color RADIANT ORCHID will no longer be en vogue in 2015 ("Whaat?"),  we are excited about some of the new colors that are on the horizon:

Warmer, more earthy and slightly more calming, these colors can also add 

some drama to your walls when paired with cool metallic tones and crisp whites.

Roma's GIANNI is a modern shaped metallic float frame with a waxed 

antiqued finish that combines the best of both worlds.

Black frames remain a favorite, and there are some exciting finishes and 

patterns to choose from, so they don't have to be boring or flat.

And of course white lacquers add a pop of freshness and light whenever needed

 and can really make your wall color stand out.

 And, if you are as much in love with purple as Titus and I are, you can mix with a vibrant earth tone to add some warmth and life to it.

Luckily for Titus, who is a fan of young, strong, fresh colors, 

retro 60's graphic and tribal  patterns remain popular as well.

And we do have some great mouldings to choose from when it comes to complementing

 those bright patterns:

These are Larson Juhl's eye-popping TAFFY frames.

For some more really fun and unusual mod ideas, 

click here!

Stop by for more inspiration Tuesdays - Saturdays.

We're in McIntire Plaza, near Downtown Charlottesville.

See you soon!

www.LaLineaBella.com

2014 La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

(434) 244-3050

Design Trend: Metallics

Metallic highlights in interior design are a great way to contrast different textures, play with hot and cold, organic and slick, light and dark, etc.

From float frames to sleek water gilded profiles, mirrored frames and distressed rusted finishes, we carry a large selection of cool and warm metallic tones to add just the accent that you are looking for.

For more inspiration and to read more about metallic trends in interior design, click here.

La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

McIntire Plaza, Charlottesville, VA

(434) 244-3050

www.lalineabella.com

Style Advice by Titus - Framing with Black and White.

Who said that framing with black and/or white has to be bland?

 No way!

Framing with a simple black (or white) moulding makes it easy to integrate your art into your environment, 

and lets the art speak for itself.

A clean, well-hung black and white gallery can be a strong statement, and interspersed with some of your favorite mementos it can become an eye-popping experience.

Stairs especially lend themselves to hanging 

black and white family or art galleries:

Vary the size and shape of your art for more added interest:

Or keep it simple and clean:

Set off your wall color with a pop of white

and some interesting shapes:

Or use white to add some whimsy:

We have LOADS of white and black frames to choose from and are always happy to help you design a home gallery like this one we framed for a Charlottesville home a few years ago:

And last (but not least!) don't forget that you can camouflage your secret doorways with a fantastic frame:

Visit us any day on Facebook , Pinterest or at

LaLineBella.com

or 

Tuesdays - Saturdays 

in McIntire Plaza

for more inspiration!

xx 

Titus & Beate

Summer Colour Crush - Cool Blues

Mary Serantoni - KiraKira - Whitley Designs - Caldrea - Larson Juhl - Roma Moulding

La Linea Bella !

Fantastic Framing & Art

Charlottesville, VA

434.244.3050

www.lalineabella.com