YOU GOT ACCEPTED INTO AN ART SHOW. NOW WHAT?
All the tips and tricks from one artist to another.
The Proper Way to Frame a Piece
When you bring your piece for an art show, the common practice is to have your piece placed in a nice frame. Michael's offers good quality frames for a good price. We recommend a wood frame over a plastic frame!
Utilizing a Mat
If you run into the issue of having a unique size artwork that does not fit a standard frame, you can find mats that will go around your piece before you frame it. They have precut mats at Michael's. You can also ask an associate to custom cut a mat to the size it needs to be (usually around $10 for smaller artworks!)
What is a mat? The white area between the art and the frame is a mat. This is not required but can elevate the look of your piece! Mats can also be colored, but a nice white is classic!
Where does the mat go?
Your artwork goes behind the mat, so when you put things in your frame, put the glass in first, then the mat, and then tape your artwork to the mat before adding the back of the frame. Acid free tape is recommended for archival purposes but not required! (We sell this at Scribble Lady)
The INCORRECT Way to Frame a 2D Piece
There are things that people will notice when you enter an art show and one of those things is how you present your art.
Things to avoid when framing:
-Cheap, flimsy poster frames
-Inexpensive frames that scratch easily
-A frame without hardware to hang it (more details in the next section)
-Unframed artwork.
-Do not mount your art to posterboard
How to Hang a Piece
When you drop off your art for a show, the gallery hosting you needs a way to hang your artwork. The common practice is hanging wire or a sawtooth hook. You can install these into your frame, if they do not come with them, or purchase a frame that comes with one already.
Absolutely NO string hanging for the safety of your artwork.
Michaels will attach a wire for around $5 if you bring your artwork in. Otherwise we will add wire for you at Scribble Lady for $10.
3D Art - Bringing in a Canvas
To prep your artwork to be in a gallery, there are standards you must meet. Two of those standards being that your canvas is varnished and the edges of your canvas are painted.
What is Varnish?
Varnish is a protective coating for your art to prevent sun damage! You can purchase varnish at any craft store, such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby. They offer different finishes and you can decide based on what you prefer.
(We also sell Varnish at Scribble Lady)
How to professionally finish the edges of canvas:
Our professional recommendation is to get your canvas art framed, however we understand that framing is expensive, so we do not require it.
If you are bringing in unframed wrapped canvas, please make sure the edges of your canvas are either painted a SOLID color, or that you continue your painting onto the edges of the canvas for a nice clean look.
Canvas Panels
If you are bringing in art on canvas panels, they need to be framed just as any other artwork.
Dropping your art off for the art show!
Please label your piece with your name and the title of the piece on the back so
Need Help? We got you!
We love our beginner artists and are excited to have you in our show! If you are unsure how to do the things listed above or don't get a chance to do so, we offer these services when dropping off your art. If you bring in a piece and do not follow these guidelines, you will be charged the below rates.
Add Hanging Hardware: $10
Varnish Your Piece: $10
Framing Your Piece (11x14" and smaller): $50
Framing Your Piece (larger than 11x14"): Price will depend on size.
For More Artist Resources visit our Resource Page Here
