Now for the hanging

The painting is purchased and paid for, wired and framed, wrapped in your place ready for you to hang it on the wall. You know where you are putting it. The question is, where do you hang it, exactly?

The rule of thumb is about four inches above the sofa or chair rail. The bottom of the frame should measure about four, maybe five, inches above the the tallest part of the sofa or sofa cusion. Seems low, right? Not really. The key to remember is that you want your painting's center to be as close to eye level as possible. You want the painting to be weighted lower into the room, not floating above. Always the painting should be placed so that it is easy to read. The painting is in your home to engage, to entertain, and to be a part of your life and conversation. Don't place it high up and out of reach. You don't want to lift your chin to see the work nor do you want the bottom few inches of the painting to be the focal point.

Now get out your tape measure, level, pencil and paper, calculator. This really is simple. Measure up four inches from top of sofa or chair rail and mark with pencil on wall. Rest painting on the floor with one hand holding it upright. Pull wire tight. Measure from bottom of frame to wire. Mark that measurement on wall. Tap in two hooks about 2 inches apart. Remember to align the hooks to the mark, not the nails. The nails will be above the mark. Hold the painting with one hand under the bottom frame and the other hand on the wire. Gently ease the wire onto one hook then the other. Use the level to straighten.

Stand back and enjoy!

So what makes it a good painting? Part Two

So we have covered the first two considerations of what makes a painting good, or what makes a painting right for you.

Another top attraction is subject matter. What is the painting about? What objects, places, or people are in the painting? Again, this is such subjective criteria, no art critic can judge the quality of a painting strictly on subject matter. You will find that artists tend to choose one theme and work with it throughout their careers. You will also find that the better artists, the more educated and talented ones, the ones who balance craft with vision, will excel in several disciplines. The best painters are arguably the most well-rounded. Painters who primarily paint landscape will still go to the figure, any painter worth her salt will continue a lifetime of plein air painting. It just keeps observational and draftsmanship skills strong.

Enough about the artist, I am here for you, the collector. What does all that mean to you? It means look carefully at what is portrayed in the painting. For example, always look for an entrance into a landscape. How does the artist carry you into her world? Allow your eye to travel further up and further in. This is the very beginning of quality painting. Maybe the painting has people in it. How are they interacting? A figurative painting is about drama. What is the story, what is the relationship? Why is that relationship either compelling or relatable? I am going to lump florals and still life into one "branch" of painting. Consider here the craft, so much beauty can be found in a well-drawn musical instrument.

I am tell you this because subject matter is the melody of the painting, it is the part of the artwork that is the loudest, the most apparent, easiest to recognise. So naturally it seduces the viewer.

So my second comment is a warning, be wary of seductive painting! As attractive and compelling the subject matter may be remember to consider other components to the work. Choosing artwork based solely on subject matter (Wow--we vacationed RIGHT HERE) creates a collection that is kitchy.

Subject matter is the most relate able, tangible element of the painting. It is the one part that is instantly recognizable. Yes it is important, but take a second look when your "aha" moment lies completely in the "picture" part of the painting.

So what makes it a good painting?

Really? What determines that a painting is any good? Does the gallery? Who?

Fortunetly, you don't have to go to art school to answer this question. And the simplest answer is one that only you can answer, Do YOU like it? And here is what I hear most frequently from clients, what attracts them to particular artwork and particular artists.

So let's rephrase the question because what we really want to know is, "Is it the perfect painting for me?"

First, let's consider the scale. Interesting, huh? What is usually the first piece of criteria is, will the scale of the work suit the scale of the room? If the answere here is yes, then the artwork can be considered. No matter how good the painting is, if it is too big or small for the space then it just won't work. Usually artists work in a particular range of sizes so if you like one piece by an artist, you can find many others of similar scale and dimension. The two work together, the scale of the room and the scale of the artwork. When the two are harmonious the results are breathtaking.

Another is palette. Notice how I choose this word over color. "Color" implies matching and decorating, "palette" implies temperature, wholeness or completeness. A palette can be limited, meaning fewer colors used in the painting. When the artist does this, the result is usually a richer, more subtle work with highlighted spots of color. Or the palette can be varied, meaning a wider variety of colors often used at the same intensity. These paintings tend to be more active. So the term "palette" is better suited when describing the colors of a painting.

So the palette is something that is completely personal. Do you respond to rich, harmonious tones? Sublties that hint to depthes deep into the personal life of the painting? Temperature is important here, so consider the relative warmth of the work. Maybe you prefer a wider spectrum of hues. Does your eye always go to the pieces that are color-specific? Maybe you prefer lots of local color, whether it is a poppy field or an Venetian alley.

And now for the frame!

You have done the "hard" work, the searching for the perfect painting and you have found it. It is almost ready to hang in the spot in your home waiting for it. It is gorgeous, paid for, it is yours.

The one final detail to consider is the frame. The frame is the final border of the artwork, it completes it and makes it whole and makes it uniquely yours. We at Lamantia Gallery are professional framers so we select frames for paintings based on the artwork itself without any other considerations. Many clients fall in love with the painting as they see it, many others choose to reframe the artwork to better suit thier home.

Think of the frame as a bridge. The frame trasitions the artwork from the canvas to the living world. So you can see how important it is to select the perfect "bridge". A proper frame will hold the image within the boundaries of the canvas. The frame will enhance the painting by bringing your eye to the artwork but subtle enough so that it does not compete with the painting. Please be open to trying different looks and let us help you.

You are going to want to think about your enviornment now. Is the painting going into a formal living or dining area? Is the painting hanging in a casual and restful part of the house? What is the architecture of the room? All this translates into what shape and profile of frame, the finish of the material, or even the width of the moulding.

Something to consider is a liner. This is usually a white or cream frame that goes between the outer frame and the canvas. It gives the painting just a bit of margin and space before the moulding begins. These also come in different widths so it creates another bit of drama to the artwork. I personally like them because it is one more "retaining"' wall to the piece. It is a simple yet beautiful line that circles the artwork that allows the viewers eye to linger for another moment. And that is the entire role of the frame: to tempt us to stay and enjoy the view.

Browsing, browsing, browsing

So many paintings!

You have looked, watched, and listened carefully to each work of art. Each painting has its own voice and its own distinct vibe and motion. The only way now to make your decision on which ones and where to put them is to have them home with you. The better art galleries will permit, encourage actually, you to view the paintings in your own home. Each client is different and unique, but each one has always selected the best painting that has suited thier enviormnent. I love that part of my job--it is kind of like matchmaking, finding the perfect pair. The best path to success is to go ahead and have the paintings in your home.

A home show will bring out the personality of the work. The paintings will be outside of the gallery so they will be away from all the competing themes and colors and subjects. The true brilliance of the painting will shine once it is in the home. It will be in your own personal comfort zone, your furnishings, your architecture, your traffic pattern of life. Here is the chance to walk the painting through your home--how does it look over the mantel? Maybe it is better peeking from around the piano. Is it visible through multiple doorways? Again, and I will be saying this from time to time, enjoy this moment of getting to know your painting.

This is the time to make your final selections. Hopefully you have a helpful sales associate with you to help you hold paintings in place and give thoughtful criticsim to the placement. The painting won't be hung today, but you will know where it is going. Now all you have to do is pay for the piece and it is all yours!

Congratulations! You have purchase a piece of artwork that you will enjoy for many years to come.

So here I am in an art gallery, now what?

So you have looked around your place, took down those concert posters, hid away those gift-shop framed inspirations, and have some wall space. Good. Very good.

You have wandered into an art gallery and here is where things start to happen. Being in an art gallery is the best place on earth. A reputible dealer will have paintings stretched, framed, and hung on the wall. The space should be open, well-lit, clean. Beware of piles and stacks of paintings. You are finding the perfect piece to compliment your home and life, that piece deserves respect. Many of the better galleries will have a certified staff framer so you will see lots and lots of frame corners and mats. The space should be roomy enough to manuver yourself closer and further from the painting.

Feel free to step closer to a painting and further away, so much of painting is discovered from different angles and distances.

Expect a friendly, courteous hello from the sales staff. If you have a question, please ask--we love to help. If you need a few minutes to enjoy the work, take all the time you need. The gallery will have many more paintings available than what you see on the wall so if you like a particular style or image or artist, ask to see more similar. We keep them in the back and we also have many more available to us outside the gallery walls.

This is probably the best time in your life, right here, right now. You are in a beautiful gallery, surrounded by the best paintings by the most talented artists, you have a knowledgable sales associate at your service. Now you listen and watch. Which pieces are speaking to you? Maybe it is the figurative work that is soo reminescent of moments of your life and expierences. Maybe it is a bird's eye veiw of the tuscan landscape--a window into another world. The good paintings need to be watched, so take the time and let the lines of the work draw your eye thoughout the piece.

First things first!

So here you are, in your home and you look around and you decide that it is time. Time to start that collection. You have come to the right place! I am here to help!

My first suggestion is to think big. Don't be shy, fill up your wall space. One mistake that I see clients make is to float a tiny painting on a spacious wall. Large paintings give the room a presence and personality. Paintings have a voice and share your life with you. A quality, well-hung, suitable painting will invite you into the room without being overbearing. It is a guest in the house that adds to the conversation always saying just the right thing. And many times the frame can easily add another ten inches to the overall dimension. Paintings are fine hung about four inches above the sofa or chair rail and then up to the ceiling. Remember, you always want to weight the painting low, you should have larger margin of wall above the painting. Nothing makes an art dealer's heart flutter like large, expansive wall. I see the possibilities!

Second, rethink anything covered in glass; glass is bulky, heavy, glaring. It shows the dust. The glass creates a barrier between the art and the viewer. Nothing speaks elegance and class like an exposed oil painting. The painting has a richness and texture that is unique. Anything under glass is going to have a uniform and fragile surface. It lacks the weight of a real painting, a genuine piece of artwork.

And if I could suggest one final thought as you start your search, remember to have fun! Finding the right artwork for your home is a joy, enjoy the anticipation of that "aha" moment. This isn't a job, ignore the decorator (more about that later) and just look and look and look at paintings. Listen to them, the good ones sing. Watch them, the good ones move. Go to museums and look at the best paintings to get a sense for quality work. Be open, be prepared to be surprised at what speaks to you.

I hope this helps you on your search!