Properly hung artwork combines concern for the safety of the artwork with the aesthetic concerns of lighting and visual balance within the room.

Protection
Care should be taken to hang artwork in an area where it will not become damaged by heat, ultraviolet (UV) light rays or humidity. Hang your artwork out of the line of direct sunlight. We recommend that you always ask your framer to use Conservation Glass which will filter out most of the harmful UV light rays. Never hang your valuable artwork over a heat source or in an area that will be high in humidity (such as a bathroom). Heat and humidity can cause serious damage to your art.

If It’s Worth Framing ... Frame It To last!

Lighting
There are two basic lighting techniques available for your home: ambient “room” lighting or “spot” lighting. Domestic lighting is often preferable for the home, because it allows the work of art to blend in with the rest of the room. Spotlights, on the other hand, make a piece “pop” — a nice touch for really special pieces. Spot lighting can be dramatic (using can lighting or light strips that affix right to the wall or the frame itself) or subtle (using room lamps strategically placed to give ample direct light to the piece). When using spotlights, be careful not to create shadows by using strong lights on a deep frame. Remember to keep your wiring as “invisible” as possible.
The Secret to Attractive Artwork Display ... Location, Location, Location

Hang your artwork at the eye-level of the “average” person in the room. If you are hanging the art in a room where more time is spent seated than standing, “eye-level” should be lower.

Hang smaller, more detailed pieces in small spaces such as hallways and corridors, where impact is less important than content, and the art can be enjoyed up close and personal. Larger, “atmospheric” pieces require more room for the viewer to stand back and enjoy — hang these pieces opposite the entrance to a room or at the end of a corridor.

 Groupings
Unless you are striving for an eclectic “antique shop” look, groupings should look as though they belong together. Select frame styles that are compatible, and matting styles that will work well together and create a balanced, unified look to the group as a whole.

Spacing is an important element in a grouping. Each picture should be placed not too far from, nor too close to its neighbor. The most commonly recommended way to create balance in a group is to place the entire layout on the floor. This will allow you to get a sense of how the grouping will look on the wall, allow for adjustments and accurate measurements. Another tip is to align the tops or bottoms of the various pictures in the group.

Hanging
Take care to use the proper hanging hardware for your type of wall and that will bear the weight of the framed piece. Plaster walls and drywall require different types of hardware. (Artwork that falls off the wall is not only a danger to itself, but to everyone that visits your home.)  Never hang artwork containing glass above a childs bed or crib.  Instead, have us replace the glass with acrylic to insure the safety of your little ones!

Use two hooks to hang anything larger than 12" wide. When determining where to put the hooks, use a carpenter’s level to ensure that the picture will hang straight. Locate the hooks about half the width of the picture apart and equal distance from the center line of the picture.  Example: for a picture 36 inches wide locate on the wall the midpoint of where you want to hang the picture.  Then mark two points, one on each side of the midpoint, each nine inches from the midpoint(i.e quarter the width of the pcture). Locate the hooks at these points.  This will help distribute the picture’s weight more evenly, and your picture will hang straight without constant vigilance.

Hardware
If you are uncertain what type of hanging hardware you should be using, ask us. Hanging hardware depends on the type of walls you will be hanging the art on — we have an array of products designed for nearly any type of hanging situation.
Typically a standard wire hanger is the simplest and most familiar system and will be installed on your artwork unless something else has been ordered.  When hanging very
heavy artwork or mirrors, we offer specialty hardware such as "Wall Buddies",  "EZ Bar"  and "Hangman" that are designed to carry heavier loads.
If you have any questions about properly hanging your artwork, just drop us a note at gallery@rimrockart.com.  We'll be happy to assist you!

The above information is provided courtesy of Tru-Vue, Inc.

Click here for a fun video from MSNBC on hanging artwork.