A Michigan Art Director sent his agency’s take on Canvas Press:

I am an art director at an ad agency in Michigan. We decided to take our mission, vision and values and lay them out with some typographical styles. When decided on printing we explored several vendors and products, but we’re so happy we chose Canvas Press. The artwork turned out beautifully and the gallery wraps look amazing in our office in the creative neighborhood we work in. Thank you so much for such an amazing product. We’ve already ordered another canvas and plan to work with Canvas Press in the future.Best,
Aaron

Framing stretched canvas is quite different from framing a traditional photograph. Stretched canvas does not require a mat or glass and it fits into an open back frame. You can take your Standard Stretch canvases to a professional frame shop or use these instructions to do it yourself and save money.

With a Canvas Press Standard Stretch canvas, the image is on the front while the sides are white. The wood frame the canvas is stretched around is ¾” thick and we staple the canvas on the back. You may see a small amount of white when looking at the canvas straight on because of the canvas folds; however this will be hidden by the decorative frame.

Go to your local frame shop or craft store with a selection of ready made, open-back frames. The standard sizes are usually 8×10, 11×14, 16×20, 18×24, 20×24, 24×30, and 30×40, some stores will have other sizes like 10×20. You may want to see what is available in your area before placing the order for your canvas.

If you require a custom size cut and assembled by framing professionals you can still save money by finishing it off yourself. The frame will have a lip that the canvas rests on, depending on the frame it may cover ¼” to ½” of the canvas. Keep this in mind when cropping your image and make sure there is room for this overlap.

You will also need clips to secure the canvas to the frame. These are usually found on the same aisle as stretcher bars. They should come in a pack of four, the exact amount for one frame.

Once you have gathered these supplies you are ready to finish assembling the framed canvas. Set the canvas inside the frame so it is resting on the lip. Every frame will be slightly different, some fit tightly while others are loose. Just be careful not to scratch the ink on the canvas when placing it in the frame.

Now you can apply the clips to secure the canvas. Slide the pointed end down along the edge and against the frame like shown in the pictures below. Pull the remaining clip over the stretcher bar and press firmly in place.

The frame is complete. There are many different ways to hang the finished piece. You can hammer a sawtooth hanger onto the part that sticks out the furthest, be it frame or stretcher bar. Another option is to attach a wire across the back. Many frame shops will clean up the look of the back by taping or stapling a solid sheet of black butcher paper. You can also set your framed canvas on an easel for display.

Hang artwork like a pro to give yourself a gallery at home. Hanging art is not usually a fun chore. You end up making a mess, banging up the walls, and it just doesn’t always end up the way you thought it would. There is no real secret to hanging art, it just requires a little thought and some patience.

The first step is to pick the right pieces for the right wall. Apply the Goldilocks method… This one is too big, this is too small, and this one is JUST RIGHT. If you hang a small piece on a large wall or around other large pieces such as a sofa then it can get lost and be ineffective. On the same token, a piece that is too large will appear cramped and make your space look and feel smaller.

(more…)

New Year, new room. Freshen up your living space for a new outlook on things. With the rush and hustle of the holidays now a blurry memory, you may have jumped right back into work or school and not had time to recuperate. Chances are, there are still lights hung on your house, the tree may be put away or thrown out, but a few stockings and decorations are left lying around. Maybe even an ornament or two lost their way and just didn’t get put back…

It’s not going to get any better or easier as the year moves on, so you know you have to do it now. Why not make the most of it, and while you’re cleaning up the holiday remnants spend a little time sprucing up the house for the rest of the year.
(more…)

In health care, art has proven an important factor. Pulse, a medical magazine from the United Kingdom, wrote in June of 2006, “Artwork in surgeries can reduce stress, improve interaction between doctors and patients and even help recruit and retain staff.” They noted that 91% of General Practitioners say the nature of the work environment could improve interaction with patients, 75% said it can improve recruitment and retention of staff. The factors that matter in a work environment were light, plants, photography and art.

In Art Business News, December 2005, “Art for health’s sake” discussed that abstract or landscape images can transport a person to a different location. This therefore can help distract a patient from pain or anxiety; it can also create an ice-breaker or new topic of conversation.
(more…)

“We share our stories; we learn we are not alone in our fight.” The words of Lance Armstrong enlarged and powerful in an examination room of the new LiveSTRONG Survivorship Center at the Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin.

The purpose of the Center is to help young cancer survivors during and after their treatment. Many will face tough physical and psychological issues related to their cancer and treatment long after it may have been cured. In a press conference on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Armstrong said “We expect people not only to survive, but to thrive.”
(more…)

Imagine, if you will, turning your home into a dazzling showcase filled with art from you and your family. Did you know that with the right shade of color on your walls, you could turn the simplest art into a masterpiece? Thinking like an artist or designer means coloring “outside the lines”. Most artists live their lives “outside the lines.” That may be why everyone thinks we are a tad nuts. I know I wear that label with great pride and would like to give you a few pointers on how you may release your inner nut… er… I mean artist.
(more…)

Art is not decoration. Art should be used to attain your business goals. No matter what the industry, every job today requires exceptional creativity and imagination to get ahead, which is just one way art can work for you.

In business, one can spend countless hours researching the market, developing a product and hiring the right employees. Less time however, goes into planning the décor and appearance of the office. This may be because it might not seem a significant part in making a successful business. That is not the case. Design and décor play a very important and beneficial role in a business.
(more…)