I will not be able to forget about bare white walls that welcomed me to my first apartment. The atmosphere was clinical, dead, as of a hospital waiting-room and not of a home. I needed to do something special in those walls, and I thought that original artwork was totally beyond my small budget. It was then that I learned about the existence of framed art prints and to be honest, it has completely reshaped my thoughts regarding the issue of decorating.
Framed art prints fall in the middle ground between the cheaply mass-produced posters and the expensive original art that most people can not afford. They became my go-to when it comes to the process of providing personality and visual appeal to any room and years of trials and errors with a wide variety of styles, frames, and approaches have taught me what actually works.
The Differences between Framed Art Prints and Framed Canvases.
It is important to make something clear at the very beginning: framed art prints are not only fancy posters. The difference in quality is even more important than I thought. An original work is copied in a print that is reproduced by means of professional printing methods, usually giclée printing on archival paper or canvas, in a print of an original artwork. It translates to deeper color, increased detail, and durability which a regular poster can not possibly have.
I was taught the lesson the hard way when I pinned a low-quality poster on my sunny living room. The colors faded really in six months. The picture I had framed, and put in the same place? Even now, it is as bright as the day I hung it three years ago.
The frame in itself lifts the whole composition. When a frame is of good quality and matted well the picture protrudes and draws attention to the picture and not the frame.
Tracking down Prints That Really Personally Speak to You.
Framed art prints come in such a variety that it is exciting and intimidating to note the sheer variety of the pieces that can be bought nowadays. My initial collecting mistake was that of many first-time buyers: I was purchasing the works that I thought I was supposed to like and not necessarily ones that resonated with me. My walls would have been a jumbled up museum gift shop.
However, these days I do it more differently. I take time to find out what really appeals, whether it be in moody landscape photography, old botanical illustrations, abstract watercolors or modern graphic design. In my case of the home office, I succumbed to line drawings that are minimalistic and not monotonous. I selected bright food-related old prints in the dining room which are conversation evoking.
There is also incredible diversity of independent artists available on online marketplaces such as Etsy, Society6 and Minted. Museums offer reproduction of classic work of high quality. Prints by local artists are sometimes sold at local art fairs and galleries at affordable prices. I have been able to discover treasures in each of these places.
The Frame Selection Dilemma
This is a secret that no one tells you: it may be more difficult to pick the frame rather than the artwork. I have been in a framing store and been totally stuck with choices.
Ready-made frames are a miracle when your print is in such standard sizes, as 8×10, 11×14 or 16×20. They are cheap and can be easily obtained at such retail outlets as IKEA, Target or Michael. I have used these to accumulate a large portion of my collection by matching frame colors to provide a visual unity in various walls.
Through custom framing, there are more options but it is much more expensive. I will only do this on very special works or odd prints. One of the local framers assisted me in making an innovative museum quality presentation of a print I had bought in his travels; it had UV-protective glass and archival matting. I was disappointed at the framing fee of 200 dollars, but I am glad to see that work on the wall on a daily basis.
The Investment Perspective
Framed art prints in quality command a curious place in terms of finances. They are cheap enough to be affordable yet worthwhile enough to be considered as actual investments in your place of living. I have paid between 40 and 300 dollars per frame print depending on the size, artist and the framing options.
As opposed to fashionable decorations that become out of date after one season, art prints that are carefully selected last long. The reproduction of that Japanese woodblock print that I had purchased five years back? Still love it. The neon typography poster which appeared to be fashionable in 2019? Exiled into the closet in a year.
I have also realised that some of the limited edition prints do indeed gain value, especially when the artist is an up-and-coming artist. Although I am not an investor in art, it is always nice to know that some of my art can be sold or even have their value appreciated.
Making It Work in Your Space
Framed art prints are versatile in nature and thus beautiful. They are employed in rentals where it is impossible to paint the walls. They also provide sophistication to the home offices when on video calls. They form the central points in the otherwise forgotten hallways and stairwells.
Start small if you’re unsure. A single, well selected, well framed print is worth as much as five mediocre ones placed at random. When you start to build your collection, it can be gradually done, and you just observe what you are naturally attracted to. The personal style will be reflected in the pieces that you wear.
The walls of my first apartment are bare and seem like a long-lost memory. Each of the framed prints is actually a little narrative, a location I have travelled to, an artist whose art resonates with me, a color scheme that relaxes me. This is what makes such pieces worth it, not merely ornamentation, but multiple layers of meaning that turn a space into a place of your own.
FAQs
What is the distinction between poster and a print of art?
Art prints are printed on better quality paper, professional techniques of printing and fading-resistant inks. They are generally made in small numbers and are of higher color and detail quality than mass-produced posters.
Should I purchase readymade pictures in frames or do it myself?
Pre-framed items are easily available, and in common sizes can be less expensive. Custom framing offers a little greater control over presentation and is more effective in special size or odd-shaped works.
How do I prevent fading?
Wear UV-protective glass or acrylic on frames, do not hang in the direct sun and use the prints done in archival and fade-resistant inks.
Which frame size do I need to buy when there is a small room?
Against all odds, better placed in small rooms are the larger works (20×24 or larger) as opposed to several small ones, which appear to be a bold point of focus instead of a visual cacophany.
Is it worth paying the premium price on the limited edition prints?
In case you like the work and the cost is within your means, yes. Limited editions can be more valuable, but they should be purchased mainly because of enjoyment and not because of possible value.
