I'm not a fan of prints really, but we have a couple that I like that we want to put up. I don't really like frames either; all of our paintings hang on our walls unframed on their canvases. The only thing I can think of to make these prints "hangable" is to put a simple black frame around them--but that seems so blah to me, like the cheap-looking, framed Monet or Dali prints that everyone had in the early 90's. How can I avoid this look? Any fresh, unconventional ideas?? Please help!!
with some of my smaller artwork (i have two photographs and one collage that i'm thinking of in particular) i've had glass or plexi cut to the exact dimensions and then took a plate hanger and stretched it to fit and hook onto the backside of the art (you'll also have to use a sturdy backing cut to exact size as well to make it rigid) since there is a loop already on the plate hanger, just pop a nail the wall and hang it up. it's actually on my list to hang my aforementioned collage on the wall today.
the plate hanger probably will not work if you have poster size prints, but maybe there is another simple clamp idea that would work in place of the plate hanger? i've seen martha do it with those big bulldog clips too.
eta: i thought of another idea that i've done. you can affix the print (only if you don't care deeply about it) to a prestretched canvas and then apply 2-3 coats of shellac over the top to seal it all together. obviously you'll never be able to reverse this process if you decide you want to frame it later, but it gives a bit of a different look to the print.
Ikea has frameless glass "frames". They're pretty nice, we mounted the cd and booklet from my bf's band in one and it looks really cool.
HotCocoas idea about affixing it to a canvas is good but if you're not crafty Costco can copy photos onto canvases. It looks great and it cheap. I'm just not sure if they will do a print though (possible copyright infringement?)
Thanks so much, girls! I'm so glad I got responses to this question. I love the plate hanger idea and the Ikea frameless "frame" idea. I don't think I'm crafty enough to pull off the canvas option, but I love it so I may try it if hubby agrees. We have one poster size print for our nursery and then a few smallish black and white photos.
Hotcocoa--I bet your collage is fabulous and I'd love to see photos!