How to Properly Hang an African American Art Print

By: Moyo Ogundipe
Submitted: 2007-10-01 14:39:33
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When you’ve invested some money in an African American art print, you should display it prominently in your home. While some print stores will offer to mat your picture for you, you may save money and time by doing it on your own. A good mat job combined with the proper hanging techniques will guarantee that your African American art print is showcased the way it should be.

The first thing you need to do is choose the size of frame for your African American art print. You can either choose one that is drastically larger than the actual image or one that is only slightly larger than its overall size. The difference in sizes will leave more or less room for the mat to take up space. If you like more ‘blank’ space around the picture, choose a larger frame. If you want only the minimum amount of ‘blank’ space, choose a smaller frame that will come right to the edges of the image.

Next, you will want to go to your local crafts supply store to obtain the following items for your African American art print:

• The frame that you selected
• Two archival-quality boards for each print (one for the front, one for the back) – conservation quality is best, though there are other types available
• Mat cutter OR a razor blade cutter with a straight edged ruler
• Ruler, pencil and a piece of drafting tissue or tracing paper that is as large as your picture or bigger
• T-square
• Tape

What you’ll need to do next is cut a hole in the board that you have selected for the front of your African American art print. The hole should be the size of the image that you want to show when it’s hung. You can start this hole by cutting a small square or circle in the board and then extending it when you’ve measured the proper hole opening. Use your T-square to help you line up the cuts that you want to make with the corners of the piece of board. You can always measure inwards as you try to make the opening smaller. Cut out this inner piece with the mat cutter or the razor blade.

After you pull the piece out of the board, place your African American art print inside of the two pieces of board to see if you have cut enough board. If not, go back and cut out some more. Then you will want to tape or glue the print to the mat boards and allow them to dry. Once they are dry, you will want to place the mats inside of your chosen frame and close off with the attachments that are included with the frame.

To hang the African American art print frame properly, you may want to obtain a picture hanging kit or at least some wire, a nail with picture hanging attachment, a hammer, and a level.Put the nail and picture hanging hook in the wall, but higher than you want the picture to rest. Take the wire and string it from one end to the other of the back of your frame or use the edge that is already included. Rest the wire in the picture hook and straighten until the level is balanced.

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