You may think you want the cheapest frame but remember that low-cost framing can actually damage your picture. Some art should be protected for future generations.

A professional framer will be able to advise you on the appropriate level of framing for your artwork – and will know how to make even a modestly priced print look its best

The Five Levels of Framing

You have a choice about how much or how little you want to safeguard your picture. There are Five Levels of Framing for you to choose from as the following summary explains:

Museum – The ultimate protection for your artwork

Conservation – Helping preserve your artwork for future generations

Commended – Guarantees a degree of protection, with design playing an important part

Budget – Visually pleasing, but offering no long-term protection

Minimum – Putting economy first

Ask your framer which level you should choose for YOUR artwork

Caring for your artwork at home

Avoid Heat

Ideally pictures should not be hung above radiators.  Extreme or rapid changes in temperature cause paper and wood to dry out and adhesives to fail

Beware damp

Damp can cause pictures to ripple. If the ripples touch the glass, the picture might stick and be hard to remove. Damp also encourages fungal growth – likely to show as brown stains. Conservation framing can slow these effects, but it is always best to avoid hanging framed pictures in humid conditions. Allow six months before hanging pictures on newly plastered walls

Eye-level display

Remember most pictures are designed to be viewed at eye-level. When hanging a group of pictures of different sizes align the top edges. Groups of pictures need not be hung in symmetrical patterns, but they should follow some sort of overall design. Try arranging them on the floor first

Hang securely

Use two hooks on the wall, each set about a quarter of the way in from either side of the picture. Check that the cord, wire or other hanger you use is designed to support the weight of your artwork. Where safety is critical, in children’s bedrooms, for example, ask your framer about security fittings and glazing

A gentle clean

Dust frames or treat with a soft brush, rather than risk applying water or cleaning fluids. Don’t use cleaning fluids or water on the varnished surface of oil paintings; again dust carefully. If cleaning fluids have to be used on the glass, apply them to a duster first (rather than spraying the glass directly); take care not to let the fluids touch the frame

Regular checks

If you find any evidence of discolouration, unsightly brown dots, small insects under the glass or that the brown paper tape sealing the back of the frame has come unstuck, return the frame to the framer. Check for corroding picture wire or weak or loosening cord. The varnish on oil paintings will gradually discolour, especially if the picture hangs in smoky or polluted conditions. It should be replaced as it dirties. Oil paintings stretched over wooden bars may sag over time and the bars can make a slight imprint on the front of the canvas. Take the picture back to your framer for tightening or re-stretching. The Fine Art Trade Guild recommends inspection every five years

Out of the light

Try not to hang pictures directly opposite large windows as sunlight fades colours and discolours paper. Special UV-coated glass can help to slow this down. The Fine Art Trade Guild has set industry-wide standards for printing and framing materials. Ask your framer about the ways in which you can preserve your artwork for the long-term

Handle with care

When carrying and transporting a picture, grasp the frame firmly on both sides. If you have to store pictures, make sure they are stacked vertically and the right way up. When stacking pictures, stand them ‘glass to glass’ so that the hangers do not damage the frames

Ask a professional

Con, the calm and collected gentleman has an assured nature which is reflected in his work.

His trait hones in on small faces and elegant long legs, often sketching the legs with a minimalist style, accentuating the lightness and speed of the animal.

The artist does not set out with a game plan and will go wherever the brush leads. Inspiration will suddenly grab him then the brush takes over!

Con’s interest in painting grew steadily and his commission to paint street murals in the 80’s showed his ability to adapt to a different medium.

During the ‘troubles’ he spent time painting images of the conflict through the eyes of children.

Potent images of soldiers on patrol at night were included in his work, and although not his traditional style, it showed his ability to embrace and reflect the human condition.

We have a wide variety of Con’s work on display and will being adding them to our ‘online gallery’ during January.

With a personal gift of a framed family picture, or original piece of artwork.

Or a beautiful candle, with a special hand made card.

We have so many items in store that will make your Christmas just that little bit of a Cracker!

[swfobj src="http://www.frameacademyni.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/christmascracker2.swf" alt="Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Fantastic New Year from Frame Academy" width="400" height="300" align="center"]

As such, you are cordially invited to Terry’s latest show of original artwork which will be held between 7pm & 9pm on Thursday 12th November in the Old Northern Bank buildings, Donegal Street/Waring Street Belfast.

Terry has produced a poster/invite especially for this show and it is available for purchase. It must be pre ordered and can be personally signed on the night by Terry himself.

If you are interested in this please contact us at Frame Academy and we will have this arranged for you.

FOUNDED 1957 BY GLADYS MACCABE MBE MA [Hon] ROI RUA FRSA [Italian Academy]

PATRON HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF ABERCORN

www.uswa.co.uk

The Ulster Society of Women Artists will be holding their 52^nd Annual Exhibition at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast from13th October 2009 – 6^th November 2009.

The Exhibition was officially opened by Mary McAleese, President of Ireland on Monday 12^th October 2009and awards presented by The Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long

Frame Academy has kindly sponsored one of a number of awards generously given by some local business and the Society is very grateful for Jonathan’s continued support.

Any queries regarding the Society contact: Trish 02838852983 or 07775528188

President. Aileen Hull.  Vice President, Pat Burgess   Secretary, Trish Thompson 59 Blackisland Road Annaghmore BT62 1NE 02838852983 Events Secretary Joan Ross-Vening Treasurer. Libby Mulqueeny  Asst.. Treasurer, Trish Thompson  Committee; Deardre  MKibbin,  Sylvia Newell, Lorna Greenwood, Oonagh CatchpoleJoan Ross-Vening

Meanwhile you can follow us on the Twitterspere @FrameAcademy or venture into Facebook-land and become a fan!

We are about to embark into the world of twits and tweeters (confused?? yes me too!) and are in the process of launching Frame Academy into the ‘cyber’ world.

If you would like to follow our progress you can find us on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Feel free to join with us in the social revolution, and keep up to date with our latest adventures in the world of art, framing, cyberspace and much more…

Frame Academy are proud to support the Tearfund Exhibition which runs from Monday 20th April – Friday 1st May at the Art College, Belfast.

This project started with an aim to involve students and graduates of the University in using their imagination, and creativity to produce an art exhibition that demonstrates their interpretation of water as a spiritual symbol, an element, or a practical utility. The exhibitors submitting are kindly offering half of the sales to the aid of Tearfund’s Water and Sanitation campaign. Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency building a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty. One of the issues that Tearfund addresses is improving basic services, which includes providing clean, safe water and decent sanitation to those who need it most. We hope that the exhibition will bring awareness of these issues.

The UN estimates that 900 million people are living without access to safe water, and 2.5 billion people are without access to basic sanitation. Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. That is a total of 1.8 million preventable deaths each year. The Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 10, outlines the global ambition to halve the number of people without access to water and sanitation by 2015. However, the sanitation target is off track globally with experts predicting that the goal on sanitation is unlikely to be met until early in the 22nd century, almost 100 years too late.

In Victorian times Belfast grew from a town of 30,000 inhabitants to become a city of 350,000, creating huge problems with adequate water supply. There were four outbreaks of cholera in Belfast between 1847 and 1854. On the 9^th December 1847, a lady called Mary Sherry became ill at 6am, and died at 3pm that afternoon. She was the first person to die from cholera in Belfast, and probably contracted the disease because of contact with contaminated water. In 1847 the city council had to deal with at least 15,000 cases, with nearly 3,000 deaths. As a result, Belfast waterworks developed in order to supply a clean water and sanitation infrastructure to its inhabitants, bringing improved public health. Now, just over a century later Belfast has become a vibrant city with new developments bringing jobs and hopeful futures to its population.

Almost the opposite is happening in many developing countries around the world today. Unclean water and poor sanitation are having a major impact on the lives of millions of people, leading to widespread disease and deprivation.

Basic sanitation and clean water is key to human health; by improving water supplies in developing countries, many healthcare problems will be reduced. And providing decent sanitation enhances dignity, privacy and safety especially for women and girls. Tearfund’s aim, by 2015, is that, through local church programmes, 6 million people will receive hygiene education and 3 million people will have improved access to a toilet and safe water, making a significant and lasting difference to their health and well-being.

Hakima is 20 years old; she lives in a community in the North of Liberia.  Tearfund have helped the community to install a well and a number of long-drop toilets. We asked members of the community what the benefits they had seen since the toilets had been installed.  Hakima simply said, “We don’t get raped anymore when we go to the loo.”

Leo supports Man Utd, Ezekiel supports Chelsea.  Both are Tearfund Community Health Volunteers, their role is to get their community excited about the importance of Water, Sanitation & hygiene.

Before Tearfund started work in the community they had to go to the toilet in the bush where there were snakes and other animals.  They would dig a small hole, go to the toilet and then cover it back up.  There used to be many diseases in the community, causing diarrhoea and other illnesses, but now that there are 15 toilets and a water pump in the village they don’t get ill anymore.”

The water and sanitation crisis requires a global solution. Tearfund is asking people to join together to call for governments to take extraordinary action to help achieve clean water and adequate sanitation for all. There will be an opportunity for you to add your voice to this campaign during the 2 weeks of the exhibition.

The art submitted to this exhibition is contributing to bringing awareness of these problems, engaging the artists, the audience and the University with the reality of how water, sanitation and hygiene are fundamentally linked to the everyday life of people living in poverty.

To everyone that has submitted work, viewed the work, and made this exhibition possible, we at Tearfund say a huge thank you.

We now have in stock a large selection of limited edition prints, limited edition cards and 2009 calanders.

Check out the ‘gallery’ section of our site to view some of Sue’s work