Anyone agonize over having artwork just sitting in portfolios?

[batman_fan]

A big part of my agonizing over OA sitting in portfolios is I am thinking I would prefer to sell off stuff that just sits and fund a significant piece that would go on the wall.

 

Just by looking at your CAF, you have a lot of wall worthy art that I can't imagine what you would sell.

 

I'm not one who agonizes over pages sitting in my portfolio, nor am I one who wants art on the wall, for the same reasons as stated on this thread, though I align myself a lot with what Bill C. wrote.

 

Sure, why not sell to upgrade? But if you're going to frame and hang, I'd follow the suggestion of an earlier post that stated that he and his wife like to rotate their pieces so the novelty doesn't run out. Because at some point, you were very proud of the pieces you're now willing to sell off. There's no telling which framed pieces will wear off their charm to the point that you'll consider selling those off, then you'll ask yourself, "Why did I spend $XXX to frame them when I could've used that framing money to buy Y." I write that from experience.

 

I find the framing to be pretty cheap. I buy the raw items from American Frame and assemble myself. I have a framing kit so it takes all of 20 minutes to do and that way I can control how the art is handled and how it is mounted. I have room to do somewhere between 15 an 20 pieces on the wall. I am definitely one of the people that likes looking at the work when it is mounted on the wall.

 

The DIY framing idea is intriguing, do you have a link?

 

When I buy from American Frames, the frame comes assembled, archival plexiglass cut, matting cut, and backing cut. I use archival mounting tape, but only tape the artwork corners. I have a special stapler that shoots the staples in flush with the surface to hold the backing board firmly in place. It is just a matter of attaching the hanging wire and you are done. I only use wood frames. Just as an example, the frame I have my two Breyfogle covers in cost $128 total.

[JadeGiant]

The DIY framing idea is intriguing, do you have a link?

 

http://www.americanframe.com

 

There's also www.pictureframes.com and a couple others out there I am sure.

I do the same as Batman Fan, in that I put my frames together myself. Sometimes I cut the mats myself if they are smaller pieces. For the big stuff, I order the mats to size, and just take care of the glass and assembly.

Most of these places also offer UV plexi and acid free rag mats, but you want to be sure of what you are buying when you order.

 

I've received really crappy cheap frames with art that others have sent to me. I usually buy wood frames, even though mine are almost universally all in some form of black painted finish. I have used some really cool metal profiles before as well, but I can't stand that Nielsen #11 frame profile. Too many years of doing jobs for the U.S. Government totally turned me off of them. Heh! In truth they are 100% just fine, and I've seen some great clean display setups using them. But I can't bring myself to use them. Thought if I was starting my whole collection over from scratch, I'd be totally tempted. Large double thickness white top mat. Black Neilsen frames. So classic.

 

The nice thing about 75% of comic art originals, especially if one's display space is limited, is that they tend to run in pretty standard sizes when the artist uses the typical 11" x 17" boards (modern), etc. Meaning if one is so inclined, and does buy an easy to change out frame type, pieces can go in and out without too much hassle. I used to do that a long time ago, when I had way more Tim Sale Long Halloween art than I had frames for. I'd just pop the frames open every 6 months or so, and switch in different pages. Especially easy with mylar corners holding the pages to the acid free backer behind the mat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks - I will take a look

[JadeGiant]

A big part of my agonizing over OA sitting in portfolios is I am thinking I would prefer to sell off stuff that just sits and fund a significant piece that would go on the wall.

 

Just by looking at your CAF, you have a lot of wall worthy art that I can't imagine what you would sell.

 

I'm not one who agonizes over pages sitting in my portfolio, nor am I one who wants art on the wall, for the same reasons as stated on this thread, though I align myself a lot with what Bill C. wrote.

 

Sure, why not sell to upgrade? But if you're going to frame and hang, I'd follow the suggestion of an earlier post that stated that he and his wife like to rotate their pieces so the novelty doesn't run out. Because at some point, you were very proud of the pieces you're now willing to sell off. There's no telling which framed pieces will wear off their charm to the point that you'll consider selling those off, then you'll ask yourself, "Why did I spend $XXX to frame them when I could've used that framing money to buy Y." I write that from experience.

 

I find the framing to be pretty cheap. I buy the raw items from American Frame and assemble myself. I have a framing kit so it takes all of 20 minutes to do and that way I can control how the art is handled and how it is mounted. I have room to do somewhere between 15 an 20 pieces on the wall. I am definitely one of the people that likes looking at the work when it is mounted on the wall.

 

The DIY framing idea is intriguing, do you have a link?

 

When I buy from American Frames, the frame comes assembled, archival plexiglass cut, matting cut, and backing cut. I use archival mounting tape, but only tape the artwork corners. I have a special stapler that shoots the staples in flush with the surface to hold the backing board firmly in place. It is just a matter of attaching the hanging wire and you are done. I only use wood frames. Just as an example, the frame I have my two Breyfogle covers in cost $128 total.

 

Sounds nice. Have you posted a picture of the Breyfogle frame?

[Fred Chamberlain]

Yes and no.

 

Earlier this year I bought enough portfolios so that everything is in a page within a portfolio and the portfolios are organized the way I like to view them.

 

Earlier this year, you bought enough to fill a few of those portfolios.

[Fred Chamberlain]

The blueprint drawer is great for the oversize pieces which I store over size portfolios, 3-16x20, 2-22x28 plus the art too big for any portfolios. I have about 30 portfolios mixture of 14x17 and 13x19 plus about a dozen 11x14 and smaller (those haveOA and animations cels).

When I moved in to my current house it had a nook which was perfect for a bookshelf, so I built a custom one to fit all my 13x19 and smaller portfolios. The Itoyas have a plastic sleeve for the spine, I have printed out labels for most of my portfolios (a few I still need to label). Helps when looking for a specify piece. Here is a pick of the custom shelf.

 

 

 

Yer killin' me over here!!

[Fred Chamberlain]

Frame It Again Sam has some dandy frames. Their inexpensive and the top portion of the frames can be lifted off to replace art and rotate your collection for display. Love them!

[JadeGiant]

Yes and no.

 

Earlier this year I bought enough portfolios so that everything is in a page within a portfolio and the portfolios are organized the way I like to view them.

 

Earlier this year, you bought enough to fill a few of those portfolios.

 

Truth.

 

We both had a good year!

[batman_fan]

A big part of my agonizing over OA sitting in portfolios is I am thinking I would prefer to sell off stuff that just sits and fund a significant piece that would go on the wall.

 

Just by looking at your CAF, you have a lot of wall worthy art that I can't imagine what you would sell.

 

I'm not one who agonizes over pages sitting in my portfolio, nor am I one who wants art on the wall, for the same reasons as stated on this thread, though I align myself a lot with what Bill C. wrote.

 

Sure, why not sell to upgrade? But if you're going to frame and hang, I'd follow the suggestion of an earlier post that stated that he and his wife like to rotate their pieces so the novelty doesn't run out. Because at some point, you were very proud of the pieces you're now willing to sell off. There's no telling which framed pieces will wear off their charm to the point that you'll consider selling those off, then you'll ask yourself, "Why did I spend $XXX to frame them when I could've used that framing money to buy Y." I write that from experience.

 

I find the framing to be pretty cheap. I buy the raw items from American Frame and assemble myself. I have a framing kit so it takes all of 20 minutes to do and that way I can control how the art is handled and how it is mounted. I have room to do somewhere between 15 an 20 pieces on the wall. I am definitely one of the people that likes looking at the work when it is mounted on the wall.

 

The DIY framing idea is intriguing, do you have a link?

 

When I buy from American Frames, the frame comes assembled, archival plexiglass cut, matting cut, and backing cut. I use archival mounting tape, but only tape the artwork corners. I have a special stapler that shoots the staples in flush with the surface to hold the backing board firmly in place. It is just a matter of attaching the hanging wire and you are done. I only use wood frames. Just as an example, the frame I have my two Breyfogle covers in cost $128 total.

 

Sounds nice. Have you posted a picture of the Breyfogle frame?

 

I think I posted it on here once but never on my CAF page.

 

[JadeGiant]

Gorgeous looking frame job Greg. This is exactly how I would/will frame my stuff up. Well done - thanks for sharing (again).

[NoMan]

no

 

actually i'm the opposite, i'm against framing if anything

 

When I get my first OA....

[MHoes]

Everything's on the wall. If it won't make it to the wall, I won't buy.

Well that pretty much sums up my strictly personal view on the matter. And when I run out of wall space (I pretty much have at this point, only one spot left), anything I buy needs to replace what's on the wall, and what's being replaced needs to be considered at least for selling.

 

Although having read the other posts, I can understand the portfolio approach too. I particularly like the 'rotate' approach mentioned here, where you have both on the wall and in portfolio's, and rotate that in time, to keep things fresh and new.

[batman_fan]

Really all you need is wood frames, archival tape, and a stapler like this.

 

[Ironmandrd]

Looks like I may be in the minority.

 

Originally I had everything in portfolios and would frame a few special pieces (some paintings and some commissions). The collection grew, more portfolio books were bought and more pieces were framed. I would rotate the framed pieces for hanging in my then "man-cave."

 

Then a number of years ago, I went in the other direction. Partly motivated by my wife and the fact that I wasn't looking/enjoying my art enough, and partly by condition concern over keeping art for years in portfolio books, I bought several thousand dollars of high quality mylars and backing boards from Bill Cole Enterprises and Blue Line Pro (repurchases have been mostly from Bill Cole Enterprises), de-framed all framed pieces, took everything out of portfolios and put everything in mylars/backing boards. They are stored flat in a large-drawer dresser/cabinet and standing up on several shelves and 18 of them are on display in two 6ft tall curios in the "man-cave"/office. I rotate the 18 every few weeks .

 

I still keep several different sized portfolios for inexpensive pieces, smaller pieces and for travel purposes.

[AKA Rick]

Looks like I may be in the minority.

 

Originally I had everything in portfolios and would frame a few special pieces (some paintings and some commissions). The collection grew, more portfolio books were bought and more pieces were framed. I would rotate the framed pieces for hanging in my then "man-cave."

 

Then a number of years ago, I went in the other direction. Partly motivated by my wife and the fact that I wasn't looking/enjoying my art enough, and partly by condition concern over keeping art for years in portfolio books, I bought several thousand dollars of high quality mylars and backing boards from Bill Cole Enterprises and Blue Line Pro (repurchases have been mostly from Bill Cole Enterprises), de-framed all framed pieces, took everything out of portfolios and put everything in mylars/backing boards. They are stored flat in a large-drawer dresser/cabinet and standing up on several shelves and 18 of them are on display in two 6ft tall curios in the "man-cave"/office. I rotate the 18 every few weeks .

 

I still keep several different sized portfolios for inexpensive pieces, smaller pieces and for travel purposes.

 

I am in 100% agreement with your system (not using frames), and in fact as have previously posted, actually don't like displaying artwork for public viewing, in part because of potential damage, as well as in part the stigma and the whole aesthetics/decor that I don't like having out there. I get it, people argue that why buy it if you can't appreciate it and be proud to display it... but if you ask a lot of guys if they like pornography, then tell them to be loud and proud of displaying it, otherwise why bother owning it, they'd balk. Not to say comic art is at all like porn, but it's sort of socially stigmatized geek/nerd porn that has preconceived perceptions and notions attached that, for some, is better left unaddressed and hidden, for some folks (like me). That's not to say not to display a few pieces of comic art, but once you get into that sensory overload where there's barely 6" of wall space that's free of visual clutter and an almost obsessive look to the theme, it takes away from the elegance of "less is more" and looks a bit odd, like either a 12 yr old's room or a retail store where it can be a bit too busy looking.

 

Portfolios keeps things safe and organized and easy to view like a photo album.

 

I do like your rotating display system too, so putting 18 pieces up in your office/man-cave probably looks pretty nice.

 

What you can also do is scan the artwork, buy a large digital frame and have a rotating slide-show, so you have one single visual display, but showcasing your favorite images.

[Bird]

oh, it is agony

 

 

 

I actually have between 30-35 pieces framed. I have slown down but will get a few more done early next year. I love looking at them.

 

 

[eewwnuk]

i agree with the less is more look to placing items on the wall. but don't agree with the stigma associated with comic art on the wall in your house. for me its been more of a conversation starter and I think people find it more interesting than your standard 'live, laugh love' sign.

[AKA Rick]

i agree with the less is more look to placing items on the wall. but don't agree with the stigma associated with comic art on the wall in your house. for me its been more of a conversation starter and I think people find it more interesting than your standard 'live, laugh love' sign.

 

Yeah, one piece or two are good ice breakers.

 

Interestingly, as the proverbial "40 Year Old Virgin", when in my 30's, and actively socially dating, I found many girls/women I brought home (no, I didn't live with my parents nor roommates either), they'd honestly have this "Wow, you really love that stuff" type of comment which I think was a bit judgmental where I sensed they though of an immature Peter Pan type oddball, and to me, comics/comic art/pop culture is a small aspect of my personality, so I didn't want it to define me on first impressions. I've even had friends say "Your place looks like a museum" in a complimentary way, but also I think with a critical eye of that's not what the home of a mature grown up should look like (not to say it should be riddled with Martha Stewart / Norman Rockwell decor either), but what I think it said to me was... tone it down.

 

So, not to go wall to wall and have too much of the same type of stuff. I'd rather say "I like Star Wars" than someone say "You must LOVE Star Wars!" and see me as being fanatical.

 

Believe me, I used to have action figures, comic books, pin-ups, etc - - "the works" on display in every room, the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, guest rooms and garage - - and enjoyed collecting and displaying, but did notice it came with a price in terms of social stigmas, and for me, wasn't worth jeopardizing, since I like the stuff, but am not obsessed and love the stuff.

 

I did enjoy a great social life after cleaning it up too, so, for me, it worked well.

 

Flash forward years later, and my decor has changed, single status is gone, and there's a happy medium in the look and feel of the home.

[NoMan]

Same with horror movie posters for me. At some point you gotta draw the line. Even Forrest Ackerman's wife forced him and his collection into the basement.

[Bronty]

i agree with the less is more look to placing items on the wall. but don't agree with the stigma associated with comic art on the wall in your house. for me its been more of a conversation starter and I think people find it more interesting than your standard 'live, laugh love' sign.

 

Yeah, one piece or two are good ice breakers.

 

Interestingly, as the proverbial "40 Year Old Virgin", when in my 30's, and actively socially dating, I found many girls/women I brought home (no, I didn't live with my parents nor roommates either), they'd honestly have this "Wow, you really love that stuff" type of comment which I think was a bit judgmental where I sensed they though of an immature Peter Pan type oddball, and to me, comics/comic art/pop culture is a small aspect of my personality, so I didn't want it to define me on first impressions. I've even had friends say "Your place looks like a museum" in a complimentary way, but also I think with a critical eye of that's not what the home of a mature grown up should look like (not to say it should be riddled with Martha Stewart / Norman Rockwell decor either), but what I think it said to me was... tone it down.

 

So, not to go wall to wall and have too much of the same type of stuff. I'd rather say "I like Star Wars" than someone say "You must LOVE Star Wars!" and see me as being fanatical.

 

Believe me, I used to have action figures, comic books, pin-ups, etc - - "the works" on display in every room, the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, guest rooms and garage - - and enjoyed collecting and displaying, but did notice it came with a price in terms of social stigmas, and for me, wasn't worth jeopardizing, since I like the stuff, but am not obsessed and love the stuff.

 

I did enjoy a great social life after cleaning it up too, so, for me, it worked well.

 

Flash forward years later, and my decor has changed, single status is gone, and there's a happy medium in the look and feel of the home.

 

Yeah, I agree that less is more, at least for me. I have maybe five pieces up in the basement and those are the only collectibles on display in the entire house.

[Panelfan1]

Are mylars really a better way to store than portfolios? The portfolios all say they are archival - but if anyone knows any different, would love to know.