The Many Ways to Enjoy, Or Gift Art, Without Needing to Frame It...

Hello there, and hope all's well with you.

I need to confess something to you. And it's this. Although I really, *really* like to *make* art, all the precision and measuring of framing it...is not my thing.

Admitting that seems a bit embarrassing, seeing as how I enjoy the painting and drawing of it so much.

And so, I've kept it quiet. Until now. Because, when a friend mentioned putting off framing things too...I realised I'm not alone.

And so, if you hate framing as well, here are some alternative ways you might enjoy (or gift-because yes, it's "the season" for that as I type...) some scrummy art that can be enjoyed, without the need for fiddly framing.

1. Get a Displate

Art can be printed on metal easily...and sometimes looks even better than on paper.   Click or tap here for info.

Sadly, neither this cute dog nor the ultra-tidy room belong to me :-).
But this scene from Displate does show what all my floral art
looks like as a complete Displate collection...

2. Turn Your Fridge Into A Gallery.

Fridge magnets themselves can display art surprisingly well, and at bigger sizes than I realised. (Though small ones can still be sent inside cards too, just like stickers).

Feel happier looking at your fridge, with this cute puffin...
Tap or clik here to see more...

3. Get Comfy With  Some Visual Joy...

Cushions, throw pillows, call them what you will, still make a great way to display some art, that you get to see every day, and actually use.

For example, you can buy these daffodils as a print...But you can also have a breath of spring and joy to hug in the depths of winter with this throw pillow/cushion cover:

Daffodils in Sunshine Yellow Cushion/Throw Pillow.
Tap or click here to find out more...

4. Wear Some Art.

When you read that, you might  automatically have thought about T shirts. They bear a huge number of designs. But other options are available too.

For example, if Christmas jumpers aren't your thing, you could nod to the festive season with these holly patterned socks.

Holly Patterned Socks-tap or click here for details.

 And if you're gifting things,  am feeling that  must have told you before about the surprisingly large number of people who are walking around the world sporting my marmot, or kingfisher socks...

5. Try Pop-Up-Frames.

But maybe you're thinking, "No, Clare, this isn't it. I have *pictures* that I need to frame, and I still hate framing...".
In which case, you might want to consider a new option, of pop-up frames.

This is a solution I only came across very recently. So I have yet to try them out, and have no idea whether they are available outside the UK, for example

However, these people say that they're pop-up sturdy card frames solve many framing woes. 

I'll add more info here when I have it. But it looks like it might be an especially good option if you need a very light frame,  are framing for fun or household use only, or want to try out lots of options before settling for one look.

6. Buy Something Ready-Framed...

Yes if it's a really special gift or item, some things do still look absolutely great in a frame. But that doesn't mean you have to frame things yourself.

Here's the Barn, Owl, Night sky painting from a recent post, looking resplendent in a frame, which Redbubble can sort and ship for you.

Barn Owl, Night Sky by Clare Walker
Framed print-tap or click here for details.

And finally...

I've really only just scratched the surface of this topic, and know that there are a gazillion more ways to display and use art without having to do the conventional framing thing. To start with, I just wanted to get this post out to you in good time...And at least begin to map out some options for solving the perennial framing problem.

But it is my plan to update and add to this list regularly, and even maybe include some progress pics.  So, literally, please watch this space...

For now though, hope this helps, and thanks ever so much for reading right down to the bottom.

As ever, there'll be...

More soon.

___________________________

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New Painting: Barn Owl, Night Sky, (And a Strange Tale...)

Barn Owl, Night Sky, by Clare Walker
Click here to see it as a metallic Displate

Hello there, and hope you're thriving in your corner of the world.

This week's tale, is, I promise you, unusual, (for me, anyway).

How This Barn Owl Came to Be...

You see, I suspect that there's a weird myth out there about how things get created.

The myth

It goes something like this. Artist/designer/insert name of other creator here, spends each day in a haze of glorious inspiration, effortlessly "bringing through," phenomenal pieces of work, always inspired by an ever-obliging muse.

That's the ideal, and inspiration *does* feel wonderful. In fact, it may be a (healthy) addiction to inspiration and flow that keeps anyone going in this kind of field.

The reality, however is often a lot less glamorous, and may involve anything from feeling totally uninspired by grey November weather, to shouting in frustration at a website as it refuses to upload your image for the umpteenth time (ask me how I know..:-) ).

However...

However, in this case, there was a fair bit of rare magic involved. Which is perhaps, fitting for a creature as mystical as a barn-owl.

For a start, my one and only real-life encounter with one of these magnificent creatures was the wonder of its silent flight across the lane in front of our car, in the dead of night, almost two years ago.

Barn Owl, Night SkyThrow Pillow/Cushion 

For various reasons, that night also changed my life. (So maybe some of the association between barn owls and transformation has legs).

So, there was the real inspiration. And this week, almost two years later, the image and essence of Barn Owl came so strongly into my mind that I could almost sense its silent flight, from that inner image alone (if that makes any sense at all).

Far from being an elusive muse, the image felt alive, and even had views on how best I should complete it. (And yup, I guess that betrays that I do talk (and listen!) to some of my paintings. But honestly, it's those ones that seem to turn out the best...)

Barn Owl, Night Sky Round Patterned Tablecloth

It stayed longer than I'd bargained for...

This determined barn owl soul only flew out of my mental space when it had expressed itself in full as a painting *and* been properly distributed (that last part being hand-on heart, something I don't always do as much as I should).

So that's why this bird (started in traditional watercolour, made extra bronzy with metallic watercolour, and then given his or her night sky in several digital layers) was rather special. (And appears in all the places and products scattered through this blog post).

Tap or click here to buy the sheet that
will enable you to make this card for yourself...

And so...

And so, the unusual twist in this tale, is that yes, the wonderful, flowing, inspirational feeling of  doing the bidding of a friendly but exacting (in this case feathered) muse does exist after all, it seems.

Will I be relying on it in future? Absolutely not. 

But if a kind and happy part of nature wants to pay a visit in this way again, I'm very open to the experience, and promise to do my very best, both for them and the people (maybe like you, and if so, *thank you*) who want them in their lives too.

Finally...

I hope you enjoyed this strange-but-true tale. And as ever, thanks so much, both for being here, and for reading down this far.

More soon.

___________________________

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Please Accept A Free Virtual Hug Teddy Image

Right-click, tap or click here,
depending onyour device, to download this
 "Please Accept a FreeVirtual Hug"  image.

Hello there

This week, picture says it all. Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whenever you're reading this, please accept a free virtual hug in the form of this virtual graphic (and share it if you wish, just as it says at the bottom of the image.).

I can't vouch for the exact image size you'll get from Google when you do, but it should be enough for most things, especially online.

Just tap, right-click or click on the image or this link , and this cuddly bear graphic and his message are yours. Hope you enjoy this bear as much as I enjoyed digitally watercolour painting this image, in Krita 5.

That's it for now. But take good care of yourself. And as ever, there'll be...

More soon.

___________________________

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