You have a print you would like to get framed. Now, this is not some poster you picked up at a local college bookstore, it's a lithograph by your favorite artist and it is signed! A metal frame from your local discount department store just will not do, and so you decide to have it custom framed. Custom framing is a great way to care for and display a favorite piece of printed art that compliments both the art and your personal style. A custom framing order entails deciding on four factors: mounting, matting, glass and frame.
How your art print is mounted depends a great deal on how valuable it is to you. This does not necessarily mean how much it is worth monetarily, but also the sentimental value of the piece. Standard mounting practices involve adhering the print to a backing permanently, making it more sturdy and eliminating the potential for wrinkling. Archival mounting uses less permanent methods that have the least impact on the print as far as its ability to be removed from the backing.
When taking a picture the exposure is affected by three components: Aperture, Shutters-speed and ISO Rating. The combination of these three elements is what determines the exposure of an image. After reading this article you will have a better understanding of the three key factors that are crucial for taking professional quality photographs.
Aperture Alternately called the f-Stop, aperture refers to the size of the lens opening. The size of the lens opening plays a vital role in deciding the volume of light that will reach the camera sensor. For more light to enter the camera a larger aperture opening is needed; for less light, a smaller aperture opening is needed. Larger openings have smaller numbers and vice versa; for example, a small aperture would read f/22 and a larger aperture would read f/4.
Shutter-speed This refers to the length of time the aperture stays open. The longer the shutter-speed (the longer the aperture stays open) the more light reaches the camera sensor. When the shutter-speed or aperture is shorter, less light reaches the camera sensor.
Strathmore Art Student Drawing Pads are recommended for drawings and sketches, this heavyweight white drawing paper is ideal for final artwork using pencil, pen and ink, charcoal and markers.
Bound in a beautiful linen book cloth cover, these journals offer watercolorists a practical option for travel painting. Each book includes 30 sheets (60 pages) of a soft white, 200 gsm acid-free paper with a cold press finish that is the same on each side of the sheet. They have a durable elastic closure and a clear envelope on the inside back cover.
Economical, acid-free sketch books that are ideal for sketching, drawing, writing and other dry media. Each hard-bound book contains 110 sheets of 65 lb. bright white paper and has traditional binding. The double wire spiral-bound books have 80 sheets each that are micro-perforated for easy removal.
This paper is made with 100% wind power – a pollution free, renewable energy resource – perfect for the environmentally conscientious consumer. It is natural white, 140lb. cold press paper that is suitable for all wet media techniques using watercolor, gouache and acrylic. Acid-free with good wash and lifting properties, it is ideal for artists mastering watercolor techniques and for accomplished artists. The pads have 15 wire-bound sheets.
Hampton Photo Arts has added three new items to the popular Margaux Collection. The collection is comprised of sophisticated decorative mouldings with finely detailed embossed patterns. Margaux features over 40 styles in gold, silver and warm black, and with more than 25 items under 1” the collection has become very popular for small works of art, decorative gift frames, watercolors, and for use as inner frames and embellishments in multi frame projects.
A new addition has been made to Hampton Photo Arts popular Rhodes series, designed to bring the collection’s rich finish and classic profile to another level in framing projects: shadow box design. With these four new items, rendered in transverse mahogany and walnut veneer, shadow boxes can be customized in depth by adding one or more stackable Risers. Risers come in depths of 1 ¼” and 2” and when used in combination, can be tailored to accommodate a great variety of three-dimensional framing projects. Rhodes Stacker profiles are perfect for sports memorabilia projects, heirloom framing, historic articles, and display solutions for decorative art objects.
Printing on canvas is incredibly versatile and a great way to create a ready-to-hang image or artwork. Every canvas that we print is protected with a UV coated acrylic finish to guard the print from dust, moisture and fading. Do you want your canvas stretched on bars or non-stretched? Framed or unframed? Customize the work to make it truly your own.
Photography is an amazing art form. A photograph album is a catalogue of life's history as seen through the camera. People, animals, nature, holidays, celebrations and even disasters are captured instantly and recorded as part of history. It is through the powerful presentations of photography that we better understand the progression of time and life. Hampton Photo Arts has over twenty years of experience working with photographers as they seek to capture and preserve the history of families and communities.
When families get together, both children and adults love to look through photograph albums. They enjoy seeing the childhood photos of older family members and compare themselves to ancestors who lived a hundred or more years ago. Photos are among the most important treasures of every family. They should not be faded and dull. They contain the smiles, tears and emotions of generations. The staff members at Hampton Photo Arts display excellence in the art of photography reproduction. They work with the highest quality materials. They know how to create family memories that will be just as beautiful one hundred years from now as they are today.
Watercolor is an easy, fun medium for creating art. Color theory, composition and design can be explored freely with watercolor paint, paper, and brushes. Several techniques may be used with watercolors for varying effects including painting wet on wet, wet on dry, layering washes, and more.
Watercolor paper comes in cold press, hot press, and rough. Rough paper has the most texture, and its hills and valleys can result in interesting effects when paint is added. Hot press is the smoothest and has the finest texture. Cold press has a moderate amount of texture and is the paper most commonly chosen by watercolor artists.
Watercolor paper comes in several weights ranging from 90 lb. to 300 lb. based on the pounds per ream of paper. Most artists prefer to use at least 140 lb. paper. Papers vary somewhat between manufacturers, so sampling different papers is advisable. Paper can be purchased in pads, in blocks or in large sheets. The large sheets are usually the most economical and can be torn into whatever size is desired.
Strathmore Art Student Drawing Pads are recommended for drawings and sketches, this heavyweight white drawing paper is ideal for final artwork using pencil, pen and ink, charcoal and markers. 
Hampton Photo Arts has added three new items to the popular Margaux Collection. The collection is comprised of sophisticated decorative mouldings with finely detailed embossed patterns. Margaux features over 40 styles in gold, silver and warm black, and with more than 25 items under 1” the collection has become very popular for small works of art, decorative gift frames, watercolors, and for use as inner frames and embellishments in multi frame projects. 
A new addition has been made to Hampton Photo Arts popular Rhodes series, designed to bring the collection’s rich finish and classic profile to another level in framing projects: shadow box design. With these four new items, rendered in transverse mahogany and walnut veneer, shadow boxes can be customized in depth by adding one or more stackable Risers. Risers come in depths of 1 ¼” and 2” and when used in combination, can be tailored to accommodate a great variety of three-dimensional framing projects. Rhodes Stacker profiles are perfect for sports memorabilia projects, heirloom framing, historic articles, and display solutions for decorative art objects. 
Photography is an amazing art form. A photograph album is a catalogue of life's history as seen through the camera. People, animals, nature, holidays, celebrations and even disasters are captured instantly and recorded as part of history. It is through the powerful presentations of photography that we better understand the progression of time and life. Hampton Photo Arts has over twenty years of experience working with photographers as they seek to capture and preserve the history of families and communities.