[alt-photo] Re: bottom-weighting mats

[Jack Brubaker]

A second thought on matting is that some artists and photographers want
their work to seem so new that it is almost uncomfortable to the viewer. To
them it is important to not appear to be following conventions of the past.
They are less likely to bottom weight. Some of us want the observer to be
welcomed into the image and feel comfortable taking a moment to let it sink
in. Since I want to sell my work I go to what ever (within reason) makes
the viewer comfortable. At the present I still think that is a generous mat
with bottom weight.

Jack



On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 11:57 AM, Jack Brubaker <jack at jackbrubaker.com>wrote:

> The fashion is just that. There was a push during the arts and crafts era
> to have massive bottom weight. So much so that a landscape format image
> would go in a vertical format frame. There was a long period of rejecting
> the arts and crafts style and its matting preferences. It became "modern"
> to use even matting. Now it is up in the air. Arts and crafts seems to
> touch on everything these days but I am sure there are some who react
> against it. We are all on our own!
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 11:31 AM, Diana Bloomfield <
> dhbloomfield at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>> I typically bottom-weight my mats, with the top and sides the same, and
>> bottom-weighted typically anywhere from 3-5 inches more than top and
>> sides-- though I suspect that's a lot more than what some framers would
>> suggest. There is some rule that suggests that if you bottom-weight no more
>> than about 10%, it's not really noticeable-- but offers a more
>> aesthetically pleasing look, which-- at first glance-- no one would be able
>> to say why.
>>
>> If I have a square image, though, I often center it and have equal space
>> all the way around.  But I mostly prefer bottom-weighted mats.  Something
>> about that seems much more satisfying to me.  I think it depends on the
>> image, too, and how much mat you want to have around it.
>>
>> I recently judged a local photography show, and I was surprised at how
>> stingy people are with their mat size and borders, and how elaborate they
>> get with their frame choices. I think a mat should be generous enough to
>> set off an image, and the frame shouldn't be the first thing you see.  But
>> that's a whole other issue.
>>
>> I  honestly don't know why these things go out of fashion, or who makes
>> that decision, but I'm guessing it's all about the bottom line ($$$).
>>
>> Diana
>>
>>
>> On Nov 30, 2011, at 11:07 AM, Christina Anderson wrote:
>>
>>  How many of you bottom weight your mats and if so by how much? I have
>>> been told that contemporary work has abandoned that practice, but uses mats
>>> of equal size all the way around. Short of bringing a tape measure with me
>>> to galleries, input on both sides of this issue much appreciated.
>>> Christina Z. Anderson
>>> christinaZanderson.com
>>>
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