labelling paintings for an exhibit

[surreal]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have ideas for a professional looking (and not too time-consuming) way to make labels to place beside paintings (to hang in a large exhibit?

I mean labels which contain information such as the title of the painting, name of artist, medium and year created.

If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.
Thank you very, very much.

surreal:)

[CarlyHardy]

The exhibits I've entered have had their own labels for the artwork...but usually they are simple - black lettering on white background - card stock.

Sometimes the exhibit will have a list of all the paintings, with artist name, medium, and selling price. The list will correspond to a small # on a dot in the corner of the painting. This way there are no labels sticking all around..but its not my favorite method (I had to do the inventory and post all the #'s with the paintings at one show!)

When I do my own labels...I use a larger pic of my business card on cardstock and write the title of the painting, medium, size and price on the card. I put one of these on the back of all paintings exhibited, too.
carly

[surreal]

Carly,
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with me.

I'm afraid it might not look professional enough if I were to handwrite on cards.

I'm going to have to examine other possibilities.
Thanks again.
surreal:cat:

[timelady]

I used to use card stock but saw another artist who used foam board and think it looks very professional. So now I print the info on paper in a very simple sans-serif font like Arial (my work in modern so I think sans-serif if better - you might prefer a serif like Times Roman or something.) Title in bold at top, blank line, medium below, price below that. I like the medium and price in one point-size smaller too. Usually I post a separate sheet with my statement and info at the entrance to the show.

Then I use glue-stick to glue the printed sheets to a piece of foamboard - this is a 1/4 inch thick piece of foam with light card on both sides. You should be able to find it at an art shop, or maybe a framers. After glued I just use a VERY sharp stanley knife and straight edge to cut out my labels. If it's not sharp the foam will tear. Then I use blue-tac to hang them below the paintings (the stuff you use to hang posters). The nice thing is the labels has a 3-D look.

Tina.

[CarlyHardy]

If you don't want to handwrite the labels....consider creating your labels on the computer and print them out on those sheets of large white mailing labels (office depot or Staples)...then cut a black sheet of construction paper a little larger than the labels and stick them onto the black. Would look neat and professional.
carly

[mame]

Don't foget a supply of "red dots" to stick on the label in lower right hand corner when work sells during the exhibit.

PS - if you want to do it top dog get plexiglass cut to the size of the label(made in any of the ways suggested) with a small hole drilled at the top and bottom center. This is then nailed over the label directly into the wall with those little brass nails. This is a one time expense as you can use over and over again.

Labels should be hung approx 2 to 3 inchs from side of work on lower right-hand side approx 2 to 3 inches up from bottom of work. The consistency of this gives a "professional" look.

[surreal]

Tina, Carly and Mame,

Thank you all so very much for the wonderful information you've provided!!!

surreal:cat:

[llis]

I found a really cool way to display information and keep everything uniform by purchasing those clear business card flaps that you stick on the outside of notebooks when you want to show your business card. These will stick to most surfaces and can be pulled off with ease.

This allows the information to be typed on card stock the size of a regular business card and when the item is sold, the card is flipped over on the backside... where it lists the same information except it has a sold mark printed over in red ink, with a place for the name of the purchaser. It really looks good and makes it easy for the gallery owner or host to keep up with what has sold until it can be listed in the books.

[impressionist2]

On my traveling portrait exhibits, I use business card stock from Staples and with my print artist program, type all the painting info on each card. When they are separated, I use 2 inch wide clear mailing tape and laminate both sides of the printed card.

Another 2 inch wide piece of tape holds the card to the back of the painting. Tape on back of card attached to the bottom back of painting, with card facing toward the front.

[chris 97]

i find that business cards that you can print on the computer work well and are sturdy enuff that you dont need to back them with anything (the foam core backing stuff is a pain and an unnecessary expense). i also put a tag on the back of my art that is the same as on the card that hangs beside it......you can just copy the sheet of business cards before you separate them if you dont want to put an actual card on the back or to save the expense of the second card. it works great and is a very tidy professional way to do it.

[ArtistEnigma]

I know this one!
My art teacher in high school used to have to make ours. There was a standard in the art galleries that had to be met but they were too lazy to make them for us. Anyways this is what he did.

He took a sheet of foam core and cut it into the size of I'd say business cards (around that size). Then on, white paper (typing/printing paper), he would type out the info onto the card using Arial font and using various text sizes and strengths and print out the info. Then he would cut the paper down to the size of the foam core pieces and then glue it onto them.

It really made a nice effect being raised up the way foam core does.

[chris 97]

if youu go the foamcore route, MAKE SURE YOU CUT THEM ALL VERY STRAIGHT. crooked or not squared up, the foamcore doesnt present a professional image. keep your edges crisp and straight. i still think the business cardstock way is the neatest and most economical.................