MEASURING ART
Height x Width is the standard ratio for measuring art. Sounds simple but I find this equation is challenging for people of all ages to remember. BEAR WITH ME…
REMEMBERING HEIGHT IS FIRST
HEIGHT not LENGTH – Length refers to hair, curtains, lumber and time
One way for an artist to remember HEIGHT -> How HIGH on the wall or at what HEIGHT do you want to hang the painting?
As for HEIGHT first. H comes before W in the alphabet.
BEST PRACTICE: Form the habit of always measuring the height first and always write or call out Height or Width as you record the measurements.
TOOLS FOR MEASURING ART
- Dress makers tape measure made of heavy-duty cloth/vinyl: Happens to be my favorite because it doesn’t retract before I finish recording the measurement and hangs nicely around my neck when it’s not in use.
- Retractable tape measure: Metal tape measures work well, especially if they have a locking mechanism. I have a builders retractable tape measure that is wide and strong, in spite of being heavy, it is strong enough to glide up a 12 foot wall to measure very large, installed paintings. It’s also perfect for measuring sculpture because it doesn’t fold over at 6-10 feet. Installed means displayed, as in hung on a wall.
- Metal yard stick - Works well IF you are measuring paper or matting board on a flat surface. Wooden yard sticks are less accurate than metal or cloth.
- Metal ruler - Works nicely for anything less than 12 inches. DO NOT use a ruler to measure end to end, it’s just not accurate.
- IN A PINCH? Use a string and knot it at the point you need to measure. Then compare the length of the string to a tape measure.
RECORDING MEASUREMENTS & CONVERTING FRACTIONS TO DECIMALS
- While you are quickly measuring a dozen drawings you can write fractions - 1 1/2 or 3 3/4 – but even in this sample you can see that fractions are difficult to record on a computer monitor. It’s all about the spacing and predetermined fonts.
- Art appraisers measure to the 1/32, but rounding up to the closest 1/8 inch is good practice for students and fine for our web site or your college portfolio.
- Converting fractions to decimals can be challenging, I have a chart taped to my laptop so I can convert the measurement as I work. After a few minutes, you start to remember the conversions. You can also write all your measurements and then convert all the fractions at one time.
| Eights | |
| 1/8 | 0.125 |
| 1/4 | 0.250 |
| 3/8 | 0.375 |
| 1/2 | 0.500 |
| 5/8 | 0.625 |
| 3/4 | 0.750 |
| 7/8 | 0.875 |
HOW TO MEASURE ART
- Drawing: H x W measure the paper edge to edge
- Paintings: H x W measure the canvas from edge to edge
- Bass relief or multi-medium includes Depth: H x W x D or Depth which refers to measuring the thickness of a work of art. Depth includes the side view of the stretcher wood + the raised surface.
- Sculpture: H = measure the highest point of the piece from the ground / W = looking at the front or back of the sculpture – measure the point reaching farthest to the right from the center and the same to the left / D = the foremost front surface to the far-most back surface
- Prints can have more than one measurement, especially if you embellish the print with watercolor or another additional medium
- Plate impressions measure from edge to edge
- Sheet measurements refer to the paper the etching is printed on, measured from edge to edge
- Framed prints involve the mat and the frame measurements, again edge to edge
Submitted by Carol Hagen chagenstudio@hotmail.com
