Painting Sizes

How big are they? I`m concerned about size!

The size given for a painting is the actual size of the piece without mat and frame. Height is always given before width. 'Landscape' normally means horizontal; 'portrait' means vertical.

All thumbnail images make paintings look the same size. It`s hard to grasp whether the painting is small, medium or large and there are added effects of a cardboard mount and frame. Some of these images are deliberately not thumbnails, but held paintings to reveal a sense of scale. Bigger images can be emailed to you.

Notice that some paintings are simply framed while others have a mat/mount to set them off. Watercolours often have a mat; acrylics may or may not according to choice; oils on board or canvas are simply framed or even left. Some of my displayed work has been framed. Most are offered unframed but mounted ready for framing. We cannot mail glass.

I usually work to three set sizes for watercolours: 1/4, 1/2 and full imperial by simply cutting a full sheet of A1 (594x841mm) (23.5x33ins) into half or quarter! Cutting it longways makes a panorama. Heavy & light art papers vary slightly in size.

All art papers for watercolours are stretched on boards to prevent buckling and cut to remove. Some are cropped to improve a composition. Sizes are approximate therefore. All cardboard mounts (mats) are 10cm borders round a watercolour painting & some acrylics.

A full imperial watercolour is approx 52x72cm landscape (or 72x52cm portrait/vertical) and so 72x92cm with mat but no frame. (80x100cm by the time it is framed.)(Max 32 x 40 inches in old measures!). It's quite a large picture.

A half imperial is 32x52cm approx, plus mat 52x72cm (60x80cm or even 70x80cm framed).(2ft4 by 2ft8ins) Most are half imperial. This size suits most rooms.

A quarter imperial is 24x34cm (44x54cm with mat) or 50x60cm framed. (20 x 24 ins in old measures when framed.)

A panorama 1/2 imperial is approx 24x72cm (44x92cm matted)(18 x 36 ins framed)

Canvas sizes may be in inches and, if so, are stated that way. Oils & Acrylics may be more variable in size. The size given is the actual size of the piece of work before framing.