Cut two pieces of 1/4-inch thick by 1-inch wide wood. Cut each piece to a length of 1 foot. These will be the pieces that will rest on your desktop and hold up the picture. Make sure they are the same length. White pine works nicely, but you can use any type of wood you prefer.
Hinge the two pieces of wood together. Place the strap hinge at the end of one piece of wood and screw it down. Place the second piece of wood so that the unscrewed part of the strap hinge rests on it. Screw that end down. You now have a hinged piece that will form a "V." The pieces of wood should stand on the 1/4-inch edge, and the hinge should be screwed to the 1-inch surfaces.
Measure the thickness of your art piece. If it has a frame, use the thickness of that for your measurement. Use a tape measure and read the measurement to the closest 1/16 inch.
Measure each piece of hinged wood and make a mark 4 inches from the hinged "V." Make a second mark that is the measurement that you got for the thickness of your picture. Measure this from your first mark, so that you are adding the thickness of the picture. This is where you will cut a slot in each wooden piece.
Saw halfway through each wooden piece where you made your marks. You can guess at what is the halfway mark. When you have cut at each mark, the wooden piece between the cuts on each board should fall out. If it does not fall out, use your screwdriver to dig it out. You now have two slots where you can insert your picture.
Stain the wood with wood stain. Use a cloth to apply the stain, and avoid getting any on the hinge. Be sure to put some stain in the slots you cut so they won't look raw. Allow to dry overnight.
Insert your picture into the slots. The stand will not tip over with the weight of the picture.