A Frame-Maker’s Journal
Updates and reflections on our work and mission to revive the art and craft of framing pictures. Here I'll show you new jobs we're especially proud of and keep you up on what's going on at the Gallery, as well as discuss topics germane to our work, including handcraft and work generally, the place of art, and ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement (especially its greatest leaders, John Ruskin and William Morris).
I hope you’ll subscribe (see the form in the left column) or at least check back often. And I welcome your comments!
—Tim Holton
Colorful Samples for a Colorful Season
Here are a few recent and particularly seasonal carved and painted corner samples I made. The middle one’s soft maple and the other two are walnut. All have simple carving and are painted with linseed oil paint. By the way, there’s still time for us to fill most orders for holiday gifts. But don’t put […]
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About Line: Framing Paul Jacoulet
When designing a frame, I ask myself, what is this picture about? I mean in terms of artistic elements such as color, form, line, and pattern that the frame can honor and enhance. With this 1940 woodblock print, “Chagrin D’Amour: Kusai, Est Carolines,” (15... continue reading.
Framing Erik Tiemens for Beloved California IX
Marin County painter Erik Tiemens has taken part in every one of our annual Beloved California exhibits. We’ve mostly shown his oil paintings. But this year, for Beloved California IX, three of his four pieces are watercolor and gouache. “A Landscape from Me... continue reading.
Framing a Magical Pastel by Kim Lordier for Beloved California IX
Since the early days of the Monterey Peninsula artists’ colony, a certain mystical quality has lured painters to the area. Artists like Charles Rollo Peters accentuated that quality by painting the Peninsula in the moonlight. Kim Lordier‘s pastel “Poin... continue reading.
New to the Roster! Framing Simon Addyman for Beloved California IX
Simon Addyman is an oil painter we’ve admired for a very long time, so it is wonderful to announce that he’s joined the roster of The Holton Studio Gallery. Simon will be featured in Beloved California IX, opening today. We expect Simon Addyman to be here fo... continue reading.
Yosemite Snow: Framing James McGrew for Beloved California
James McGrew called today with great news—he’s on the road from Zion National Park and headed our way, hoping to be here Saturday for the opening reception for Beloved California IX. But there could be a hitch: he’s going by way of Yosemite and it’s ... continue reading.
“With the Help of Numberless Souls”: Framing More Charles Bartlett Block Prints
John Ruskin wrote that part of “the glory of a great picture” is that “it speaks with the voices of many; the efforts of thousands dead, and their passions, are in the pictures of their children today. Not with the skill of an hour, nor of a life, nor of a century... continue reading.
Framing More Deb Stoner Flowers
A year ago we framed the Deb Stoner photo at right. Below are two more photos by the Portland photographer, both framed a couple of months ago. This first one is a 14″ x 11″ sepia-toned print of bleeding hearts titled “The Liberals” (get it?). Th... continue reading.
The Craft: Avi’s Fuming Box
Oak contains tannins which, when exposed to ammonia fumes, darken the wood. Enclose an oak frame in a box with dishes of ammonia and you get 400 years of aging overnight. This frame on Paul Roehl’s painting, “Spring Coast Range,” at right, is fumed. Oi... continue reading.