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
Tim to Jury Alameda Plein Air Paintout
I’m flattered to have been asked to jury the Fourteenth Annual Frank Bette Center for the Arts Paintout in Alameda, July 29 through August 3. If you’re a painter and would like to enter, go here. Learn more about the Frank Bette Center for the Arts… A ... continue reading.
Framing a Japanese Painting on Panel—and a Lesson About Worry
Here’s an unusual item we framed a few months ago—an antique Japanese painted panel. The customer gave me carte blanche on the frame design, but knowing his love for Japanese arts and architecture, and feeling that the heft and three-dimensionality of a painting... continue reading.
Framing Gustave Baumann’s Marionettes
Yesterday I posted about framing two pieces by the important American wood block printer Gustave Baumann (1881 – 1971), and had something to say about the artist’s evident passion for the unity of the arts—in particular the unity of pictorial art with architec... continue reading.
Framing Gustave Baumann and the Work of the Loving Hand
Over the years we’ve framed some tremendous works by Gustave Baumann (1881 – 1971), one of America’s most significant twentieth century woodblock artists. These two prints, “Autumnal Glory” and “Aspen Money,” both about 13̸... continue reading.
A Natural Harmony: Framing 19th Century Japanese Prints
Last Saturday we hung our small exhibit, “Antique Japanese Prints and How to Frame Them.” I thought I’d post some thoughts on the second part of that. If you want to delve deeper in to this, please come to my presentation on Saturday, March 23 at 4:00,... continue reading.
Framing Three William S. Rice Watercolors
We’ve had the good fortune to frame a number of works by William Seltzer Rice (1873-1963), one of the true American masters of the art of the block print (a recent example of one we framed is here). But he was also a superb watercolorist, and we just framed two ex... continue reading.
Framing TO-DAY—and John Ruskin at 200
“I have met in my lifetime some extremely revolutionary characters; and quite a large number of them, when I have asked, ‘Who put you onto this revolutionary line? Was it Karl Marx?’ have answered, ‘No, it was Ruskin.’” —George Bernard ... continue reading.
The Penetrating Imagination: Framing Bertha Lum’s Window on Distant and Hidden Things
Here’s a delightful block print by Bertha Lum (1869-1954), which came through the shop recently. The image is about 16-1/2″ x 9-1/2″. It had been trimmed closely, without enough margin left to cover even a tiny bit with a mat, so we floated it in the o... continue reading.
California Art Club Event: Jeff Sewell Demo Packs Them In
This past Saturday we hosted a painting demonstration by Jeff Sewell of Laguna Beach. The event was sponsored by the Northern California chapter of the California Art Club. As you can tell from the pictures, Jeff drew a standing-room-only crowd, which was transfixed for... continue reading.