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

A Carved and Painted Frame for Marion Kavanagh Wachtel
This is a watercolor by Pasadena artist Marion Kavanagh Wachtel (1870-1954), “Walpi – On the First Mesa” n.d. (after 1904), 13-3/4″ x 18″. The 2-1/2″ wide flat frame profile is in fumed quarter sawn white oak. I incised a simple line pattern, out... continue reading.

Highlighting Inga Poslitur
During our last show, visitors walking in the door were often stopped in their tracks by one of the larger paintings directly facing the entrance, a field of poppies titled “California Superbloom.” This perfect welcome to “California Wildflowers”... continue reading.

Framing Heinrich Carl’s “The Oakes”
Another “printable” frame for a woodblock, as was the frame in my last post. This one’s for a print made around 1920 by the little-known Heinrich Carl. The image size of “The Oakes” is about 10-1/2″ x 8″. For its muted palette, ... continue reading.

A Frame Is a Kind of Flower: Framing Margaret Patterson’s Anemones
This is a colored woodcut titled “Anemones,” (ca. 1920, 9-3/4″ x 6-7/8″) by New England print maker and painter Margaret Jordan Patterson (1867-1950). The 1-1/8″ wide frame is cherry with a deep red-brown stain matching the blossoms’ ... continue reading.

Final Week of Our “Superbloom of Local Talent”
Our current show, “California Wildflowers,” enjoyed some publicity and lavish praise in last week’s issue of our local print paper, The Berkeley Times. Reviewer Todd Kerr called it “a superbloom of local talent,” and “eye-dazzling.... continue reading.

Framing Dard Hunter and the Roycrofters
This is a set of six hand-colored prints by Dard Hunter (1883-1966), framed in pairs. Made in 1909-1910, they depict the architecture of the Roycroft campus in the heyday of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Dard Hunter was a major Arts and Crafts figure, especially in the ... continue reading.

A New and Very Subtle Profile
Here’s a key lesson I learned a long time ago when I started looking closely at early twentieth century oak frames: while the shape of a frame molding should be alive to the picture, subtlety is crucial to keeping the frame in its subordinate role. Following the e... continue reading.

Framing Paul Roehl for “California Wildflowers”
We had a great opening last Saturday for our latest show, “California Wildflowers.” Many of our artists were able to come, including Paul Roehl. Paul has this lovely 16″ x 20″ oil on panel in the exhibit, “Spring, Coast Range”. The fr... continue reading.

“California Wildflowers” Opens Today!
Our new show, simply titled “California Wildflowers,” opens today! After a refreshingly wet winter, California enjoyed a lush and brilliant spring. In this show, eighteen painters celebrate that revitalizing season and its blossoms. Below is one of the thirt... continue reading.