A Frame-Maker’s Journal

TimHolton writingUpdates 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 Discourse on Frames

Posted on April 11th, 2017

Next Tuesday at 6:30 the Gallery proudly hosts British historian and independent cultural scholar Nicholas Friend, who will give an illustrated lecture called “A Discourse on Frames.” Nick Friend was educated at Oxford and Cambridge, and specializes in the h... continue reading.

Framing Richard Lindenberg’s Trees: Harmony In Wood

Posted on April 7th, 2017

I just realized that my favorite paintings by Richard Lindenberg, whom we’re highlighting at the Gallery through April 22, are of trees. Maybe I just like trees, or maybe I just like how Richard paints trees. I won’t deny either of those. But I think it has ... continue reading.

Richard Lindenberg’s Painting Demonstration and Talk

Posted on March 28th, 2017

This past Saturday, March 25, painter Richard Lindenberg kicked off his four-week exhibit (through April 22) at the Gallery with a short talk and painting demonstration. We had excellent attendance, as folks sat in chairs we put out in the first gallery in the midst of ... continue reading.

Variety and Unity: Framing a Set of Small Paintings by Richard Lindenberg

Posted on March 24th, 2017

We’re finishing up hanging the Richard Lindenberg exhibit which starts tomorrow. There are several I have a hard time taking my eyes off of, including this little set of three, each one just 6″ x 6″. I like framing sets of pictures in frames that, like... continue reading.

Re-framing Virgil Williams

Posted on March 23rd, 2017

It’s always exciting to see a historic painting come in the door, but especially so when it’s in a conventional gold frame, because I know that the customer, who’s already very proud of his or her treasured work of art, is about to see it dramatically ... continue reading.

Richard Lindenberg Highlight to Open this Saturday with Presentation by the Artist

Posted on March 21st, 2017

Starting this Saturday, March 25, the Gallery will be highlighting the landscape paintings of Richard Lindenberg. That afternoon at 3:00 the artist will give a talk titled “How Photography Influenced My Painting Life,” which promises to provide a deep apprec... continue reading.

Protection and Prospect, Part II: The Frame

Posted on March 20th, 2017

In my last post I discussed the compositional strategy of “protection and prospect” that Paul Roehl explained in part of his February 25 lecture here at the Gallery—a strategy that’s extraordinarily compelling because it taps in to a primal psychological need we... continue reading.

Protection and Prospect: A Lesson in Composition from Paul Roehl

Posted on March 1st, 2017

This past Saturday afternoon at the Gallery, Paul Roehl gave a very informative and engaging talk called “Beyond Representation: The Poetic Landscape.” (This was part of our highlighting Paul’s work through March 18.) One concept in particular resonate... continue reading.

On Framing Boats—and “the Fellowship of the World”

Posted on February 6th, 2017

We just framed this charming little painting of a boat under construction. Titled “Lowell’s” (presumably, for the boatbuilder whose shop is depicted), it’s an oil on board, 9″ x 12″, by New England artist Kevin Shea. The frame is a No... continue reading.