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
Framing Paintings—I: Kevin Courter’s “Colusa Sunset”
“All true art is praise,” as John Ruskin said, getting right at the heart of picture-making (and blowing the top off a lot of pretentious blather about art, too). Last fall Kevin Courter brought in this work of praise, a 16″ x 20″ oil on linen, l... continue reading.
An Embarrassment of Riches: New Showroom Display Full of Great Paintings
We just rehung the Gallery to show off all eight of our painters. It’s a true delight to walk in and see such a lavish display of this tremendous group of artists. I hope you’ll come by and experience it!... continue reading.
“True Grit”
What’s it take to get through a recession? A little “True Grit” helps. The Coen brothers are remaking the John Wayne classic and needed authentic-looking quartersawn oak frames on several Matthew Brady portraits that will help dress up a courthouse sce... continue reading.
“Real Wealth” a Year-and-a-Half On
In the Winter 2009 issue of Arts and Craft Homes and the Revival I published an essay called “Real Wealth: The Value of Art and Craft in a Debased Economy.” (You’ll find a link to a pdf on this page.) In it I expressed my hopes for the sustenance — o... continue reading.
Holton Studio Landscape Show—A Heaven in the Eye
The opening for the current landscape show at Holton Studio, A Heaven in the Eye, took place last Saturday, Nov. 14th. The show features 7 Northern California landscape painters: Kevin Courter, Christin Coy, Mark Farina, Paul Kratter, Terry Miura, Robin Moore, and Br... continue reading.
Cold Weather Painting, by Paul Kratter
In late February I spent a couple of days at Silver Lake just south of Lake Tahoe. A recent storm left a fresh layer of snow and cooler temperatures. I had a chance to do some sketching (I’ll write about that later) and did one painting. Winter painting offers som... continue reading.
Terry Miura
Made another big step in this year’s plan to grow the theme of the picture gallery as contemporary paintings of the local and northern California landscape: Sacramento painter Terry Miura recently delivered his first batch of paintings. They are a real privilege t... continue reading.
Wedding Gifts
With wedding season approaching I thought I’d put out a couple of examples of pieces we’ve recently done as wedding gifts. This picture’s framed close in a simple walnut “Hudson” frame with a gilt slip. Walnut, which is a tight-grained wood... continue reading.
Carved Walnut
Of all the woods we use, we tend to emphasize quartersawn white oak. But walnut has always been a big favorite too, especially for carving. In preparing for the Paul Kratter show in June, the painting we decided to use for the publicity suggested walnut. Here’s a ... continue reading.