Things just keep getting better here in our little gallery in North Adelaide, South Australia. We have recently been featured in the May edition of Picture Framing Magazine, the world-wide publication based in the USA for the picture framing industry. Click here to see the full article by framing Guru, Jared Davis MCPF, GCF.
We’re in Picture Framing Magazine!
Filed under Framing
New Computerized Pen Tool
We have just installed the brand new Gunnar T2 Scribe Tool to our amazing Computerized Mat Cutter. This takes traditional French Matting to a whole new level – any design in any colour can be drawn right onto the matboard, all with perfect precision as only the Swiss know how.
Call in with your designs, and see it working for yourself!
How to Stretch Your Needlework
Why not save some money on framing and stretch your own needlework?
Here are some simple instructions to show you how.
How to Stretch Your Needle Art
1) Cut a piece of acid free fomecore (we use Bainbridge Alphamat Artcare) or matboard to stretch the needle art onto. The size of this board should be approximately 25mm or 1″ bigger than the opening in the matboard. For example, if the needle art you want to see is 20cm x 15cm (8″ x 6″) this is the size of the opening in the matboard. Cut the board to stretch the needle art onto 22.5cm x 17.5cm (9″ x 7″).
2) Centre your needle art onto the board.
Turn the work over, and work from the back. Fold the two longest edges over the board. Using a needle with a continuous thread (preferably 100% cotton thread) insert the needle 15mm from the edge of the fabric. Lace from one edge to the other, trying to keep the stitches parallel, approximately 1cm apart. When you get to the end, tie the thread with a knot, leaving the other end still attached to the reel of cotton.
3) Check the front of the work to make sure that it is still centred. Tension the threads at the back, working from the knot backwards, being careful not to pull them too tightly, otherwise the thread might break. In case the thread does break, just re-join it with a small knot and continue. Check the front of the work once again, and when you are happy with the position, cut the thread attached to the reel of cotton and firmly tie with a knot to the needle art. Adjust the front again if necessary.
4) Fold the two short ends over, and using the same process, continue to complete the stretching of your needle art.
Filed under Framing
Art and Photo Restoration
Art and photograph restoration is a very specialised area, and should only be handled by qualified professionals.
Our Art Conservator, Chris Payne of The Art Conservation Studios, is a fellow member of the AICCM (Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials) and is also employed part-time by Artlab Australia.
Artlab’s team of qualified conservators provide specialised preservation and restoration services for all works of art and historic items. Established in 1985, Artlab Australia is a South Australian Government business enterprise. Their laboratories are amongst the largest and best equipped in Australia.
Our Photograph Conservator and Restorer, Alan Lesheim, is without a doubt the best in Australia. With over 40 years experience, Alan uses both film and digital techniques to restore and re-create beautiful photographs, where the end results are second to none and are guaranteed to last 100 years plus.
Here are some “Before and After” examples.
Filed under Art
What a Difference a Frame Makes!
Ok, so I know I’m showing off my new Virtual Framing System here, but it really helps to make a great point!
Most artists think they can’t afford to put really gorgeous frames on their artworks, especially if they’re going to be exhibited in galleries for sale. The commissions paid to galleries and agents can wipe out their budgets for good framing.
What they may not realise though, is that a beautiful frame can literally add hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to the artist’s selling price of a painting, for just a few dollars more.
A thin, cheap frame can actually de-value a painting, making it “suitable for a kid’s room” or “like a poster”. On the other hand, a beautiful frame can make a painting a “collector’s piece”, or a centre-piece for a home, even if the subject is seen to be quirky or child-oriented, like Shane Devries’ painting is here.
What people may not know about Shane Devries, is that he is one of Australia’s most talented young artists, and this painting really is something special. It’s an original oil painting, the cover illustration of “Never Smile at a Crocodile”, Devries’ hard-cover book published by Scholastic 2010.
Luckily for me, he knows the value of his work…and trusts his framer to suggest only the best picture frames to suit his amazing paintings!
Shane’s next Exhibition starts 7pm
Friday July 22nd 2011
TVH Gallery
515 Sydney Road, Seaforth, NSW
Filed under Framing
Tiny Framed Tintype
Sydney-born, Adelaide embedded CJ Taylor is photographically concerned with notions of Australian identity and place, fictitious realities and real fictions, along with the relative absurdity and beauty of existence in roughly equal parts, and generally at the same time.
CJ’s tintype ”Robert” is a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2011, and is on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra from 25th February until 26th April 2011.
Silver Gilt Ray Caesar
I just had to show off our latest creation – a hand-gilded, bright silver frame made especially for this Ray Caesar limited edition print “Consort Study” 2010.
Filed under Framing
