"E, decorative" from the Biltmore collection, Artaissance website
"C" from Alphabet photography
www.frameworksonline.com
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monograms? Yes, please
In the spirit of the season...wedding season that is, today's blog is all about monograms. What says "together forever" better than the newly betrothed's last initial plastered all over everything they own? Towels, check. Sheets, check. Bathrobes, check. Plates, silver, crystal...you get the picture. Of course, all of that has been done, many, many times before. So here's a artsy and unique way to show the happy couple how special they are to you. Simply put, it's alphabet art!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Framer Spotlight: Frames by Edward Wright
Edward Wright founded Frames by Edward Wright in 1973. Wright works with three other artisans in a open, airy shop in an old textile mill in Hillsborough, NC. There they build frames from scratch, using materials and tools that have been around for hundreds of years. Basswood moulding. Gesso. Chisels. Gold leaf. Squirrel hair brushes. Agate-tipped burnishing tools. Shellac made from secretions of the female lac bug. Very few shops make frames from scratch- a technique referred to as closed-corner framing because the corner seams are invisible. Each frame is made from start to finish by one artisan and the result is a one-of-a-kind frame that perfectly suits the artwork it surrounds. We are proud to carry Frames by Edward Wright frames at Frameworks. These frames are perfect for portraits, original paintings and anything that holds a special place in your home or your heart.
An example of Edward Wright's work
12k white gold, rounded corners, perfectly suited to the painting
Italian style frame with scrafetto in corners, gold leaf on lip and back
Me, at Edward Wright's studio at a workshop where I got to make my own frame!
Visit www.framesbyedwardwright.com to learn more!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Spring Cleaning = Big Sale
We are gearing up for a HUGE spring cleaning sale tomorrow, Friday, April 9th from 10-2 at Frameworks! All of our artwork will be marked down 50% off retail. There are tons of beautiful paintings to choose from, so you'll be sure to find something that strikes your fancy!
Here's a small taste of what's in the sale. You can check out even more on our Facebook page all you have to do is click HERE
Abstract Oil 24x24, framed
Was $1100 now $550
Charleston Battery 36x48
was $1200 now $600
Sailboat Oil, framed
was $375 now $187.50
Italian Harbor Oil 24x30
was $675 now $337.50
Sale is at Frameworks Gallery
1520 Dixie Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
919.781.3118
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mirror, Mirror...
There is nothing quite as elegant as a beautiful mirror in an entry way or powder room. At Frameworks we have access to some of the most exquisite framed mirrors I have ever seen. We can also custom make mirrors in any size from any of our thousands of mouldings. Here are a few of my favs!
Essex English Chippendale Mirror by APF Munn
Hand Carved and absolutely stunning
Villa Capri Italian Rococo Mirror by APF Munn
Gonzaga Floral Mirror by APF Munn
La Mer by APF Munn
Enjoy the view!
All of these mirrors are available from Frameworks Gallery www.frameworksonline.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Finding Art in Fashion: Art That Fits Your Style
As the weather gets warmer and spring starts to, well, spring. I start to think about several things. Being a woman, my first thought is: I can't wait to update my wardrobe and get rid of all this bulky winter clothing. The dreaded 2nd thought: I've got to do some serious spring cleaning to actually be able to see the inside of my closets. And the third and most fun: It's time to do some redecorating and freshen up my place. So, in honor of all my favorite designers and their fantastic Spring collections, today's blog is about:
Art in Fashion: Finding art that fits your fashion style
There are so many fabulous trends right now in the fashion world. I want to show you how easy it is to incorporate your fashion style into how you decorate your home. Take a look through the top spring fashion trends and find the fit that's right for you!
Fashion trend #1: 70's glam
This trend infuses vivid colors and bold patterns with a free-spirited aesthetic. Your artwork can do the same thing. Pops of color can brighten up your wardrobe as well as your walls. The way to make this trend work with your decor is to use art and accessories to provide color and pattern, but keep your furnishings clean and contemporary.
Gucci Spring 2011
Using a mostly white pallet is a good mix for the bold colors and patterns of the artwork.
Fashion trend #2: Biker Chic
This trend is all about blending naughty with nice. Leather & silk, studs & lace, motorcycle jackets over cocktail dresses. The way to incorporate Biker Chic into your home is to blend your styles in a way that is unconventional and surprising.
Motorcycle Jacket by Burberry
Pairing a contemporary painting with a very traditional chair like this Louis XV style is a great way to incorporate Biker Chic style into your home decor.
The sweetness of the painting against the sleek lines of this black leather and metal couch would really tap into the naughty & nice aspect of biker chic.
Fashion trend #3: Punk Fashion
The Punk Fashion Trend is all about shock and controversy. It's best to not take this look full-blown (a la Ke$ha) but to add elements of the trend in your current wardrobe. To take this look into your home, I would recommend purchasing paintings and accessories that have a lot of shock value and tone down your furnishings with clean lines and minimal color.
Balmain
The bold color and frenzied design in the painting by Foust would add a Punk feel to a the clean white & grey furnishings above.
Fashion trend#4: Eclectic Chic
This trend is meant to be classy and subtle, yet eye catching. Like wearing a girlie dress in a bold electric blue and throwing on some chunky jewelry to mix it up. So when I think Eclectic Chic for you home, I think of a collection of many things brought together by a common thread, that thread being that they are treasured and collected over time. Eclectic homes to me, are always the most warm and welcoming.
Juan Carlos Obando
This room would look great with a bright & bold painting, like the one above. Eclectic Chic at it's best!
This bold wall color calls for a more subdued print or painting, like the one above. A great place for the eclectic chic look is a bedroom or guest bedroom.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Impact of Custom Framing
Did you know that a few well-chosen pieces of art can transform a room filled with ordinary furnishings into a room filled with personality and style?
From the Larson-Juhl Website: The Impact of Custom Framing
Personalizing your home or work space with custom framing is a great way to express your personality and to enjoy your surroundings. While others can go to the store and buy the same sofa, tables and lamps that you have, it is highly unlikely anyone will ever have the exact same custom framing as you.
Regardless of what you choose to have framed for your home, whether it is a favorite piece of art, a mirror, an object inherited from an ancestor or anything else, it will add interest to your space. Take a look at these rooms, with and without framed art to see for yourself what a big impact custom framing makes.
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Thursday, February 24, 2011
Salon Style Art Walls..How's it Hangin'?
A really hot trend right now is hanging artwork "Salon Style". This basically means putting a bunch of framed art on the same wall in a hodge-podge yet careful sort of way. While this technique makes a great statement when done correctly, it can be a daunting task to a newcomer. All you'll need is some imagination, some guts and an empty wall. In today's blog, I'd like to take a little mystery out of Salon Style art walls.
Hanging Art Work "Salon Style" is a great way to use all your little pieces that might not have another home to make a unique and bold statement.
The first thing you need to do is decide what you want to hang together and pick a theme. Do you want to do a mix of family photos, your child's artwork, vintage posters and prints, or maybe some small oil paintings that just don't seem to fit anywhere else? I would suggest having at least 5 pieces to hang, and always keep the number uneven. Something that would be fun if starting from scratch is searching attics, thrift stores and flea markets to find interesting vintage prints to hang in a collection.
In this photo the designer used a convex mirror as the center piece surrounded by great vintage finds. Using black frames in different styles keeps this wall looking eclectic yet refined.
Next, you want to make sure that all the pieces you are hanging have a similar theme. This could be in the style of the frame, or the color of the mat or just the colors in the artwork. It needs to be one thing that makes your eye connect all the pieces together. You might find that you'll need to do some re-framing of several prints to get a cohesive look. Make sure when you go to your frame shop you explain your over all plan and bring in the framed pieces you want to match.
All the framed pieces in the image above have a simple wood-tone frame. This keeps the look cohesive yet interesting.
In this image all the artwork is framed differently, but the white mats and black & white artwork keep it all connected.
Now you are finally ready to start punching holes in the wall! I recommend taking these next steps very slowly. The best way to insure you will like the finished product, without ruining your walls, is to cut out pieces of craft paper the size of each of your pieces framed art. Then start by taping the one that you want as the "centerpiece" on the wall. Work around this one, which is usually the largest piece until all the cut outs are on the wall and you are happy with the layout. Now, all you have to do is actually hang your framed art up.
With a little imagination and a lot of patience, you too can have a beautiful Salon Style Art Wall!
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