Finishing touches to a gilded and painted frame

More painting...

painting and gessoing

Water gilding

Corner ornaments

Today I was making some simple corner decoration for a frame, these can be made from compo, or in this case I was using a two part epoxy modelling putty. This is mixed, pressed into the mould (which has been sprayed with a release agent), the excess is trimmed and then it is glued on the corner of the frame; easy!

Glass bench

The glass cutting bench is nearly finished, its had some dividers fitted which allow offcuts of glass and backing boards to be stored underneath, keeping them all organised and out of the way. I still need to get some carpet for the top though...

Hanging brackets

 

Ian and Phil put up some hanging brackets for frames today, the workshop is slowly but surely taking shape and being organised, with the panel cutter being positioned and secured to the partition, and the 'messy bench' which is used for painting and sanding is moved into position.

Duncan MacGregor

A few Duncan MacGregor's were delivered this weekend, to be framed for his annual exhibition at Broadway Modern, in November.

Perspex backing

This canvas has been backed with perspex to protect it from damage. It is drilled with 5 air holes, these allow air to pass through if any pressure is applied from the back, without the air holes the canvas would be pushed forward.

Zak is not pleased

John Noott Galleries, Broadway

Painting the partition

Mike, an old friend of mine, came over today to lend a hand by starting to paint the partition. The painted MDF panels for the corner samples are also ready to have the velcro fitted, and be hung; at last!

It's a dog's life

 

I'm looking after Zak the Jack Russell for two weeks, while my Mum is on holiday in America. I usually have him for only a few hours a week, and he just sleeps in the office. But as he is now spending all day with me, and is pining for Mum, he is allowed into the workshop. He has a sofa bed next to the sanding and painting bench, and in the photo above you can see he is using his nose to do some gilding.

Rugby shirt

Saturday evening rainbow at the workshop

Contemporary white frames

I finished a couple of white floating type frames today. 
The top one is for a private customer and the bottom frame is for Trinity House Gallery in Broadway. 
I like this style of framing, and have always associated it with the St. Ives school of painters and artists. The top frame has an outer limed frame with white painted backing and inner frame. The bottom frame is painted with Farrow and Ball lime white and then given a coating of grey wax to give an aged appearance. In both examples the inner frame holding the panel is secured to the backing board with screws.

more mountboard storage...

I finally got started on putting the mountboard away today, it had to be done as trying to find a certain colour amongst the pile of mountboard sheets and offcuts was getting ridiculous. The smaller offcuts have been sorted into colour order and put in a very large box, not ideal, but it will do for the time being. The boards on the left are the ones we use most like off white, and antique white, and on the right are all the other colours. I've still got a few boxes and bags to sort through but I should have it done over the weekend.

 

Just as I was leaving work today I took a photo of the view from behind the workshop, and one looking out from the front. What a lovely part of the world to live and work in.

more benches...

We did some more work on the mounting bench today, it is now positioned roughly where it will be, it still needs some dividers fitting for the sheets of mountboard, and the offcuts. We also put together another 8' x 4' bench, and started work on the second picture rack, this one is going next to the toilet door, it is 4' wide x 7' high x 2' deep. Finally we cut up the strips of 18mm MDF which will be used in the reception room to hold the frame corner samples. The MDF will be given a couple of coats of quick drying acrylic primer undercoat and then be finished with good old magnolia emulsion paint.

Mounting bench

  

I spent a few hours at the workshop today (all day in fact!) doing various bits of framing and jobs around the workshop. This will be the mounting bench, underneath will be a store for sheets of mountboard on the left, and offcuts on the right. I have been using the Kreg pocket hole jig again, and it makes building benches really easy!

The sign is up

My new sign went up today, it was done by Cam Graphic who are based on the same estate. I think I will eventually also get a smaller sign by the door with my opening hours and other information for customers. 

The partition has been finished, I say finished, it still needs painting, gaps at the top sorting etc. But at least I can start organising the final layout of the workshop. I have also finished the storage rack, although at some point in the future will put some strips of carpet in some of the racks to protect delicate frames, but it can now be used to store frames. The next building job is the mounting bench and mountboard storage unit, and also the panels for displaying all of my frame corner samples.