Acanthus hollow.

An antique hollow profile frame with acanthus leaf composition ornament.

Acanthus leaves

Spandrel

This is just an experiment/sample frame I am making, a spandrel is usually used when a painting is circular, oval, or some other irregular shape, and it is to fit in a traditional rectangular or square frame, as opposed to a round or oval frame.

The window is cut from MDF, this is primed and then the moulded ornament is cast and glued in place, for the spandrel aperture I picked a gadroon ornament (this is sometimes called a pie crust), which is a typical ornament for a neoclassical frame, and is often seen on oval or round frames. The corner rosettes are intended to break up the area in the corners. The outer frame is a pretty standard fluted cove with acanthus leaf corners which I made some time ago. Next a red primer coat will be painted on, before the spandrel is finished with bronze powder. I am also working on one with a round aperture, I will post some photos as it progresses.

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!