Spring lambs

We had some new lambs arrive in the field behind the workshop this week, ahhhhh!

John Hammond at John Noott Galleries

Here is a small selection of lots of paintings by John Hammond which we recently framed. In the photos some are nearly finished and others are ready to be wrapped up and delivered. They are all for the John Noott Gallery in Broadway for a solo exhibition starting on Saturday 9th April. They have all been framed in water gilded and painted frames.

A couple of repair jobs

Lots of gilded and painted frames

Here are various contemporary gilded, painted, and distressed frames at various stages, nearing completion.

Framing holiday souvenirs

Here are a couple of framing jobs on holiday souvenirs, the one above is a sand painting from Africa which has been float mounted and framed in an oak box frame. The top one is from India (I think), and has gone in a nice green and gold frame.

A big gilded and painted frame

Wood and gold

These frames are parcel gilt. This is the old fashioned description of gilding combined with natural wood, or something that is part gilding and part some other type of finish. So the inner and outer sections are water gilded in 23.5ct gold, and the middle scoop is stained and waxed. 

Antique Roman style frame

This classic 18/19th Century English Carlo Maratta frame has come in for some minor repairs. The name Carlo Maratta covers a number of styles, and to confuse things it is an English variant of the Italian Salvator Rosa frame patterns, which is a style of Roman gallery frame, named after the 17th Century painter Salvator Rosa. These frames became popular from the late 17th Century onwards, were introduced in England in the 18th Century, and are still used today as a traditional frame.

Contemporary cassetta

This frame is gilded in 22ct moon gold, despite having more than enough work on at the moment, I somehow managed to get this frame turned round quickly for a regular artist customer. The flat middle section has a colour wash and some paint splatters. I am quite pleased with this frame.

Gold sprinkled chocolate cake!

Last week I had some visitors to the workshop who practice and study gilding and restoration, I was very happy to spend time talking about gilding and frames. 

We had a great surprise today, this huge and delicious chocolate cake was dropped off as a thank you! Wow! Sarah and friends you are welcome any time!

Contemporary frame

A modern looking water gilded frame with distressed 12ct white gold leaf.

Long frame

This very long and narrow antique frame is being regilded.

Gesso frame

A simple gesso frame with paint and wash finish, sealed with acrylic varnish.

Big frame

This big antique frame (late 19th/early 20th Century) is a new stock frame, and arrived today. It is a traditional neoclassical cove frame, the main ornament is a laurel leaf and berry pattern. The original water gilding has been over painted at some point, this later applied paint has oxidised and turned a bronze/brown colour, although the original gilding is visible in places. The paint can be removed and the frame restored, it will be used as a mirror, or it could be cut down to fit a painting.

Interior scene

This great little interior scene has been framed in a water gilded antique frame, it is glazed with anti-reflective glass, and there is an inner gilt spacer slip to keep the glass away from the painting.

Using old frames

These two paintings by Melvyn Warren-Smith have been framed in antique frames, the portrait is in two late 19th Century gilded oak frames, and the street scene is in a 18th Century polished wood 'pitchpin' frame.

12 ct white gold water gilded frame

Lean on Me by Nel Whatmore

Another of my favourites from the frame archives. Water gilded 23.5ct gold leaf over multi coloured bole, inner mount with pigment colours, green gold line, gesso wooden slip, and a double mount. Glazed with anti-reflective glass. I love the effect of the coloured bole under the leaf. The print is by Nel Whatmore.

Children Learn What They Live by Dorothy Law Nolte

Water gilded 12 ct white gold over blue and green bole, with glass between gesso bevel slip and the frame, gilding sealed with acrylic varnish.

Making a gilded frame - Distress and finish

The sides of the frame are painted with acrylic primer undercoat, and then a grey emulsion. The frame is then given a distress with 0000 wire wool, to show the bole colour under the leaf. Finally the whole frame is given a protective spray coat of Lascaux UV Protect. I think I actually prefer the finish before the distressing, or maybe I just went in a little hard with the wire wool.