Poor materials

An example of some poor quality materials and methods used in framing an original watercolour. The masking tape has been put along the top edge of the paper which is bad practice as it does not allow the paper to move with changes in temperature and humidity. No undermount was used to protect the watercolour from impurities in the backing board, it is also better to hinge the art to the undermount as it allows easy viewing of the work (when removed from the frame) and provides more support. 

Masking tape is possibly the worst tape that can be used, it is simply not intended for mounting art. The adhesive will either dry out quickly or it will transform into a horrible sticky mess, possibly with the solvent bleeding through the paper causing serious damage to the art. The mountboard is a poor quality and not suitable for original watercolours.

Corner repair

Just needs some wax and polishing and this little repair will be finished.

Small repairs

This carved reproduction French Louis XIII flower corner frame has a few small areas of damage. The style of frame is also sometimes called a Louis XIV style as it continued to be used and developed throughout this period, in this context it is also described as a transitional style of frame - when corners really started projecting from the edges of the frame designs.

Starting the gilding...

 

                                      

Here we have a couple of frames gilded in 23.5ct gold leaf - one is burnished while the other (top) was left matt. The next frame is done in 18ct lemon gold, this frame later had the outer section burnished. The last frame is gilded with 22ct moon gold over various bole colours with burnished outer.

Next comes the bole...

Gesso frames and sanding

Lots of gesso frames being sanded and smoothed. This is done with various grades of alu oxide papers and also with damp cloths.

Gilded frame

The black bole frame from a few posts ago, now shown gilded all over in 23.5ct gold.

Paint finish

An obeche bolection profile which is painted with red/brown Plaka casein paint, then a browny black Plaka mix, it was then distressed and polished with 0000 wire wool. 

Carved Italian frame

Another frame seen in Italy, this one was surrounding a TV screen in a small natural history museum. It is very ornately carved as you can see, some of the carving is relevant to the town we stayed at, whilst other details seem purely decorative or are more classical for such leaf frames. The towns famous castle can be seen at the bottom, a cable car is bottom right, wine bottle and glass on the left, handbags on the right, and a lady's leg and high heel shoe top right. There are lots of other smaller carved motifs all around the frame background but my poor photo does not show them.

Black bole-ction

This frame is made from a bolection moulding, the term originated in the 17th C and is used to generally describe raised mouldings used around doors, fireplaces, and paintings.
It has been sprayed with gesso and was then given a few coats of black bole, which is fine clay mixed with glue. The bole was lightly rubbed with 0000 wire wool, and next it will be gilded.

Pile of frames

This pile of 10" x 12" obeche frames have been made in various shaped profiles. They will be used at a practical gilding workshop at an upcoming framing event:

Framers Forum Live! 2012

Gilded slips

A couple of slips that have a grey bole base and are then gilded in 22ct moon gold. The support frames are made from MDF and just make it easy to handle the slips when applying the gesso, sanding, applying the bole, and then gilding. The outer frame is left in barewood and will be painted by the artist customer.

Italian frames

I've just spent a very enjoyable holiday in Italy, here are just a few photos of the many framing and frame design related things that I saw.
I had some really good photos on my camera of work I finished before I went away, but lost my camera on the first day in Italy! better than losing it at the end of the holiday...

Frame sites

I found these framing blogs sometime ago and have been meaning to post them on here for ages. Both have some great images and ideas for framing styles:

Gold Leaf Studios

naked art - a blog by an artist & framer

12/9/12 edit: Just been looking at this Tumblr blog, also a good website with some beautiful antique frames:

Cadres Lebrun (Tumblr)

Cadres Lebrun (Website)

Repair job

Little carved frame

A nice little carved and oil gilded frame, I have just made some repairs and fitted a matt water gilded slip. 

New mitres cut

Next exhibition order

Antique cut down

A silver gilded antique frame that has been cut down at two diagonal opposite corners, it was then glued, clamped and pinned. 

Some hand made frames

Gaping mitres

Two antique rough sawn and oil gilded frames which have rather big gaps at the mitres.

Gilding samples

Today I was gilding these corner samples and also some frames for a big order. There are 20+ more frames to be gilded next week, some of these can be seen in the photo above.

Washline mount

A traditional washline mount on museum mountboard for a limited edition artist's print. It will be framed in an antique looking gilt frame.

Quick repair job

Bole...

I've been painting bole on frames today, most of the big order of gilded frames have been done, and some corner samples in various bole colours. The antique frame in the background of the top photo has also had some repaired areas painted with bole.