A Frame-Maker’s Journal
Updates and reflections on our work and mission to revive the art and craft of framing pictures. Here I'll show you new jobs we're especially proud of and keep you up on what's going on at the Gallery, as well as discuss topics germane to our work, including handcraft and work generally, the place of art, and ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement (especially its greatest leaders, John Ruskin and William Morris).
I hope you’ll subscribe (see the form in the left column) or at least check back often. And I welcome your comments!
—Tim Holton
Framing Helen Hyde
I’m proudly adding this one to the “Japanese Print Tradition” section of the Portfolio. It’s a beautiful example from outstanding early twentieth century American print maker Helen Hyde (1868 – 1919). We set “A Mexican Coquette” (1912; colored woodcut, 10″ diameter) in a hand carved No. 14 CV Rounded Corner frame—3/4″ wide, in walnut, stained […]
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Framing Two More Alan Tuttle Paintings
We’ve greatly enjoyed framing Alan Tuttle’s paintings over the years. I think the first one was “The Falls,” at right; we also had fun framing “Flower.” Here are two more frames we made for Alan recently. The artist, who lives in Dela... continue reading.
Simon Addyman Featured in the Gallery
We had a lovely opening for landscape painter Simon Addyman last Saturday. Simon and his wife Carol came down for the event from their home in Auburn. In addition to eleven paintings we had framed and hung, we also display another dozen paintings that Simon brought to t... continue reading.
“Alta California”: Framing an Erik Tiemens Commissioned Painting
We just finished framing this spectacular painting, “Alta California,” that a customer commissioned from Erik Tiemens, a long time member of the Holton Studio Gallery roster. Erik brings us closer to the dramatic crashing surf and rugged coastline of the sta... continue reading.
Valentine’s Weekend Sale!
We just put a beautiful batch of framed prints and ready-made frames on sale. This is a short one for the special, long weekend! Ends Tuesday, February 18. Happy Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day! Go to sale page…... continue reading.
A Minka for Pictures: Framing Hiroto Norikane
I often say that what we’re offering is the simple home for pictures. The simple home ideal was practiced and advocated by Bernard Maybeck and Charles Keeler here in Berkeley, and shaped much of the city’s early architecture. I take it to express the princip... continue reading.
Highlighting Robert Flanary
Jessie just re-hung the gallery to highlight our inventory of paintings by Robert Flanary. There are 26 paintings in all. Most are framed—those are shown on Robert’s page, here—but there’s also a large number of unframed (or ready-to-frame!) pieces. A lo... continue reading.
Framing Hall Thorpe’s “Three Wise Men”
It’s Christmas Eve and many of you are out and about bearing gifts. So in the spirit of the day, I thought I’d post this lovely woodblock print, “Three Wise Men,” by Hall Thorpe (Australian, 1874-1947). At just about 5-1/4″ square, it’... continue reading.
Richard Lindenberg’s Window on Beloved Mt. Tamalpais
Just makin up poems in my head as I climb toward Mount Tamalpais.See up there, as beautiful a mountain as you’ll see anywhere in the world,a beautiful shape to it, I really love Tamalpais. —The character Japhy in The Dharma Bums (1958), by Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac ... continue reading.