DecorBook Classic : A Picture Frame Takes on a Life of Its Own

As you may know, I had a painting by my great uncle restored and needed a suitable frame. My other painting (above) of his has its original picture frame. For the restored picture, I hoped for a similar vintage gesso. As you might imagine, that didn't work out too well. Let's see what happened.

The only gesso frame I could find in the correct size was Victorian - wrong time period. Plus, it seemed expensive.

I pursued the perfect frame in frame shops and was surprised so many frames were plastic.

The art restorer suggested an Oakland frame shop on Grand Avenue. He said it was "kinda expensive." I met Lisa who helped me find the perfect frame. After looking at the painting, she was inspired by the style museums use to frame 1920's/30's California plein air paintings. This one was beautiful. You'll notice there are no seams in the corners as it would be handcarved by a woman from one piece of wood. Made in the Bronx, lead time was 4 months. While my eyeballs were rolling $ signs, I should have been sitting down. She handed me the quote - including sales tax, it totaled $2,683. MAJOR gulp. I thanked her for her time and backed away.

Keeping Lisa's suggestion of a plein air style frame, I chose this frame (top left) at EcoFraming tucked in an industrial area of Oakland. They primarily do commercial framing and installations across the Bay Area. By appointment, they could not have been nicer. And the frame (including tax) was $345. I gulped, but then again, I hadn't had anything framed in 30 years. And the frame made the painting absolutely gleam.

When I picked up the painting a week later, the painting was mesmerizing. One of the framers took this picture with his studio lights. But all the way home, I wondered if it would be too much for my muted bedroom.

A week later, Ruthie and Bobby were here from Portland. She helped me hang my new painting using the two special hangers the framer provided . It quickly turned into a Lucy & Ethel episode as we pounded too many holes in the wall as we couldn't get the painting centered. We then discovered the fireplace wasn't centered between two windows so we had no choice but to center it over the fireplace. Two of us worked together, one holding the anchor, the other the nail and wouldn't you know, we lost the special nail. And then we got the giggles.

And of course, we were doing all this in our pajamas. We finally had to call Bobby to help as the nail went under the fireplace screen.

I lived with the picture for a few weeks. It was like one of those paintings that has eyes that follow you around the room. Even at dawn, the frame was just too bright. I couldn't see the painting.

I thought about more frame shops but I was worn out. I bought some metallical paints on Amazon and made my first bold move.

Eventually, I was able to age the frame.

I used this West Elm wooden tray as my inspiration. The aged color was better for the painting in this room.

While I have a few more gold layers to paint to even out the aging, you get the idea. Already, I'm enjoying the painting instead of the overpowering frame. Whew!

Happpy Sunday and enjoy Labor Day. See you on September 7th.

EcoFraming, 755 Apple St., Oakland, CA, www.eco-framing.com