Sand Frame Completed

The frame with the sanded band http://forthillstudios.blogspot.com/2012/01/sand-on-frames.html was completed, and picture hung at the Artist's Guild of Shrewsbury www.artistguildshrewsbury.com Spring show.

All looks good, and will be anxious for this to return home at end of show.

A Victorian Mirror from Rhode Island

This Victorian oval mirror Circa 1865-75 has a compo crest and pendant, side ornament, and beaded inner edge. Not an unusual form, but interesting in that it retains its original label:

Gillespie & Vose/Gilders/Picture Framers/151 Westminster
Street/Providence, R.I./Directly opposite 1st Universalist Church."

(Apparently this firm was connected with the well known "Vose Galleries" of Boston.

I have started the work on this, and will post again as it progresses.

Mount Vernon Prints

I bought these three framed prints at auction last year (and forgot about them). The shape of the frame was most interesting to me. Now plowing though the unfinished projects, so I pulled them out to evaluate restoration requirements. Most significant issues are the top crests on two, and a split to one. They have never been regilded, so will try to maintain their integrity of surface.

Somewhere I recall reading that these were sold by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association to raise funds for the preservation of our first president's home.

Here are east and west views, as well as Washington's tomb. I wonder if there were more in the series.

Trapped

Whodunnit

Don't be fooled by the innocent bystander fleeing the scene.

Primary suspect was found in vicinity of victim, chewing on internal squeaking device. Convicted and jailed without trial.

Finished Frame wth Sand Band

Finished up the frame with the "sanded" band in time to submit to show with Artists' Guild of Shrewsbury (http://www.artistguildshrewsbury.com/) . You can see in-progress sand work at:

http://forthillstudios.blogspot.com/2012/01/sand-on-frames.html

Watercolor Garden

Our spring like weather (in February!) has perhaps inspired me to finish up some of the painting projects. This is a watercolor of the garden next door in Wiscasset.

Maple-grained Frame

I had one stick of this molding kicking around - don't know if it was a regular item from supplier, or a custom order - but I hope to get more. I had made a frame, and with the top flat surface expected to gesso and add a composition ornament border. But, as I was grain-painting something else, I decided to do a paint finish on this as well, and just gild the inner lip. Once grained, it had such a nice early look that I decided a painted black lip might make it more suitable for an early paper item such as a fraktur or watercolor portrait.