A lesson in frame styles.

I wanted to take a few moments to talk about framing and it's different historical styles.  Frame styles are generally categorized by their country of origin.  The more popular being the Dutch, Italian, American and French and the Modern.

If I'm framing a period work of art, I'll try to match the country of the artist or subject to the frame style also from that country.  One of my favorite things to do here in DC is to take a walk down to the National Gallery and study how the art is placed with the framing.  The National Gallery is unique to museums both here in the States and in other countries I've visited since the permanent collection is separated in different rooms by country of origin.  You get a more complete view of that countries' work this way.

If I had to pick my favorite style of framing, I'd have to say it is the Dutch.  The Dutch framing is generally associated with dark woods and carvings of waves and basket weaving as in the example below.

What better style of frame to place with my tulips than the Dutch.  Below are four examples from this category.  The top two show the classic ripples, one in a dark ebony finish and the other in an antiqued 23k gold.  The bottom two show a typical Dutch reverse flat panel painted in an antique green with 23k gold ripples with the second in an antiqued 12k white gold.

 

Of course other styles of frames work beautifully with the tulips as well. 

 

 

The top left shows an American Mahogany stain while the other shows an Italian flat panel of Burl with 23k gold.  The bottom shows the same Dutch ripples.   The effect is very different when they are placed with the tulip painted on the dark chocolate ground.

 

Another popular frame style is from the French.  This category is generally divided by the Louis.  Louis 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th.  A period example shows a typical Louis 13th.

 

 

 The grouping below shows examples from this category. 

 

 

The top left shows a Louis 14th which tends to have flatter carvings to simulate brocade than the Louis 13th on the right which tends to be more elaborate.  The bottom left shows a Louis 16th in an ebony finish whereas the right shows a Louis 16th in an ebony finish with 23k gold carving on the inside of the profile.

 

The next photo shows various examples with a more modern flair.

 

 

The top left is a Modern style of matte 23k gold.  Although the top right is technically from the American category, the ivory and black finish gives it a contemporary feel.  The bottom left is an Art Deco step in 23k gold with the bottom right being the cleanest Modern style with the ivory cap.

 

The next shot shows the last tulip in full color with similar frames as above but with a slim 12k. white gold on the left and a 23k cap on the right.

 

 

The tulip below was painted in white on a ground of Farrow and Ball, Powder Blue.

 

 

The top left is an Italian in antiqued 12k white gold whereas the right shows the same gold but in a clean water gild finish.  The bottom left is a Dutch antiqued 12k white gold with the right being the Modern ivory cap.  How beautiful would a set of these be in a bedroom?

 

The next, more stark image shows the same profiles as above but with a tulip painted in white on Farrow and Ball, Mahogany.

 

 

Finally, I wanted to have a little fun.  Although I generally stay away from color mats, how modern and fresh would a collection of these be?

 

 

I hope I was able to give you a better understanding of why I'm so passionate about framing and all of the possibilities that can be achieved.

 

Please free to contact me at contact@johnmatthewmoore.com

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                           

 

A client that already owns several works of mine saw a painting that was sold to a designer some years ago.  

                                                 
                                                Double White Darwins on Slate Ground.

As it happens, the designer is also the one who designed the interiors of my client's Potomac home. You may have seen this home featured in Southern Accents, Nov./Dec. 2008.  The designer is none other than the very talented Fiona Weeks and is a very good client of mine as well.

 

                                         Magnolia on Blue Ground pictured in the bedroom.

 

                                   Orchid on Chocolate Ground pictured in the family room.

Weeks has commissioned works for herself, her clients and her showroom, Dwelling and Design in Easton, MD.

Now my client is 'fluffing up' her farm house and wanted to commission a similar work in the same vein as the Double Whites but with a softer feel for her bedroom.  The farm house was initially decorated by the Atlanta based Dan Carithers.  Mr. Carithers was one of the first top designers to purchase my work when I began my career as an artist in Atlanta many years ago.  Since Carithers' work is timeless, not much needed to be done to update the farm house.  That job has now been taken over by Austin Mann, previously an associate of Carithers, now with her own design business.

Since the painting my client loved was too strong for the farm house bedroom, we decided to so a similar piece with a much softer, lighter feel.  We switched out the stark slate background replaced it with a sand color to better blend with the tans, ivories and blues of the room.
I'm pleased with the completed piece and can't wait to see it installed in it's new home.

                                          Double White Darwins on Sand Color Ground.

If you would like to commission a work of art for your own home, please feel free to contact me through my website, www.johnmatthewmoore.com. 

For more information on Fiona Weeks, you can fine her at www.dwellinganddesign.com.

Many of you know of my love for Maine and that we vacation there every Fall.  It's the one vacation that let's me completely relax and enjoy the scenery.  This year's trip was no exception.  We're just back from a few days there and since some of you have inquired about where we go, I thought I'd share some photos of my favorite place on Earth.

Although we usually visit a few different places on our Maine trip, Monhegan Island is the ultimate destination.  The island has been an artist and bird watcher's retreat since the 19th. century.  To get to the island, you have to take a ferry from a few different locations.  We always leave from Port Clyde, a perfect example of a timeless Maine fishing village.  Monhegan Island is just over an hour by ferry from Port Clyde. 

Once on the island, you are lost in time.  Many of the homes in the village are from the late 19th century and early 20th century.  If you see paintings by some of America's greatest artists that painted there at those times, you will see many of these buildings still today.

 

A lighthouse stands at the highest point of the island.  It has been the subject of many great American paintings.

 

Most of the island is protected.  There are trails all around the island with the most beautiful views  at every  turn.

 

The north side of the island boast some of the highest and most breathtaking cliffs on the Atlantic.  Simply amazing.  It's a perfect spot to sit and just watch the waves crash on the rocks below.

 Even the valued American artist Jamie Wyeth has a home here with the most amazing views.

And when you can't walk or climb another step, there is the perfect place to sit with a cup of coffee and a good book on the lawn of The Island Inn.  One of the hotels on the island.

 

This place is like stepping back in time.  Truly the best get-a-way from the hectic and stressful pace of our day to day lives.  Now back to painting!

For more information on Monhegan Island, click on the link http://monheganwelcome.com/.