CITYFRAMES Denver's Picture Framing and Art Installation

End of Art Show Gathering

2011-08-22T14:56:00.001-06:00

Join us this Thursday, August 25, 6-9PM for one last chance to see the art show at the Zang mansion and meet writer-artist Thordis Niela Simonsen

7PM: Conversation with Niela. She will read a few excerpts from her latest book "Dances in Two Worlds".

(The artwork will remain on display until 8/31 and can be visited Mon-Fri, 8:30AM-5:00PM.)

WWA/CPAC Merge Members Exhibit

2011-08-12T17:38:00.001-06:00

CITYFRAMES is one of the sponsors of this evening's opening, MERGE, a show juried by Hamidah Glasgow that marks the beginning of a the merger between both organizations. CITYFRAMES' Award Certificate will be presented tonight to one of the best-of-show photographers.

Tonight, 8/12 6-9PM at Flash Gallery in Belmar, 445 South Saulsbury, Lakewood, CO 80226.

CITYFRAMES Art Space: New Works by Artist-Writer Thordis Niela Simonsen

2011-07-15T11:29:00.003-06:00

The redesigned CITYFRAMES Art Space opened on July 14th with the showing of new works by Thordis Niela Simonsen. The show features a series of brightly colored and energetic monotypes that we beautifully framed with natural walnut. Monotypes are one-of-a-kind prints on paper. The artwork is created by painting directly on a plate and transfered onto paper via a manual press.

On July 14, the opening event included a conversation with Niela and short readings from her new book Dances in Two Worlds. Niela talked about her inspiration from her childhood, the Wyoming landscapes and skies, as well as about the development of her artistic process.

I thank the people who attended this event. It was a great opportunity to unveil a redesigned CITYFRAMES Art Space. I invite you to check it out!

An other event will take place in the second part of August. Sign up for email notifications!

Show will run until August 31, Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 5PM. The Mansion closes at 5:30PM. For off-schedule viewing appointments, please call me at 303.249.3333

Joseph

GATHER | DISCOVER | EXCHANGE with Thordis Niela Simonsen

2011-07-08T14:29:00.010-06:00

With the release of her new book "Dances in Two Worlds" and a large collection of remarkable art prints, it made perfect sense to frame, display, and create an event around Niela's work in more than one venue at once!

The vibrance and energy that radiates from Niela's artwork makes it a perfect summer art-treat.

Niela's artwork can be seen at Open Press Studio and Gallery (starting on 7/8) and in the Corridor Art Space at the Zang mansion (starting on 7/14).

Join us on Thursday, July 14, between 6 and 9PM for
GATHER | DISCOVER | EXCHANGE

A cultural event sponsored by CITYFRAMES

New Work & Conversation with Writer-Artist Thordis Niela Simonsen 

July 14, 2011 - 6PM to 9PM in the Zang mansion

Featuring an art exhibition of original monotypes in the Corridor Art Space, and a conversation at 7PM with the artist.  

Light food, beverages, and good company will await your visit and participation.  

USEFUL LINKS & LEARN MORE

Website: www.astragreece.com

Blog: http://thordissimonsen.blogspot.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DancesinTwoWorlds
KickStarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/640481732/dances-in-two-worlds-an-exhibit-of-art-from-the-ne

For those unable to attend on the 14th, the show will run through August, weekdays 9AM to 5:30PM and by appointment.

Size does not always matter...

2011-02-10T13:36:00.002-07:00

Lattice Stix® wall sculpture installation

2011-02-05T14:23:00.005-07:00

The project-planning and installation of this Lattice Stix® wooden wall sculpture at about 18 feet above the living room floor presented some interesting challenges, to say the least.

The instructions said that it takes about an hour to install the five sections of the structure. Based on the long, long night we had yesterday, I believe that even a normal-hight display would have taken at least twice that amount of time.

The reward: The completed installation creates an interesting focal point on this wall that would have otherwise not received any artwork.

You can find out more about this type of wall-art at http://www.latticestix.com/

©2011 CITYFRAMES INC

Snow & Morning Sun at the Zang mansion

2011-01-20T16:21:00.001-07:00

Isn't the Colorado weather just wonderful? I am just sharing the thought that I always enjoy the first day of sun after a snow storm! - Joseph

Happy Birthday Working with Artists!

2011-01-19T07:16:00.008-07:00

Happy birthday Working with Artists! Saturday's 10th birthday party with live auction and performers was really fun and masterfully coordinated by Valerie Photoggoddess, staff and volunteers.

It was nice to meet newly appointed Executive Director Linda Sheridan and to see again so many familiar faces.

Needless to say that founder Marsea Wynne was very missed.

As a photographer myself I always love framing photography and CITYFRAMES continually supports WwA with discounts on framing for members and with photography show award certificates. I look forward to growing this relationship this year!

Working with Artists is located in Belmar, Lakewood. WwA offers classes and workshops in photography for every level, both in traditional-film and digital forms. WwA is a strong force in the promotion and development of photographic talents in the Denver area. Think of every possible way you can support WwA's mission and programs!

Visit WwA's facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/workingwithartists
and WwA's website at http://workingwithartists.com/

Befriend CITYFRAMES on facebook: hhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Frames/326794372224

Shiprock, NM by Michael Pastur

2011-01-14T18:59:00.010-07:00

"Shiprock, NM" by Michael Pastur, framed with 8 ply mat, Museum glass, and 1" ebony-stained walnut frame with contemporary bevel from the Picture Woods® collection. Overall dimensions: 15 x 36 inches.

Go to http://infinite-editions.com/mike-pastur/ or contact me to learn about how your purchase of a print of this photograph by Michael Pastur can help support this talent extraordinaire artist who was recently diagnosed with two rare blood cancers and suffers from complications. The prints are numbered, signed, unframed, gorgeous and valuable!

Please share this information with friends and all the fine art appreciators you know.

The stunning image is not well represented here and I welcome your visit at the Zang mansion to view it in person. I will keep the piece on display for one month, after which it will be at it's final destination in our house!

Print purchasing information:
http://infinite-editions.com/mike-pastur/

Michael Pastur's flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael-pastur/sets/

Thanks to Ron Landucci:
http://infinite-editions.com/mike-pastur/

New Logo

2010-11-25T11:06:00.009-07:00

CITY FRAMES is moving on from the elegant but old fashion Zapfino logo. Before the end of 2010, the brand new logo will adorn all the company's webpages, stationary and business cards.

About the font
Helvetica - clean, neutral, modern, practical, universal, accessible, timeless.

About the colors
Black/gray/white (invertible over black or gray) - simple, draft, neutral, confident.

About the cut in the corner of the letter F
It brings the word CITY forward, it creates depth and adds an "edge" to the design. It also expresses precision craftsmanship.

The design of the new logo would not have been complete without consulting with talent extraordinaire Heather at Crank-Design.

Just for the sake of good memories, here is the old logo:

Lineco Acid-Free Dustcover

2010-09-28T17:31:00.000-06:00

Now offering Lineco acid-free dustcover backing for full archival/museum quality framing projects at City Frames!

On the Worktable

2010-06-07T15:54:00.002-06:00

Assembling precisely cut 8 Ply Museum boards for a photography exhibit. 8 Ply boards are twice as thick as the regular ones, which can make them physically tiring to cut! But they make such beautiful presentation of art!

On the Worktable

2010-05-21T14:13:00.004-06:00

Touching up a white floater frame. A delicate task beacause the finish must remain unaltered. Floater frames help create fantastic presentations for contemporary art. They work ideally for works on canvas and on hard board that have finished outside edges interesting to expose without any cropping at all as without compromising the protection of the art.

Art Installation Services

2010-05-13T09:41:00.003-06:00

During a recent installation assignment, I had my friend and assistant Greg take a few promotion photos. The fact is that it is hard to convey what art installation service really means without the support of photos that show specific display styles, before and after, etc.

Installation work now accounts for about 50% of my business. I really enjoy doing it because it enables me to develop a more comprehensive service and it enables a better understanding of a client's taste in art and lifestyle. I also enjoy getting out of the shop!

Art installations create true space transformations. Weather it is in a home, at a workplace, or in a public space, the impact of a new art display is simply immediate happiness. Can't pass on that!

Our Lady of Refuge

2010-05-05T19:00:00.008-06:00

This painting was presented to me unframed and the stretchers had been removed. Not having much information on a piece of art of that nature compelled me to suggest a professional appraisal.

The only description that came with the painting was from the online dealer, which simply stated: "This is a rare, original, late 18th century oil painting on canvas. Its size is 22.5 inches by 18 inches, and it has a canvas backing, to reinforce the original it is painted on. It was recently professionally cleaned and restored by the former curator of the Cuban National Museum of Decorative Arts, who now resides in Miami, and is a specialist in Spanish Colonial paintings."

I was very interested in hosting an appraisal at the shop because I knew that, along with the client, I would learn a lot about the painting and the appraisal process itself. The appraisal was conducted by Barbara Stone. She is an authority on ethnographic art, fine art, and world antiquities.

Barbara Stone inspected the painting in great detail and quickly confirmed the authenticity of the artwork as a Mexican Colonial oil painting on canvas. The art probably came from a convent or a church. The painting contains typical elements of the genre: the crowns, the posture of the virgin Mary looking straight at the viewer, the standing child Jesus, the absence of background between the faces, and the shape of the clouds (puffy and solid looking). Barbara commented on the recent restoration work and qualified it as excessive but not irreversible.

A few days later, Barbara Stone produced a detailed appraisal report with photographs and references. Her additional research helped place the painting in the 19th century, painted by an unknown artist. The subject is based on "Our Lady of the Oak", found in 1690 in Montepulciano, Italy, and later used as a reference for religious painting in Mexico. The name "Our Lady of the Refuge" originated in the 18th century, when plagues struck Europe and people felt the need for protection.

Framing Design

3" Sevilla Antique Gold frame enhanced with 1/2" Medici Waterguilded filet. Museum Glass. The framing was conceived to minimize contact of the canvas with any materials.

Resources

If you wish to learn more about Spanish Colonial art, go to the 4th level of the Denver Art Museum.

Barbara H. Stone ISA, NAPA, President
Art International Resources LLC
303-466-4287
b7866@aol.com

Framing "Rue Mouffetard" by Henri Cartier Bresson

2010-04-22T16:33:00.010-06:00

"Rue Mouffetard" by Henri Cartier Bresson is a famous example of an important period in the history of photography. 35 mm handheld spontaneous street photography was new. Doisneau, Ronis, Brassai... many photographers roamed the streets of Paris day and night, capturing the everyday life of regular people, taking advantage of the new film and camera technologies of the time. Bresson did it with the elegant touch he is known for.

Composition mattered and also did the so-called "integrity" of a photographic image. The prints revealed the black borders of the film to prove that no cropping had been made, which would have been viewed as an alteration, a manipulation. When framed, the matting has to be respectful of such feature.

Notice the detail of the number "12" label on the bottle's neck (click on the image to zoom in). It refers to the 12% alcohol content of the wine - a proof of integrity of an other kind! In France, for a long time, 12% alcohol wine was nick-named "amélioré", improved, because most "ordinaire" wine was 11% proof or less. I remember hearing men request a glass of amélioré at the comptoir of the bar in the small town where I grew up.

This photograph brought back personal memories and continued my appreciation for classic photographs. I don't know for how long this link will work, but know that Henri Cartier Bresson's work can be seen in a traveling exhibition that honors his lifetime artistic achievement: http://moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/

The framing design "amélioré" includes: 8 Ply museum mat, Picture Woods® ebony stained walnut profile and Museum Glass. Final size: 24 1/2 x 31 3/4 inches.

On the Worktable

2010-04-21T15:10:00.000-06:00

Original 1960's movie poster.

On the Worktable

2010-04-19T13:17:00.000-06:00

Choosing the mat elements for a design with several vintage photographs that will end up together in one frame.

Before and After: A loose canvas

2010-04-15T16:21:00.002-06:00

When art curls, gets loose, or seems misplaced under a mat, you have good reasons to be worried or upset, but, in most cases, I can fix the situation before any harm is done to the artwork.

In this example, the giclée print on canvas made from a painting by artist Dario Campanile "The Last Supper?" (www.campanilefineart.com) was brought to me loose in the framing materials (see below). It was framed in an other state and I supposed that the initial stretching was not tightly done. Over a very short period of time, the sagging only got worse.

When art travels from state to state, it can suffer from the abrupt changes of humidity and temperature. Colorado's dry air usually adds tension to a canvas traveling from an other region.

Below is a picture of the art before I re-stretched and re-fit the canvas:

On the Worktable

2010-03-30T16:22:00.001-06:00

Picture Woods® ebony stained walnut in a brand new profile. The outer bevel is a very nice touch. The grain of the wood combined with the (always) finest milling by Picture Woods® makes this contemporary profile a strong element of design for framing photographs and more. Available in many different woods, finishes and profile sizes as well.

Worktable

2010-03-18T16:42:00.008-06:00

I thought I'd share a view of my worktable with you once in a while! Today: touching up a frame built with Larson Juhl Sevilla Antique Gold with Medici (Watergilded Gold) Filet. Next steps will include preparing the artwork (antique painting on canvas) and fitting a custom sized sheet of Museum Glass.

www.cityframes.mobi

2010-03-18T09:40:00.009-06:00

Aside from friends' recommendation, more and more people find out about City Frames via search on a mobile device. I'd say that about 80% of my clients have a web-able mobile phone. Based on these observations, I think it makes sense to make finding and recommending City Frames as convenient, practical, and fun as possible with a mobile site! www.cityframes.mobi is being work on. It will be a simplified, practical version of the main site. It will include a few nifty little features such as a mini blog page, a mini portfolio, etc. I'll keep you posted! PS: www.cityframes.mobi currently re-directs to www.cityframes.net, and so until the mobile version is ready.

Thanks!

2010-03-16T17:36:00.008-06:00

I am impressed! The page about framing "Joseph Telling His Dream" by Rembrandt received close to 200 visitors within a few days and it is still attracting new readers. I am guessing that some of you shared the link with friends. I also received many words of support via email as well as comments on the blog itself, encouraging me to continue sharing stories and information about my work at City Frames.

Thank you!

Ultimate viewing and protection with Museum Glass

2010-03-11T09:25:00.016-07:00

The name Museum Glass makes this glass sound very exclusive, but you might change your mind after reading this... While still more expensive than other glass products, due to its increasing popularity, Museum Glass has significantly gone down in price, making it suitable for a wider range of framing applications. Close to 90% of the glass I used in framing designs is Museum Glass (the national average is less than 15%). I am obviously partial to this material and I take the time to educate my clients about its many priceless benefits and... addictive properties! Here are some of the facts and benefits of Museum Glass. Reflection Control We've all been annoyed by the distracting reflections bouncing against glass while trying to view the art behind it. Because Museum Glass reduces reflection by almost 99%, it offers the best viewing comfort possible. With Museum Glass, you get to see the full picture from just about any angle. A Shield Against UV Light Everyone's heard that ultraviolet light (a.k.a. UV light) is very harmful to art. UV light literally "bleaches" everything it comes in contact with (especially pigments) and sometimes over a very short period of time. You would not believe the number of works of art I re-frame that show severe signs of fading due to unprotected exposure to light. UV light is especially found in sunlight and fluorescent lights, but not only: It is found in just about any light source, including halogen. Museum Glass protects artwork by blocking 99% of UV light. This means that it significantly extends the lifespan of art. FYI: ordinary glass only blocks 45% or less of UV light. Clarity and Neutral Colors Museum glass provides the highest brightness and contrast levels available. It also provides true and neutral color transmission. This is glass with a paradox: a high level of clarity combined with a near total reflection control. Physical Protection Yes, a painting on canvas deserves glass, a concept that was unheard of until Museum Glass became available. I recommend the use of Museum Glass over paintings on canvas because it protects art from dust, spills, or punctures. So, during your next conversation about art, you can proudly mention your knowledge of Museum Glass! :-) Joseph Photos source: Tru Vue, Inc.

City Frames now on Facebook

2010-03-04T09:42:00.012-07:00

If you are a small business owner like me, you understand the need for new better ways to communicate and network with clients and friends. Email, web site, blog, events, are good but no longer enough to keep us in touch with each others. Facebook now makes pages available for businesses, enabling new ways to connect. Facebook members can advocate for their favorite businesses by becoming "fans". Every time someone becomes the fan of a business, it spreads the word about the worth and merits of that business. City Frames now has a page on Facebook. The website and blog remain and if you are in my mailing list, you will continue to receive announcements about new postings made on this blog. Updates on the Facebook page will automatically be known to Facebook fans. Go ahead and become a fan of City Frames: use the Facebook fan box on the right, or simply click on the link below. Click here to visit City Frames on Facebook.

"Joseph telling his dream", etching by Rembrandt

2010-03-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

After I received the call that a Rembrandt etching was going to be presented to me for framing, I felt conflicted: utter excitement on one hand... Fear that the project might not come through on the other.

The print was recently purchased at a Christie's auction and shipped to the client with much less protocol than you would imagine: FedEx, insurance, an ordinary flat cardboard box, some acid-free boards with the print inside. That's about it.

The artwork was in pristine condition. The original copper plate "Joseph Telling his Dream" was etched by the old master around 1638. But I was told that the print I had in front of me dated from the nineteenth century. Surprisingly small in format (no larger than four by five inches), the artwork was rich in inlays of thin lines. The etching had been skillfully printed on a very lightweight piece of parchment paper. The translucent paper was so delicate that the impression could be seen on the back, like a tattoo would on a thin layer of skin.

The exciting challenge: create a contemporary design with subtle classic Dutch influences. No ornament. Simple, solid, yet elegant. I had to make this print look very precious and special.

Design notes:
Museum composition
Soft White pure cotton museum board (Crescent) 4 ply, then 8 ply.
2" ebony stained walnut frame (Picture Woods) with graphite fillet (Larson Juhl).
Reflection-free conservation museum glass.

Professional installation of the finished project was provided using special security hardware to help prevent any damage or theft.

Nielsen Guilded Metal Frames

2008-08-02T08:05:00.006-06:00

Don't you wish you could frame small size artwork with wide mats and a thin elegant frame around it? You heard the warning before: the larger the design, the heavier the frame ought to be! Well, not so much anymore.

Nielsen Guilded offers the classic beauty of wood frames with the structural strength of metals. The concept is innovative and it embraces the look and feel of hand-finished guilded frames with the structural properties of metal moulding. Small wood frames only allow for small designs or they rapidly separate in the corners. Additionally, as the size of a design increases, so does the scale of a wood frame. Nielsen frames allow larger designs with minimal framing presence around them.

The Nielsen Guilded collection can accommodate for multiple mats designs and is 100% conservation framing compatible.

The Nielsen Guilded collection comes in four profiles, twelve finishes. The Nielsen Guilded collection can be sampled with your art at City Frames: call 303 249-3333 to schedule your visit to the shop!

Photos: Courtesy NielsenBainbridge.

Installation Services

2008-07-18T08:30:00.002-06:00

I am excited to let you know that the demand for installation services has been increasing. The experience I have acquired during these past few months has helped me better understand the need that most of my customers have for peace of mind when it comes to installing framed art.

When planning an installation, I invite my customers to think about their display of art from different point of views. For example, we might consider the placement of the art in terms of which pieces should be shared with guests, and which should be reserved to more intimate spaces.

To corporate clients, I offer suggestions that will make a waiting room more inviting. Other spaces in the workplace will receive a treatment that will make them more attractive to clients as well as employees. Remember, hanging art creatively showcases the artwork and enhances the space.

Have you ever noticed how some pieces of art seem to have mysteriously disappeared into the walls? Moving objects around refreshes the attention we give to them. The same principle applies to framed art. That is why it is important that you rotate your wall display often, at least twice a year. It will be a stimulating experience because it establishes new relationships between the pieces of art, you and your environment. The arrival of newly framed art can sometimes be the opportunity to do just that.

The benefits of a professional installation include:

• Saves time and gives you peace of mind
• Provides a safe and reliable art installation
• Gives you expert advice for the placement of your framed art
• Upgrades your existing frames that need it
• Teaches ways to help prevent deterioration of your art
• Renews the experience with the art

I have made installation services an integral part of the custom framing services offered at City Frames. The installation service is available to residential and business customers, and I can install new and older framed art.

Installation services can be recommended to friends and businesses that are relocating or remodeling their current location. Your recommendation will always be greatly appreciated!

For more information, please call me at 303 249-3333.

Concerning the Bees

2008-07-17T14:23:00.021-06:00

"Concerning the Bees" is a mixed-media painting by award-winning artist Karen Eide. In this piece, she used a complex combination of oils, pigments and encaustics. Ms. Eide, a Virginia resident, shows nationally, including at Denver's Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Her artwork can be seen on her website: www.kareneide.com.

The design is a shadowbox in which the artwork is floated over an invisible platform that is mounted on the background. The artwork, originally painted edge to edge, was ideal for this type of presentation.

One benefit of floating the artwork is that the painting can be entirely revealed. It is also an opportunity to add depth as well as "animate" the presentation. As you walk by the framed piece, it seems to come to life. The use of Museum Glass, which eliminates reflections, gives an even stronger presence to the art.

The subject matter, the subtle mix of transparent wax, glowing pigments and glittery metallic components inspired our selection of framing materials. The soft finish of the frame echoes the tones used by the artist. For the textured background and side spacers, I used an ivory coarse linen.

Elaborate in its construction, this design still conveys a feeling of natural simplicity.
The frame is Ivory Zen from the Larson Juhl collection. The Zen series offers clean contemporary profiles in harmonious shades of neutral metallics. Zen is available in two profiles, and three finishes, with matching fillets.

Related resources:
http://www.kareneide.com
http://www.larsonjuhl.com

La Rochelle: Honeysuckle, French Ivory...

2008-07-11T13:57:00.008-06:00

Named after one of the most attractive coastal towns on France’s Atlantic coast, La Rochelle is a charming seaport lined with colored boats that sit in front of the fourteenth-century towers that used to protect it. Eighteenth-century homes in pale stone line the old town centre, some half-timbered with distinctive Rochelais-style slates overlapping one another. All around are sun-drenched hues and weathered surfaces, a look achieved only by time and nature.

The La Rochelle Collection is a tribute to the unspoiled beauty of this coastal town whose colors and textures inspired the creation of this unique moulding collection.

The La Rochelle Collection is available in four profiles and four finishes: Autumn Trail, Honeysuckle, French Ivory, Chocolate Truffle.

Lucerne

2008-07-11T10:10:00.018-06:00

Named for the lake Lucerne in Switzerland, this new collection pays homage to the fluidity and movement of the lake with soft, deep, natural tones.

Lucerne was officially launched in April 2008. Corner samples and stock of the moulding have only been made available now. Lucerne is an important addition to Larson Juhl's Craig Ponzio collection of frames, and it is, by all means, an exciting addition to City Frames' collection as well.

The simple contemporary lines of Lucerne make it attractive to the artist, the interior designer and the residential framing customers, with art from classic to contemporary styles.

The Lucerne collection features four luxurious finishes and three profiles, enhanced with subtle hand-hewn texture. Lucerne includes a cassetta-style profile (note the wide panel and sculptural shape of the largest profile) which creates a dramatic look, drawing your eye to the artwork.

Lucerne is the perfect choice for the quality presentation of your original drawings, prints and paintings.

Lucerne is available in four finishes:

Topaz: soft, slightly burnished gold with red undertones
Onyx: deep black softened by a waxy patina
Sage: warm, buttery green
Burgundy: rich red, the color of aged mulberry.

Photos credit: Larson Juhl.

5th Year Celebration!

2008-05-12T09:21:00.021-06:00

The weather is supposed to be nice this Friday (partly cloudy), with an exceptional micro-climate on the patio! The party will be from 5 to 8PM, this Friday, May 16th. There will be a salad bar, beverages, boules* and wonderful company (as always). Thank you for joining me in celebrating a successful journey before and going forward at City Frames!

Time went by without notice... and it is hard to believe that City Frames has already passed the 4-year mark! I established City Frames in the Zang mansion in February 2004. My initial advertising was done door to door with flyers. The first year, I distributed over 10,000 flyers and I made a lot of new friends! The shop was busy from week one. Since, the clientèle has grown beyond Colorado.

After hearing over and over from people saying that a business that is still around beyond 4 years is an accomplishment in itself, I decided that the time has come to gather everyone and celebrate! From what I understand, half the new businesses die in their first 3 years, and another 50% quit before reaching a 5th year. Additionally, since everybody is talking about recession and economic meltdown, I feel that it is really time to have some fun!

Celebrating a 5th year with City Frames does not go without deep gratitude toward every customer that has come to the shop. I am awed by the level of support that this little business has been receiving. The success of City Frames is entirely due to a constant flow of repeat and referred customers. Every year, I have received a new generation of referred customers.

I hope that you can join the celebration this Friday, May 16, from 5 to 8 on the back patio of the Zang mansion at 709 Clarkson Street. Please RSVP via the email form or by phone + "texto" to 303 249-3333.

Joseph

(*) Boules: Also called "Pétanque", played with metal baseball-size balls and one small "Cochonnet", is the best game to learn about village gossips and a few words of French slang... But make no mistake: Pétanque is considered to be a national sport and it has very strict rules!

Preserving Nature While Preserving Art

2008-04-29T18:21:00.018-06:00

Like other industries, the picture framing industry needs to help minimize human damage to the planet. Roma Moulding recognizes the need for progress in that direction.

Roma Moulding is one of City Frames' main sources for picture frames. So, information on what steps Roma takes to help preserve the environment is of great interest to me and my customers.

With the attached flyer (click on the picture for a larger view), and more detailed information available on its website, Roma is at the forefront of communication about this subject. What clearly sets Roma apart is the product's design qualities, the authenticity of the European culture that inspires the products, and a proactive attitude about health and environmental impact.

For example, when tested for lead content, Roma's mouldings scored below the allowed limits. Products from other manufacturers sometimes reached levels 5 1/2 times above the recommended lead content limit. Roma also believes in developing a production and a delivery process that supports healthy forest management; therefore, Roma products are made with woods that are obtained from active reforestation programs.

Even a small frame shop like City Frames can influence its industry by selecting materials with consideration for environmental impact.

The quality of custom picture framing materials can no longer be solely based on design and price. Beauty begins in nature.

New Site and New Blog

2008-03-12T18:03:00.017-06:00

City Frames has a newly designed website, www.cityframes.net with a link to this new blog http://cityframes.blogspot.com. I invite you to visit them frequently and to share the addresses with all your friends!

This blog is an extension of the website and its purpose is to share framing news, testimonials, design ideas, and practical tips about framing art.

There are two ways you can stay connected with this blog: via bookmark in your web browser or via email notifications. Let me know in the Contact Form if you wish to receive email notifications when I post a new article on this blog.

This blog will feature designs and testimonials from customers who ordered them. If you already are a City Frames customer, I invite you to submit a testimonial about your framing experience at City Frames. You can do so by submitting a comment to this article and I will publish it along with images relating to works I have done for you in the past. You can also use the Contact Form on the website.

Cheers!

Tuscany

2008-03-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Tuscany is an inspiring aged moulding from Larson Juhl. Reminiscent of antique Italian furniture, this moulding features embossed patterns and distressing. Tuscany’s four profiles and two fillets* have a time-worn appearance and are available in two finishes: Dark Italian Walnut and Italian Creme. The Dark Italian Walnut finish is traditional in style with a rich waxed surface, creating a “cozy elegance”. The Italian Creme finish is a natural wood-tone with an earthy, neutral gray-beige wash that is a perfect complement for landscapes. City Frames offers an extensive selection of Italian frames from Larson Juhl and from Roma Moulding. (*) Fillets are elegant thin mouldings that can be used to match, enhance, or contrast a frame. Fillets are traditionally used inside the opening of a mat to echo the outer frame. Personally, I also find interesting to play with non-matching fillets directly inside a frame to bring values otherwise missing in the design.

Framing Memories

2008-02-12T14:24:00.007-07:00

"Stellar presentation! A copy of a very small format original photograph was digitally created and framed as a gift for my brother and his family. The gift was well-received, to say the least. My brother's family put the picture in the family room, where they see it every day. My brother's wife loved the choice to present the antique photo as if it were displayed in an old family photo album. What a great design choice! I'll continue to come to City Frames, and I'll also highly recommend you to all of my friends." - T. Miller, Denver.

The design for this project was strongly inspired by the pages of antique family photo albums: cut-out window, photo corners, etc. For our design, we created a 4" x 6" digital copy of the wallet-size original photo. We replicated the unevenly cut edges of the original photograph and then it was put in place with acid-free paper corners.

The matting was created with two layers of Crescent® Pearl Gray, with the top mat slightly raised. The photograph was mounted with paper corners. The frame is a 3/4" Metro Urban Silver Leaf from Roma Moulding, and the final size is 10" x 13"

Framing family photos holds a very special place at City Frames. The value of personal memorabilia is not measurable. I am always deeply honored to be trusted with handling and framing them.

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