Exeter Fine Arts

custom framing in Exeter, NH

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:01:26 +0000

The Framery and Gallery at Decor Antiques in Exeter, NH uses only acid free backing and mats with appro[riate glass to enhance and protect your fine art. Also, frame and painting restoration

More on Custom Framing

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:42:23 +0000

Custom framing is framing that is specifically done to enhance and protect a particular piece of art. All of the components of the framing that go into the framing are sized and cut to the art.

Custom framing is usually done by a professional framer. The professional framer works with the client to select the proper mounting, matting glass, frame and hanging hardware. The custom framer can be depended upon to work with the client using his expertise to provide framing that will protect your artwork and display it in the best possible way.

This professional framer guides the client. This type of framing cannot be achieved with off the shelf framing components. Custom framing now is far superior to even what it was even a few years ago. Mounting boards, tapes, what it was even a few years ago. Mounting boards, tapes, mats and glass are much improved. Mats are buffered to a ph neutral or ideally rag. Glass provides more clarity and UV protection. Special barriers are available to prevent acid seepage from the wooden frame and backing papers (dust covers) are now available with acid-free paper.

As opposed to big box employees the framers in most custom shops are professionals based on their background, training, and ability to provide state of the art framing. They should be able to advise on current color trends and styles, additional precautions to be taken with more valuable artwork and, more importantly, the right treatment for the historical time period of the art. In addition to the standard mat presentation of single double and even more multiple mats other enhancements of the mats should be considered. These include v-grooves, kobe corners, French lines and panels and fillets. The types of picture glass have become a major consideration. Among the choices are standard glass, etched non-glare glass, UV glass to protect from UV rays, UV non-glare glass, museum glass and on and on. Each type of glass is more expensive than the previous so selection should be based on what is necessary and each individual case, what is affordable to the client, keeping in mind that quality increases with price. The professional custom picture framer always considers the method to be used to hang the art. There are on the market a variety of hangers that the framer may select to properly hang the art.Considerations are the weight and size of the art, the composition of the hanging wall and the ability to adjust for height and level.

Custom framing is an asset to art as a professional custom framer has the ability and sources of supply to correctly frame your art to enhance its value and beauty and to preserve it for the future.

Our experienced professionals also clean, repair, and restore paintings and antique picture frames. The restoration of oil paintings can include repairing tears, relining, cleaning, and in-painting missing paint. The restoration of picture frames, architecturals and furniture includes stabilizing, replacing broken or missing parts, and applying the appropriate finish. Gilders will repair or replace gold leaf, metal leaf, and apply powders and the appropriate wood finish as needed.

CUSTOM FRAMING

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:27:11 +0000

Custom framing is generally understood to be framing by professional framer with access to a large selection of mats and frames. The professional framer should have the experience to help you select the proper materials to enhance and protect your valuable art or keepsakes. Ready- made and home- made framing quite often is too restrictive for proper framing and generally is used only as a cost saving alternative. Exeter Fine Arts uses only conservation materials so they can be considered the norm for the following discussions.

Paper art, which includes watercolors, prints, keepsake letters, cards and occasionally an oil or acrylic painting, will usually be matted and under glass. The matting should complement the art and not overwhelm it and the colors should not not clash with the clients expected location for hanging.

Custom Picture Framing: Why?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:35:19 +0000

  This is Leo Desroches, owner of the Framery and Gallery at Decor Antiques. Hello!
  Decor is a very diversified art gallery with a hand in many corners of the art business, including custom picture framing, frame and art restoration, and sales of antique frames and art. Our newest endeavor is writing in this space about what we do, in the hope of demystifying the processes involved in our daily work for those who find it confounding, intriguing or both.
  The experience of having an item custom-framed for the first time and on a budget can seem an alien one. To address this experience, I’ll start my discussion with topics related to custom picture framing, the practice of protecting and enhancing artworks. In time, I’ll speak to all of the following:

1. Custom Framing
2. Antique Frames
3. Contemporary Frames
4. Basic Matting
5. Matting With Cloth and Other Fabrics
6. Mounting artwork
7. Glass Types and Uses
8. Sealing and Protecting the Artwork
9. Hanging Possibilities
10. Pricing

I strongly encourage reader feedback, and I look forward to answering your questions if I can.

Exeter, NH, U.S. maps at Decor

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:42 +0000

We realized our maps weren’t selling because we hadn’t put them up for sale. Womp womp.
So while we’re thinking of it, here are some great antique maps of Exeter, of New Hampshire and of the United States, expertly framed by yours truly. — Decor

Lincoln at Decor

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:58:17 +0000

    On the eve of the 200-year-mark since Abe Lincoln’s birth (February 12, 1810), it seems fitting to highlight Lincoln-related items from our stock of historical prints and literature.
    Mr. Lincoln came to Exeter, NH (our fair city) in 1860 to visit his son Robert Todd, a student at Phillips Exeter Academy. During that visit the then-Presidential candidate made a memorable, extemporaneous speech at the Exeter Town Hall. (To note, he followed that speech with similar, commissioned ones in Dover and Portsmouth, but wisely spoke to Exonians free of charge, and secured the Presidency later that year). All of this and more is chronicled in 1929’s rare Abraham Lincoln in New Hampshire, for sale (among others) here. We’re still combing our wares for Lincoln stuff, so check back with us for updates.
    And bookmark us!
www.ExeterFineArt.com (our art framing site)
www.DecorAntiques.com (our everything else site)

On the Evolution of Conservation Framing

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:17:41 +0000

Until about 40 years ago, little thought was given to material longevity in the framing business. Finally, we in the framing industry realized that many of our framing materials (mats, backing, et al) were harming the art we meant to preserve. We hocked our untreated, acid-riddled mat board and began using new acid-free mats of varied grades. We tacked in basic foam board (and later, acid-free foam board) in the stead of good, old, cheap and trusty cardboard backer. The glass we used improved dramatically for clarity and protection from UV rays, fly balls and the other elements. We sealed the wood for our frames, thus preventing acid leakage from within.
Of course, all these advances in art preservation that we enjoy today are the result of constant tweaking; a framing job you took home ten or even five years ago might show signs of simply having been outmoded by today’s standards in framing. As in the medical field, if you want the best for your art, you’ll want the most knowledgable staff, the best tools and the sincerest care. This commitment to the health and preservation of our customers’ cherished art is what brings our customers back again and again. – Décor