dlq04

I recycle a lot of art frames and according to my inventory notes I had a couple 16x20s but when I went looking for them…. no where to be found. Probably used them with some of the paintings I was helping the grandkids with. Anyways, I thought I'd swing by Michael's and pick one up for a few bucks for my latest. The selection sucked but I found one that wasn't too bad and I had pre-printed a 40% off coupon. Get to the register and she's says that will be $63 with the discount. WTF. No way. $99 bucks for a 16x20! So I don't buy it. Come home and started looking up frames on Google. Holly molly, prices have really gone up and the frames, at least to me, look piss poor….. mostly just plain wood. I saw two I liked online, one was $100 and the other $150. What the heck happened to good looking but inexpensive made-in-Mexico frames?

joncallihan

China.


Jon

Google told me about these frame makers:

http://www.frameusa.com/

They look pretty reasonable.

dlq04

I did more shopping. Ended up back a Michaels since they were having a 50% off sale for custom frames. All they had to offer was wood frames, mostly black, with no added detail and if so it was very minor. That's all I could find anywhere. I have always believed that the frame was equal to the painting in presentation. I had a long discussion with the lady and learned I was 'out of date'! But then she totally agreed with me that straight wood only one color frames do nothing to enhance a oil painting. Great for photos, prints, etc. under glass but for art work I want more. So I ended buying the one I looked at yesterday with 'out of date' cloth in the border. When the girl rang it up it was $30 less than yesterday - go figure. From now on I'm thinking I should paint the edges and go frameless.

Lainey

I've purchased a few here:
Craig's Prices might be reasonable, but shipping gets pricey. You are right, mostly plain frames in the stores. I had a couple frames that had a little more to them that I purchased a few years ago.

I generally shop at Michael's when they have their 50% off sale. Sometimes they even have a coupon for additional $ off, even on sales items.

dlq04

That looks pretty good. I tested out the 2" country brown frame (combo brown & black… at least it had some style to it). It was only $30 something with 8.50 shipping; so under $40.

dlq04

Phone snope art - this one made me

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...hq?ft=1&f=1001

MsPerky

It's been awhile since I posted any +1 paintings. He's not painting as much lately. But here are three pretty recent ones. I especially like the lighthouse.

dlq04

Sorry to hear he's slowed down.... only three at a time now. All winter long and I only got one done. Now that's slow. They look good.

MsPerky

There are some new paintings I need to post, but thought I would pass along that the +1 took five of his paintings to his Navy office as part of an auction for the Combined Federal Campaign (Federal charity). Peeps are fighting over them! He told me that the ones with people (two of them) are the most popular. The other three are a cardinal, a hummingbird and a hibiscus. They are hanging in the lobby of his floor, but everyone from all over is coming to see them. I expect the bids will go up considerably by the time the auction ends in Dec. This is one that I posted above. It was hard to pick out some, but we have been overwhelmed with paintings in this apartment!

MsPerky

Also, RIP Jon Callihan. He posted often to this thread.