SCRUMPTIOUS SGRAFITTOS! Think Outside the Frame. When I pontificate about changing up the closed-corner frames on your wall, I am more than willing to stand right there with you. A few years back, my friend @cfhayback was framing (I believe) an Asian garment for a client. He wanted a truly unique design for the piece. We hit on the idea of “scratching” a different Chinese Hanzi character on each panel. The design was then brought to life by Sebastian & Hernan at Quattro Frames (who are used to my crazy concepts). Quattro’s execution far exceeded my expectations and Chuck’s client was blown away by the finished piece! (Photo shows the frame still in process.)
SCRUMPTIOUS SGRAFITTOS! A TattSgraf Thursday Throwback. All week long, I’ve stressed that framers should embrace the idea of selecting different color panels when ordering closed-corner gilded sgrafitto frames. About 25 years ago (and purely because I was bored with black panels), I started changing up the colors on newer Regence sgrafitto styles. Fast forward to 2010 & I designed an entire new series of tattoo-inspired sgrafitto frames at AMCI-Regence. Of course, I pulled out a different color panel for each piece. Thankfully, my framer peeps embraced this ‘radical departure’!
SCRUMPTIOUS SGRAFITTOS! Wednesday Works-in-Progress. Regardless of whether a true historical reproduction sgrafitto design or a modern, original or historically-inspired pattern has been ordered, the method is the same. The desired section of the frame is sanded, gessoed, has clay applied and is gilded with real gold leaf (22K or 12K in most cases). Once this has cured and been burnished, a layer of paint is applied over the gold (black is a popular choice, but many colors are available). Once dry, the preferred pattern is sketched on top … and the fun begins! In most cases, a simple, sharpened piece of wood is used to remove the paint and reveal the gold beneath. That’s what’s happening in these images.
(From top left @quebracho_inc , Quattro Frames, @goldleaf_framemakers and @lucie_dru_smith for @bryansmithframes .)
SCRUMPTIOUS SGRAFITTOS! Two Classically-Influenced for Tuesday. Yesterday, I commented that most every closed-corner frame maker welcomes the opportunity to specialize their frames. While that’s true, they also LOVE it when you order ‘right off the menu.’ Most every maker of hand carved and gilded frames offers a selection of sgrafitto designs. A few create true historical reproduction pieces but most of these frame companies, like @cdnv , offer their clients modern takes on the classics (otherwise known as historically-influenced). Regardless of which ones you pick, they’re all beautiful!
SCRUMPTIOUS SGRAFITTOS. When I speak with framers about selling closed-corner frames, I stress that offering to customize the frame to the client’s art will (quite often) help close the sale. Specialty orders can also hold appeal to the frame maker. During my time at Regence, I loved it when a special project came in as it broke up the ‘monotony’ of the usual production. On occasion, these one-offs also inspired future collections so I welcomed each one. I know each of my custom frame maker friends feels the same way. For instance, Rhonda Feinman created this “Stars” sgrafitto frame specifically for this painting at the client’s request. Stunning! To me, this is sgrafitto perfection.
GOOD AS GOLD (Metal Leaf)! For this week’s final post, I decided to shake things up and share a super funky set from @wickedtackyframes . While I’m an obvious fan of 22K, I am also a proponent of yellow metal leaf as a viable, less-costly alternative to real gold. When designing her WTF Collection, Leia purposely committed to using only metal leaf for both the variety of available colors and to keep the final cost accessible to her fellow framers. As can be seen in this set, metal leaf also gives Leia the artistic freedom to get as ‘kitschy’ as she wants! “The frames are so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
GOOD AS GOLD! Today’s Trio comes courtesy of @rch_carving_frames in Mt. Vernon, NY. I asked Hector to capture two or three of has favorite “playful” contemporary gold styles. He sent me a few different arrays, but this photo featuring three modern pieces best reflected the assignment. I absolutely love the top one (with images of Eacher running through my mind). And the bottom two? Even though they are variations on the same design, each seems to have its own distinctive personality. Coolness.
GOOD AS GOLD! For today’s share, I asked of @lopezrestorations to find his most “out there” frame style and send me a pic. The one caveat was that it has to be a design that actually sells. You can imagine my skepticism when I saw this photo. “Framers really order this?” He assured me that he wasn’t kidding and then proceeded to send a pic of two frames currently in production! I was honestly surprised. When I first saw the design, I immediately thought “Middle Earth.” Now that I’ve sat with it, I’m starting to see uses…
GOOD AS GOLD! For today’s twofer, let’s head to Quattro Frameworks to check out this new dynamic duo. The traditional Hicks look has long been in need of an upgrade and Sebastian & Hernan have accepted the challenge. Using tighter ridges and, in the case of the front-facing bottom piece, replacing the expected block corner with a carved element, this always classic look feels reinvigorated!
GOOD AS GOLD! This week I’m focusing my attention on modern & left-of-center 22k frames. First up is @zielloinc out of Brooklyn. This super-creative closed-corner collective has been setting the custom frame industry on fire since @wcafexpo 2025. If you were fortunate enough to meet this fun team in Vegas or Orlando, you walked away with the immediate understanding that theirs are NOT your grandparents’ gold leaf designs! The Ziello crew is total comfortable shaking things up in the high-end realm. Stand back …
‘ARTISTIC FREEDOM’ FRAMED RIGHT! I read years ago that Picasso’s “Crayola” series was inspired by the unfiltered and joyful creativity of children. Any parent who has proudly affixed a child’s drawing to the refrigerator knows of what Picasso speaks. In my sales classes, I religiously suggest that every child’s drawing brought in for framing should be treated like a Picasso. As such, I was super excited when I saw that @spark_frames recently reposted this ‘properly’ framed child’s piece from @finishingtouchesri . I love it when a picture framer “gets it!” 🥹
NO REST FOR THE WICKED (Tacky Frames)! By customer request, I asked Leia Scotton to send me a picture of her white @wickedtackyframes samples grouped together. Now, she’s been sharing these styles for years but this is the first time I’ve seen the two looks interchanged like this. Wow. Talk about a split (design) personality! These finishes are about as stylistically opposite as you can get. It is kind of a cool glimpse inside Leia’s right hemisphere though … and only a little disturbing. 😉
