It's all about the Frame

Each of my paintings is framed, but there’s a twist:  I build and paint the frames myself.  I actually consider the frame to be part of the piece so I extend the theme beyond the actual painting.  My intention is to make my work less “predictable” and therefore when some someone sees my work in a living room, den or office, it creates more interest.

The Plan:

In a perfect world I’m a master craftsman with a wood shop stocked with an extensive array of killer tools.  Now we all know perfection is perception.  Don’t get me wrong, each frame is lovingly put together by me and I’m no slouch around a saw.  Imagine Geppetto hand crafting Pinocchio - only imagine this in a garage adorned with garbage cans, recycling bins, garden tools and paint cans.  You see, my garage is my wood shop when the family car is gone.  My tools have been carefully selected – through a lifetime of household projects.

Yes, I’m an urban fat guy with a miter saw, glue and some nails.  I don’t use my plumbing wrench, though my wife says she sees my plumbers butt on occasion.  I’m proud of the fact that I often use vintage wood (this is not a weird middle aged man metaphor) – I just happen to love recycled materials.  I think it adds to the “historic” theme I’m looking for.  

Thank you for reading.  It helps in my creative process and I find it to be somewhat cathartic.

P.S.  I also posted an old John Riggins painting from the 1980’s.  I call it “The Diesel.”  I painted it for my Dad’s office, but he’s retired now and it was collecting dust in my parents basement.