Behind the Scenes: Captain America

Here is a behind the scenes look at creating an aluminum wrapped frame for a Captain America movie poster.  Everyday I handle art and frames with extra care.  The process is so delicate at times that it requires wearing white gloves throughout the framing.  It was a nice change to let loose and just take a hammer to a frame. I wanted this frame to mimic the background of the poster.  I started by joining an unfinished frame to be the base structure.  

Joining the base of the frame.

Poster mounted and ready for frame.

Next, I measured and rolled out the sheets of aluminum needed to wrap the frame.  Started wrapping the aluminum so that the wood was no longer visible.

Rolling out aluminum sheet.

Wrapping aluminum around unfinished frame.

Then the fun begins...hammering the aluminum to enforce all the creases of the frame and wrapping more aluminum to the other legs of the frame.

Hammering aluminum to enforce the folds

Wrapping more aluminum

Once the entire frame was wrapped...more hammering to distress the aluminum.

Hammering to distress

Frame waiting for final touches

Here is the completed frame!

Complete!

Custom Sgraffito Frame

A sunny day in the park makes a perfect engagement session. This amazing moment was captured by Justin Bass of Justin Bass Photography.  If you are looking for a wedding photographer you will not be disappointed. I guarantee you.


Now about the framing...This frame is the perfect demonstration of what we can do. We chose an old world frame style while giving the essence of modern touches. The frame was hand-crafted, finished-cornered and water-gilded (the oldest method of applying gold leaf.  Leafed only by hand, produces a luster and richness unmatched by any other method of gilding.)  with 22kt white gold by a master artisan.  It was finished off with a sgraffito (A technique where a top layer of color is scratched to reveal a color beneath.  the term comes from the Italian word Sgraffire meaning (literally) "to scratch".) leaf design on blue background throughout the frame. For an added personal touch the couple's names and wedding date were custom sgraffitto at the bottom. Custom framing is an old world trade and this frame showcases that.  In this case we wanted to add a touch of modern aesthetics, although it is hard to see in this picture the white gold was not antiqued as to show the brilliance of the gold which gives it the modern appeal. The piece also includes double silk mats with a fillet and UV filtered near zero reflection museum glass.

Close-up of custom name and date.