Do you have a budding Picasso?

Come in and see the framing possibilities for your child’s beautiful artwork. We can take your child’s piece of art and turn it into a museum quality presentation piece. You will have a truly one-of-a-kind memory. We will show you how to choose a frame that relates to the color and size of the art. Mats will be chosen that blend with the background and bring the colors out. And conservation glass will protect the artwork for years to come. Adding a fillet, stacking moulding, and layering mats can all create perspectives that will enhance the artwork. And for those three-dimensional creations, we recommend shadowboxes.

Here is an example from one of our customers:

"For many years, I saved a couple of pieces of art my daughter, Clare, created when she was a young child, intending to "get them framed" and hang them in our home. New to the area, I had no idea where to have these special pieces completed. I visited Framewoods of Topeka to purchase a present for a friend, and was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and accomodating the staff were. I knew this was the place to have Clare's pictures framed. When I broght the pievutres by, I never felt rushed or hurried. They were ther to help me, advise me and to complete what my daughter had started years agao. the listened to what I said and I now have two lovely, colorful pieces of art that I will treasure forever. A huge thanks to the staff of Framewoods for the loving care they game my "treasures" and for the love and kindness they showed me!!!" -- Laura Richardson (pictured)

Children’s art provides endless possibilities. We can help you frame the art for your child’s room or for your living room or family room. Anything goes. Incorporating the design elements and colors of the art to coordinate with the room it will be displayed in is our specialty. Boost your child’s self esteem and, at the same time, have a beautiful memory of a special project. Make this an educational experience as well. Bring your children with you and we will show your family how we can turn their art into a real masterpiece for all to see in your home.

Artist Nancy Whitaker

Nancy's homages to the Kansas sunset and sunrise is on display in the Loft at Southiwnd Gallery.

Nancy is an accomplished painter and member of a number of prestigious arts organizations, including: Kansas Academy of Oil Painters, Wichita Women Artists, National oil and Acrylic Painters Society, American Plans Artists and associate member of Oil Painters of America (OPA). Her work has been selected from many exhibits, including: 2004 National Small Oil Exhibit, Regional Show-Eldorado; Wichita Garden Show; 2006 and 2007 national Oil and Acrylic Painters Exhibit; 2006 American Plains Exhibit and the 22nd Annual Conservatory Classic, Clifton, Texas. Her works also have been shown at Carriage Factory, Larksfield, Wichita City Arts and the Wichita Center for the Arts. Nancy’s continuing art education includes workshops with artists Matt Smith, Dan Gerhartz, Mark Flickinger, Tom Lockhart and Kim English. Nancy is a graduate of the St. Francis School of Nursing, Wichita; The Wichita Clinic School of Anesthesia; and Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas.

Design: What a Difference a Frame Makes

From fancy gold leaf to colorful textures, frames are now available in an incredible selection—but how do you choose the right one for your picture?

The style and size of the frame should be coordinated with the artwork and any matting or other decorative elements that will be used. The goal is a balanced design that enhances and provides a good presentation for the art, without overwhelming it.

Whether seeking period authenticity or eclectic flair, or anything in between, there is a line of frame mouldings to suit every style. Some people use narrow, contemporary frames on all of their art, while others enjoy the elegance and drama of wide, ornate mouldings, even on small artwork. The best framing for each piece of art evolves from a combination of personal preference, current fashion, and cultural traditions.

Framewoods has special software that can help you visualize the finished frame design. A corner sample just isn’t enough to give you the complete picture when you are framing art. Visit us today and let the Framewoods professionals show you how our technology will give you a virtual picture of your frame design—before you purchase it!

Visit Framewoods and try several different mouldings on a picture you want to have framed. Notice how different mouldings affect the appearance of the art: some look important, some look formal, others playful. There are many possibilities and looking is fun!

Artist Mary Binford Miller

Mary's masterful oil paintings which capture the beauty of western people and animals are currently showing in the SouthWind Gallery Loft.
Having grown up in Liberal, Kansas, Mary received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Kansas State University. She spent 17 years in the commercial art field as a fashion illustrator and graphic designer for the largest newspapers in Oklahoma and Kansas.

During her commercial art years she also painted commissioned portraits and figurative work while attending workshops given by noted painters Everett Raymond Kinstler, David Leffel and Daniel Gerhartz. Along with her figurative work, Mary also produces western genre paintings of buffaloes, cowboys, horses and landscapes.

Mary has been surrounded by master level paintings her entire life. Her inspiration comes from her Great Uncle, Wayman Adams, who was an accomplished painter and lithographer who practiced in Indiana, New York and Texas. Wayman met her Aunt, Margaret Graham Boroughs, also an accomplished painter, in William Merritt Chase’s painting class in Italy.

John Singer Sargent, Jules Bastien-Lepage, Nicolai Fechin, as well as a host of other American and French artists continue to be her inspiration. Kansas City born, Abstract Expressionist, Paul Jenkins, and his love of color, has been a big influence on her as well. Mary aspires to produce fine art at the level of these master painters. Mary is professionally represented by the Southwind Gallery of Topeka, Kansas.

Creating a Picture Wall - displaying your collection artfully.

We received several comments during the First Friday Art Walk featuring Gary Ozias about the way of several pieces were artfully displayed on the wall. The talented artist Gary Ozias presented several small pieces so we were faced with the challenge of hanging them for a show. As art patrons  this is an ideal way to hang an opportunity add to your collection as well. So, let me tell you a little about how to select and hang your own collection in your home because a picture wall can also be a significant design element in your home or office and a great source of enjoyment. 


Creating a Picture Wall

A picture wall displays a group of framed items in a coordinated design. The frames may all be the same style or the same color, but most often a picture wall includes a variety of different frames. The artwork may be united by a theme: vacation photos, a collection of sports memorabilia, family portraits. Or they may be connected by subject matter: coastal scenes depicted in photos, watercolor paintings, old engravings, and other media. Color can be the unifying factor, and color-themed picture walls have a lot of impact, bringing the coolness of blue or the vibrancy of red strongly into the room. Collectors of posters, etchings, photographs or watercolors can develop a picture wall to show the variety within their collection. But some of the best picture walls display a very eclectic mix of sizes, colors and styles that reflects a range of personal preferences and experiences. And it doesn't have to be limited to pictures: an arrangement can be enhanced by including mirrors, shelves, or objects in the mix.

When placing several different sizes of frames and art together, arrange each piece so that one outside edge is in line with another picture next to it, either vertically or horizontally. This technique helps bring a sense of balance to the grouping. Keep the space between frame edges fairly small, typically about two to four inches; this will visually "gather the group together". The grouping can build from the center and spread out in all directions. Or you can plan to have it develop into a rectangular shape. An irregular shape is very useful if you are likely to add to the wall after the first design is finished.

One thing about a picture wall: it involves a few nail holes. If you are a bit anxious about making those holes in the right spot the first time, there are a couple of ways to determine your spacing before hanging: try organizing the picture arrangement on the floor in front of the wall where it will hang, then hang the pieces one-by-one. To get a more accurate visualization, cut pieces of newspaper to the size of the framed items and tape them to the wall with removable tape.

When hanging pictures above a sofa, be sure that the bottom of the lowest frame leaves clearance for the head of a seated person. But don't go any higher, or the pictures will seem to be floating instead of visually attached to the sofa. If there is no furniture against the picture wall, and there are a number of frames, the arrangement can cover the entire wall from ceiling to floor for a dramatic presentation.

Light is necessary to enjoy the picture wall, but avoid direct sunlight or other strong direct light on the art. Keep track lighting and overhead picture lights away from close contact with artwork-heat from the bulbs can cause damage to the art, and fluorescent lights (including the new compact curly bulbs) may cause fading of some artwork.

Choose a wall and gather a few of your favorite images and you will be on your way!

Framewoods also provides professional picture hanging services, so if you are not a DIY type of person give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you display your collection.

Framewoods of Topeka is Helping to Fight Hunger in America

Tru Vue and Framewoods of Topeka have joined forces to help fight hunger in America through the Museum Glass® Feeds America promotion.  This campaign is designed to help make a difference in the lives of the 1 in 8 Americans now struggling with hunger. 

Every time, Framewoods of Topeka offers Museum Glass to its customers through the Scratch, Give and Win promotion, Tru Vue will match the donation revealed on the redeemed scratch-off card.  The Museum Glass Feeds America promotion makes it easy for framers and consumers to collectively make a difference. 

By participating in the Museum Glass Feeds America promotion, custom picture framers and their customers will help generate up to $25,000 in donations to Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org), the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity that secures food and funding for local food banks in every state.  This equates to 175,000 meals to individuals and families in need.

To learn more about how you can help, bring in an item to be custom framed at Framewoods of Topeka or visit our website at www.framewoods.com.

And watch this short about Tru Vue Museum Glass® and their Feeds America promotion

"Coming Home" by Gary Ozias - A One-man Show Featuring New Works

"Coming Home"
A One-man Show Featuring New Works
by
Gary Ozias

 

Opening Reception
Friday, October 2, 2009
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
SouthWind Gallery
29th & Oakley
Meet featured artist Gary Ozias
Experience great art
Sip a glass of wine courtesy of Vision Bank
Savor some decadent chocolates from

Hazel Hill Chocolates

"These (new) paintings are a wonderful addition to Gary Ozias' body of work and have created an exciting buzz among long-time collectors of his paintings... Gary Blitsch

About the Artist:
Gary Ozias was born in Missouri and raised in Massachusetts, but has spent most of his life in Downs, Kansas, where he taught language arts. Gary has been painting since the 1970s, and has established himself as a popular regional painter with a long list of awards to his credit. His work is in public and private collections throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. 

Gary works in a variety of media, but most of his recent work has been in pastels and oils.  Whether he's painting the vast Flint Hills, the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, or a lone buffalo in repose on the prairie, he evokes a specific sense of time and place that engages the viewer in what is reassuringly familiar as well as that which is unknowable in nature.

Some of his oil paintings in this exhibit have a slightly looser style and a rich, evocative color pallet. These more stylized paintings are a powerful addition to his body of work and have created an exciting buzz among long-time collectors of his paintings. With the "Coming Home" exhibit, SouthWind Gallery has curated an irresistible mix of Gary's' latest work! 
 
Sneek Peek Online>>

The exhibit runs through  November 15, 2009.