Frames are individually made for each painting, the type and colour of gold chosen to suit the colours in the painting and the gesso finish on ungilded areas is painted – built up in layers and glazes of colour – again to reflect the tones and colours within the work.
Frames can also be finished with hand coloured gesso without gilding.
A painting back home with its new frame.
“The Witterings”
Oil on board by David Atkins
….. For some twenty years I helped run Alresford Gallery owned by Norman Sanson. The first ten years was with my partner, Brian Knowler who also painted; the second ten years I ran the gallery on my own. I spent that time surrounded by paintings as we made exhibitions, absorbing colour, tone, light, composition. I feel that the work of making, colouring and gilding frames leads on from that.
I love the craft of making the frames. The process of gilding has remained largely unchanged over the centuries and this is another factor that appeals to me. That together with the ‘paraphernalia’, the stuff of gilding; I love the tools, the gold leaf, making the gesso, laying down the gold. And I love the challenge of building up the colour in layers and glazes of paint to complement the tones and colours within each painting. Yes, I love the work and the satisfaction that it brings.