Hand carved ornamental frames

Size: 14,5'' x 9,5'' - 37cm x 24cm

Material: Walnut Wood

Ever since people discovered and have been creating art, we have searched for a way to bound and exhibit it. Frames first appeared in 2nd century B.C. as simple line borders drawn around cave paintings.

In Antiquity, there was less division between the terms "fine" art and craftsmanship. In Medieval times carvers/framemakers were unknown craftsman, with their own skills and talents, several might be involved in the making of a single frame. During this period painters generally had little input into the total design. As the position of artists and framers gradually adjusted, framing design was left more and more into the hands of artists.

By the Renaissance, artists had large workshops, making it difficult to determine exactly whose hand was responsible for what. The craft of art was not as separate from its philosophy, as it is today. There was little difference in status between artist and framemakers. Successful painters, sculptors and architects were taking commissions for frame designs.

These works of ornamental nature are emerging again today into the light of popularity. Truthfully they never lost the relation with the general public, who was left confounded in the art of the 20th century.

As frame designer, my work represents interplay between ornamental gesture and symbolic expression.

The ornament in its basic has transformation and movement. Transforming flat surfaces with rhythm and meaning. Take away its meaning and is reduced to simple form. Greek root for the word is "kosmeo' from which comes cosmos. Therefore, ornaments have an ordering function tied to the order of the universe. In many cultures ornamental objects are used both to ward off evil and to induce spirituality.

The symbols form an expression of personal ideas or emotions, rather than to represent the natural surrounding world in its objectiveness. It escapes reality by dreams and visions through form and composition.

From this symbiosis is born the art of creating frames populated with mysterious creatures, fantastical and mythological stories come alive.