The Studio Shop Blog

The Studio Shop at 100! The Benson Years

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:07:00 +0000

The Studio Shop at 100! The Benson Years
(Third in a series of posts describing the 100 year history of The Studio Shop. The last post left off with John and Martha Benson purchasing the business in 1955 from Mrs. Carolyn Misselwitz (The Studio Shop at 100, The First Forty Years).

Previous posts:
The Early Years
The First Forty Years

Martha and John Benson were a young married couple with a one year old baby when they decided to give up the security of John’s teaching job to buy a small gallery and frame shop in Burlingame. It was 1955 and seeing a For Sale ad for The Studio Shop in the Chronicle offered the young couple with an opportunity that they had been hoping for. The art and framing business that they found would allow John and Martha to utilize their talents in art and woodworking, and also allow a certain freedom for their independent imaginations.

Martha’s father lent them $500 for the down-payment, and the Bensons took the leap of faith to own their own art and framing business. They bought the business from relatives of the founder, Dorothy Crawford, after she passed away in 1952. The Studio Shop’s tradition had been carried on by Dorothy’s brother, Sid Frink, and niece, Carolyn Misselwitz. John learned the craft of picture framing from Sid’s tutelage and quickly mastered the craft with his background in woodworking and photography. Always a true artisan, John completed everything by hand in the shop. He cut every mat, and moulding, and joined frames with the rabbit hide glue that had been used for centuries. The quality of a finished product was his ultimate goal, and he would never take a shortcut to get there. But John certainly did not run the business by himself.

Martha’s talents were an apt pairing for the business as well. Not only did she manage the store’s bookkeeping, merchandise, artwork, and gift items, but raised three young daughters to boot. Long before credit cards, and Quickbooks, Martha took care of all of the bookkeeping and invoicing with pen and paper. Together John and Martha dedicated themselves, and their business, to quality craftsmanship, creative design, and to customer service. They were a charismatic pair, and despite having a young family to raise, and a business to run, quickly became active members in the Burlingame community.

In the early 1960’s the Benson’s were able to purchase a home on Paloma Avenue, across from what was then Coolidge School. Janet remembers her Dad riding his bicycle by her classroom on the way to work, honking his horn as he passed by. John and Martha raised their three daughters in and around the shop, teaching and encouraging their creativity and craftsmanship. Even in the most frugal of times, John and Martha made sure the girls had art supplies with which to express their creativity. Until Janet was in high school, the couple worked six days a week. Sunday was left for church, grocery shopping, and garden work. In addition to teaching the girls about craftsmanship, art and framing, the philanthropic couple instilled in their daughters the importance of community, and giving back.

Both John and Martha were charter members of PPFA (Professional Picture Framers Association) in the 1960’s which was founded in Northern California and then expanded internationally. The PPFA established conservation standards in the picture framing industry with the use of acid free materials and UV glazing to insure the long term protection of framed artwork. Today, Studio Shop co-owner Carl Martin is president of the Northern California chapter of PPFA.

When John passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, he had over 55 years of perfect attendance at the Lions Club, and had donated well over 10 gallons of blood! He served on every position possible in the Lions, including a term as District Governor in 1982. Despite having three daughters, John was active in Boy Scouts, he was a Deacon at the Presbyterian Church, and his name is on a plaque in the Burlingame Main Library for serving as a trustee. Martha was active in the PTA and was also a Deacon at the Presbyterian Church. She served three terms (nine years) on the Burlingame Beautification Commission, and three terms on the Burlingame Civil Service Commission. Their unending spirit in giving time to philanthropy, running their own business, and raising three daughters, is a modern mystery!

For their years of service to the community, John and Martha were jointly awarded Burlingame Citizens of the Year in 1989. They were truly a beloved couple, for the quality of their work at The Studio Shop, for the continuity of their giving back, and for the gusto and heart with which they lived, and shared their lives.

By the late 1980’s John and Martha were nearing retirement, and their daughters Janet and Kristen took turns helping at the shop. In 1994 Janet and her husband Carl moved The Studio Shop to 1103 Burlingame Avenue, returning to the street where the business had begun 80 years before. Back on the main downtown avenue again, the business quickly grew. Happy to see the younger generation take the business into their own hands with such success and ambition, John and Martha soon retired.

As the business continued to grow in the 90s with the addition of a warehouse production facility and a later move to the gallery space at 244 Primrose, John and Martha would visit the shop almost daily to check that the “kids” were doing okay.

John passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, but not without attending his last party, hosted by his Burlingame Lions friends to honor John’s many years of achievement and service in the Burlingame community. It was a memorable evening attended by many friends and family from around the Bay Area.

As The Studio Shop enters its second century under the guidance of Benson daughters Janet and Kristen and Janet’s husband Carl, Martha continues to pay daily visits during her walks that keep her spry and healthy.

Introducing the Artisans at the Annex.

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:32:00 +0000

Since we are in the art and framing business at the Studio Shop, it is often the artists and the designers who get all of the attention. In this post I would like to take a moment to introduce and pay tribute to the artisans who work behind the scenes at the Annex with their craftsmanship and commitment to aesthetics. Most of the Annex staff come from a background in the arts, whether formally trained or self taught, they all are passionate about good design and creativity. These folks include Gary Mohan, framing manager; Steve Stowell, woodshop; Micah Paul, craftsman and designer extraordinare; Flora Demars-Owens, retail manager; Katrina Magowan, art consultant, designer and framer; Andrew Marshall, art handler, stock clerk and framer; and myself, Carl Martin, I do the paperwork, manage the website and try to insure that the Annex runs smoothly enabling everyone to perform their best. One other person that deserves mention here is Mike Lang, an independent framer who has partnered with the Studio Shop for almost three decades. We have a great team here and I am extremely grateful to be working with all of them.

If you're curious where the cutting edge of picture frame design is, well it is here with designer and framer Micah Paul. He has added technology into the picture frame world introducing micro-processors, lights and sound tracks to his already intricate designs. Here is Micah's tire tread frame designed around a movie poster for the Quentin Tarantino film Death Proof. It is lit from behind to recapture the ambience of a movie theater lobby with back lit movie posters.

We currently have three Micah Paul frames on display at the Annex, the Death Proof frame, the skull frame and the amazing handmade motorcycle chain frame made for a vintage Peugeot motorcycle poster.

Cowboy memorabilia frame
by Gary Mohan

Gary Mohan, framing manager at the Annex is a consummate craftsman with almost 30 years experience in the picture frame industry. Many of you already know him from working at the design
table with custom projects designing frames for memorabilia frames, tapestries, family photos and fine artwork.

Mike Lang is an independent picture frame artisan who as worked with the Studio Shop for over 25 years. Both Lang and Paul were featured in our Studio Shop Art of the Frame Show. Lang imbues his work with a love for wood and creative whimsy, especially as displayed in the spring leg tables at the Annex. Here he is pictured in his studio next to his rustic Lone Star frame, named for the 5 pointed metal star on the frame. All the wood and hardware are reclaimed and a testament to Lang's creative vision.

Flora Demars-Owens has been with The Studio Shop over four years as an amazing frame designer. She has well over a decade of experience as a frame designer in LA and SF and has recently expanded her creative touch to curating the home design offerings at the Annex. Some of her selections include an etched glass martini shaker. Even cocktail artisans need fine tools.

Beautifully crafted photo frames of inlaid wood, awesome colors and natural wood, too.

Steve Stowell builds every frame for the Studio Shop with precision cutting in the saw room and wood finishing for custom jobs and repairs. Steve is also a talented photographer having spent several years a as a wedding photographer and now focusing on landscape and location photos. Some of his work was displayed in the Annex windows earlier this year.

Many of you may already know Katrina Magowan at the Studio Shop where she wears many hats as art consultant and frame designer. Her training at Cal Arts in Southern California has honed her artistic skills in painting and aesthetics. She spends a day or more at the Annex each week contributing to frame production and designing. She also collaborated with Micah on one of his designs that is being entered in a design competition in Las Vegas. More on that later.

Andrew, our art handler, delivery driver, installer, man of many skills is also a marvelous painter. Three of his paintings are in the Annex windows in October, November, realistic renderings of Lego pirates.

At this time of Thanksgiving we at the Studio Shop are very thankful for all of the creative individuals who contribute their enthusiasm and dedication to make it a wonderful place to work and be surrounded by art.

The Studio Shop at 100! The First Forty Years (1915-1955)

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:09:00 +0000

This is the second in a series of posts describing the 100 year history of The Studio Shop. The last post left off with Dorothy and Ralph K Crawford’s marriage in San Mateo, and the opening of Dorothy’s photography studio on Burlingame Avenue (The Studio Shop at 100, The Early Years).

The Studio Shop began when Ralph bought a picture framing business from Henry Schath on San Mateo Drive. He was establishing his store in the Husing Building in 1915, which is now a parking lot on California Drive, behind Kabul Restaurant.

A newspaper article from January 1916 writes of a flood caused by heavy rains that winter. Ralph's store was one of the local businesses that sustained damage. He estimated his loss at an astounding $50 from the water that poured in under the doors, running over pictures and other goods.


Studio Shop business card, undated. Courtesy of the Burlingame Historical Society.

Two weeks later another news article announces that Ralph and Dorothy Crawford plan to move their separate art and photography studios to a new building, the Stark building at 1289 Burlingame Avenue. At this time they merged the two businesses, and housed themselves above the Studio Shop on the second floor of the Stark building.

On June 18th, 1922, The San Francisco Chronicle wrote “Travelers from afar tell us of their delight with the charming Studio Shop in Burlingame which Dorothy and Ralph Crawford conduct and in which their art is expressed--the unusual Photographic Art of Dorothy Crawford, and the connoisseur’s appreciation and collection of rare objects of Art in which Ralph Crawford excels.”

Soon after establishing herself in the area, Dorothy had an eager following of clientele in San Mateo, Burlingame, and Hillsborough who sought for her to photograph and memorialize their every special event. Not just an exceptional photographer, Dorothy was charismatic, witty, and extremely driven.

In 1925 they purchased a vacant lot, 311-315 Primrose Road. Ralph drew the design for a new English cottage style building, in which to run their business.


Ralph K. Crawford building opening announcement. Published in San Mateo Times, 1931

But in 1929, at just 52 years old, Ralph passed away from leukemia. Only a few months later the Great Depression began. In the face of these tragic events, Dorothy persisted in having the shop built. It was constructed by Williams and Burroughs, and dedicated as the Ralph K. Crawford building in 1931.

Ralph K. Crawford building, undated.

After Ralph’s passing, and through the Great Depression, Dorothy Crawford kept the Studio Shop running. Not only did she run the business, but sought to give back to her community of Peninsula residents in keeping them in touch with the art movements of the day. A series of exhibitions of leading California artists were featured at the Studio Shop during the thirties. Notable artists Maynard Dixon, Percy Gray and Ralph Stackpole were showcased.

Later, as a succession of relatives came to help with the business, Dorothy traveled extensively, through the United States, Europe, and even to China. She led a driven and exceptional life, well ahead of the changes being made in women’s rights during her lifetime. At 67, having run the business independently for 15 years after Ralph’s passing, and through the devastations of the Depression, Dorothy retired due to Parkinson’s Disease in 1944. Her niece Carolyn Misselwitz took over the management of the business, continuing with its gifts and framing aspects until she retired in 1955.

John Benson, ca 1955.

John Benson was a high school shop teacher, between jobs with a young family to support in 1955. Seeing a For Sale ad in the Chronicle for a picture frame business, John borrowed $500 from his father-in-law for the down payment, and together with his wife Martha, bought the Studio Shop.

Dorothy’s brother, Sid Frink, taught John the art of picture framing during the Bensons’ first six months with the business. Much like Ralph and Dorothy, John and Martha quickly became established and involved members of the community. They were a perfect couple to continue what the Chronicle had described 33 years earlier as customers’ “delight with the charming Studio Shop in Burlingame.”

Next episode: John and Martha Benson run the Studio Shop, raise their three daughters, and continue the business’s dedication to its community.

Tom Soltesz: Modern Impressionist

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 16:58:00 +0000

Impressionism Today! at The Studio Shop art gallery
February 20 - March 15, 2015
Artists Reception: Friday, Feb. 20 at 5:30pm

Tom Soltesz lives and works in Northern California where he paints California plein air landscapes in the tradition of Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet of France and the California Impressionists: Percy Gray, Edgar Payne, William Wendt and others. When the French Impressionist influence reached California in the 1890s it was embraced by artists who found the Impressionist ideas and techniques to be well suited to capturing California's bright sun and natural beauty. Like the Impressionists before him, Tom Soltesz employs their techniques of quick brushstrokes and vivid color to capture the ever changing light when painting en plein air.

Mountain Melody, Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches

Mountain Melody is a beautifully balanced composition with distinct foreground, middle distance and background formed by diagonal lines of the sloping hills. The golden glow on the hillsides is quintessential California landscape. Notice how the trees are composed of quick dashes of green and yellow highlights (much easier to see in person than on a computer image). The shadows in the distant hills are not black but a cool bluish gray which adds depth to the range of colors.

A Walk in the Woods, Oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches

A Walk in the Woods is a lovely vignette of a wooded path framed by aspen trees on either side. The sunny glade in the middle distance draws one's eye down the path. The composition is balanced by the bit of sun in the foreground which warms the entire setting.

Evening Shadows, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

Evening Shadows is a lovely scene which captures the last rosy light of the setting sun on leafy eucalyptus trees. With virtuoso brushwork Soltesz has portrayed the sunny branches with little more than a few dabs of yellows and orange. The sky is a lovely and subtle spectrum of muted hues which amazingly contains the entire color wheel, from pale blue at the horizon through lavender, pink, yellow and teal.

Ken Christensen is a Wild Beast!

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:03:00 +0000

Impressionism Today! Feb. 20 - March 15, 2015
Opening reception - Friday, Feb. 20 at 5:30pm

The "wild beasts" were a group of French painters nicknamed the Fauves by an unsympathetic art critic in 1905 because of their bold use of color and wild brushstrokes. Despite the fact that Vincent Van Gogh had died over a decade earlier, in 1890, his use of color inspired the Fauves to explore the expressive possibilities of color over the realism of earlier Impressionists. Also influential was the influx of African artwork such as carved masks which artists admired as honest expressions of truth without the constraints of modern society.

One color tool of the Fauves was the use of complementary colors, pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel and together appear brighter: pairs such as red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple. Christensen's paintings make fabulous use of complementary colors for heightened visual impact.

Arroyo Seco, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

In Arroyo Seco notice the prevalence of green and yellow in the bushes of the foreground which contrasts with the complementary reddish purples in the middle distance. The bright colors and enhanced vibrancy lends a playful air to the painting.

Spring Flowers on Carrizo Plain, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

In Spring Flowers on the Carrizo Plain, the field is predominately yellow punctuated by its complementary color, soft purple in the foreground bushes and a distant field. The purplish bushes are accented with pale blue brushstrokes, which are contrasted with areas of orange.

Blue Horse, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

The first thing one notices in the aptly titled Blue Horse, is the blue horse and the orange barn. Again, complementary colors. This painting is like a symphony of color playing a call and response with one another. The orangey yellow of the distant hillside playing with other greens and yellows in the painting and contrasting with the lavender blue shadows on the road in the foreground. The placement of a blue horse is also symbolic of the Blue Rider art movement which followed the Fauves in the 1910s in Germany.

Picture Frame Challenge: The Magic of Magnets

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 16:22:00 +0000

A client brought us an interesting picture frame challenge recently. They had a collection of cookie cutters they wanted to display and they wanted to be able to take the cutters out and use them. Okay, that's easy, we could fabricate a shadow box frame with a hinged door and mount the cookie cutters on pegs so that they would be removable. The second request was much more challenging.

The client also wanted the flexibility to add to their collection and change the arrangement of cookie cutters in the display case. Since the cutters are of different sizes and irregularly shaped it's not as simple as displaying them in rows three across. The solution called for the mounting pegs to be moveable. But how were we going to do that?

After considering various mounting methods such as velcro and clear acrylic I came up with the idea of magnetic pegs on a sheet metal backing. The metal was covered with silk fabric for an elegant appearance.

I also added rubber O-rings to give the magnetic pegs some grip.

Here's a view of pairs of magnetic pegs before adding the cookie cutters. Hinged door closes with magnets embedded in the frame so there are no visible latches or handles.

Studio Shop at 100! The Early Years

noreply@blogger.com (Carl Martin) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:14:00 +0000

This is the first in a series of posts describing the 100 year history of The Studio Shop, beginning here in the 1890s when the founders Dorothy and Ralph Crawford met at school in Kansas.

Before Dorothy and Ralph opened the Studio Shop in Burlingame in 1915, Dorothy had been a pioneering entrepreneur in rural Kansas with the emerging technology of photography. In the early 1900s Dorothy was an independent minded single woman who apprenticed with an established photographer and eventually ran two successful studios of her own.

Dorothy was born in 1877 with the given name of Maude Frink along with a twin sister, May Frink, on a Kansas farm settled by her parents who arrived by covered wagon. To get a decent education the twins were sent to boarding school at a Baptist college in Ottawa, KS, now called Ottawa University and named after the local Indian tribe. After graduating in 1897 Maude returned to the farm to take care of family. At school she met her future husband, Ralph Crawford, though they wouldn't marry for another 16 years. Ralph continued his education as a civil engineer and left to Alaska for a surveying job in 1900.

Ottawa Boarding School, Ralph Crawford,
Maude Frink and twin sister May Frink.
Courtesy of Burlingame Historical Society

Dorothy Crawford, nee Maude Frink, undated.
Courtesy of Burlingame Historical Society

Maude had a short stint teaching in a country school but she didn't like that and later contacted the school photographer from boarding school for an apprenticeship. After a few years of apprenticing, independent Maude opened her own studio in Wellsville, Kansas in 1904 where she lived with her sister May who was now married to the editor of the Wellsville newspaper.

By 1907 Maude was living on her own and it was noted in the local newspaper gossip column (a little like Facebook today) that she got a telephone installed.

By 1909 she moved back to the big city of Ottawa where she purchased the studio of her former employer, Mr. Martin, when he moved to a prestigious studio in New York.

In 1911 Maude achieved some photographic success by winning state awards for her photo portraits of her niece Carolyn, May's daughter, who would later help her aunt run The Studio Shop.

Ralph Crawford, undated
Courtesy of Buirlingame Historical Society

Over the years Ralph Crawford would return to Kansas to visit relatives and maintain some relationship with Maude, but he would soon leave for another surveying job, such as Death Valley and the high Sierras for the Los Angeles Water Project. He was part of the great quest to conquer the West, like so many Google cars mapping today's city streets, armies of surveyors were employed to swarm over deserts and mountains to map the West. The Crawford family history states that during one of these visits Ralph and Maude became "engaged" only to be later called off by Maude as she grew tired of waiting.

By 1913 Ralph had landed a job as assistant engineer for the City of Burlingame and he lived in San Mateo. His new found stability must have lured Maude to California because she packed up her photo studio, moved to California and the two got married in February of 1913. She was 35 years old and Ralph was 33. This is when Maude Frink completely changed her name. She claimed to have never liked her name, Maude, and its rhyming sound with Crawford would only make matters worse.

Soon she opened her third photo studio as Dorothy Crawford Photographer at the corner of Burlingame Ave. and Lorton, on the second floor of the Miller Drug building, what is now the Luggage Center.

In the photo below a small Dorothy Crawford Photographer sign can be seen above "Miller" in the Miller Drug sign. This photo would be 1914 or 1915.

Next episode: Ralph and Dorothy join forces by opening a new picture frame shop and photo studio called Crawford's Studio Shop.

I would like to thank Jennifer Pfaff and Martha May of the Burlingame Historical Society for their assistance with research and supplying images.

Mother of Pearl Art Frame

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 21:48:00 +0000

If ever a picture frame could make you feel the texture and emotion of a piece of art, this is it. Studio Shop framer Micah Paul created this amazing custom picture frame for an upcoming picture framing competition, January, 2015 in Las Vegas.

Micah started with this Asian themed artwork by Leslie Ditto and chose to emphasize some of its patterns with frame elements of teeth, fish scales and dragon skin.

The two outer mouldings are a mother of pearl product made with capiz shells. The fabric mat is covered with a very cool fabric textured like lizard skin and called Komodo Dragon. The finishing touch consists of the metal studs on the fabric mat which echo the tooth motif in the artwork.

This frame is now on display at The Studio Shop and we're confident that it will wow the judges in the upcoming competition.

4 Art Strategies Before Remodelling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:34:00 +0000

Have you ever tried to hang a piece of art on a wall but found a light switch in the way? Avoid this design faux pas with careful planning prior to remodelling. You can greatly improve your display options for family photos and artwork with thoughtful decisions about sightlines, lighting and placement of windows, light switches and air vents.

First, consider where your important walls are, and it's not just over the fireplace. When you consider sightlines you will find great walls for hanging art at the ends of hallways or walls viewed through doorways. Have you ever been in an art gallery or museum where you see a striking piece of art in the distance, at the far end of a gallery or down a corridor? That is the result of intelligent use of sightlines, and good lighting.

Walk around your home and look through doorways from one room to another, what is on the opposite wall? What is at the end of the hallway? These walls could be an overlooked opportunity for stunning art display. Once you have determined some significant walls for art display you can plan how to improve the wall spaces and placement of lighting.

Windows offer interesting choices in remodelling. A large picture window takes up a whole wall and makes it difficult to display a prominent piece of art. One solution is to install smaller windows on either side of the wall to preserve a large wall space in the center for art display.

Lighting is essential for enjoyable viewing of artwork and is much more easily installed when the walls are torn apart for remodelling. Adjustable lighting like track lighting and adjustable recessed cans are easy to direct onto to art work and create better illumination than wall washers and ambient lighting. And don't forget to keep the light switches and air vents out of the way.

-cm

Frame a Wish for Make A Wish Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 18:56:00 +0000

When we were asked about framing mementos for a Make A Wish youngster this summer we of course said, "Yes." Eight year old Jonathan "Jon Jon" Dockins is a heart patient and train nut whose wish was to drive an Amtrak Zephyr train over Donner Pass in the Sierras. With the cooperation of Make A Wish, Amtrak and many kind people throughout California and Nevada, Jon Jon had a fabulous experience on the trains and came away with many memories and mementos of the event.

Studio Shop framer Micah Paul was contacted by Amtrak engineer Ken Powell about creating a memory frame for Jon Jon and his family in Jackson, Missouri. Micah quickly started planning the layout of the several items and created a mock-up in Photoshop to easily show the event organizers for approval.

The frame design includes a hinged door so that Jon Jon can remove the toy train from the frame for running on his track at home.

Hinged frame for access to train.

The moulding is a unique and beautifully appropriate line with lots of mechanical details called Steam Punk.

To help out the organizers Micah selected images from a large batch of digital photos and then printed the best ones for the frame. He also printed the logos for Amtrak, the train engineers union and historic train lines from digital files.

The moulding's mechanical details inspire its name, Steam Punk.

Jon Jon in the driver's seat.

Golden spike and other detail close ups.

Lock detail and custom Conductor Jon Jon sign.

CBS news video about Jon Jon's train trip.

Art Groupings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:44:00 +0000

Salon style

Arrangements of framed artwork create a special decorating touch in your home and needn't be difficult to make. There are many ways to create art arrangements, but three basic types of wall groupings are the Grid, the Mosaic and the Salon.

The Salon style is the loosest form and is derived from 19th century Paris salons where art was hung floor to ceiling, (before there were big screen televisions). Don’t be afraid to cover the wall. This is your chance to get creative and let the art sing. If done properly, the grouping can have a lyrical feel as your eye moves from one piece to the next.

With the Salon style it is okay to be completely eclectic or pick a theme or color for a more calming effect.

Hanging is best done by planning ahead by laying out your pieces on the floor to create an arrangement. Take a picture of the arrangement with a phone or camera before you start putting them on the wall. Be sure to measure your wall space beforehand to check that the art will fit.

Salon style with objects

Mosaic

The Mosaic art hanging differs from the Salon in that it is a little more formal. The framed artwork is still of varied sizes and styles but with a more linear outline. Begin creating your arrangement by laying your art on the floor and try to leave space of 2 - 4 inches between pieces. You can then use masking tape on your wall to outline where the grouping will go. This helps you visualize the end result and also serves as a guide when hanging.

Grid arrangement

Grid patterns are made up of equal sized artworks like this collection of map lithographs. Hanging requires careful measuring and patience. For tips about measuring and hanging art go to our How-to-hang-art page for instructions and a video.

Melinda Cootsona - Figurative Paintings on exhibit Sept. 12 - 28, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 03:45:00 +0000

We are really looking forward to the next art show starting in a few days with Melinda Cootsona, September 12 - 28. See new paintings of the exhibition here...>>

Artist Reception, Thursday, Sept. 12, 6 - 8 pm.

Artist Talk, Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 pm.

As you may know we have been super busy the last month expanding the Studio Shop gallery and remodeling the space next door, 248 Primrose, what used to be the wallbed store and before that the shoe repair. But before we even thought of expanding, we had planned Melinda's show for September and now it seems entirely appropriate that Melinda's figurative paintings will be the inaugural exhibition for the new gallery space.

Shoe Tie, Oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches.

Not only do Melinda's paintings look simply wonderful on the new walls, but her figurative abstractions also have a certain architectural quality with strong compositional use of line and areas of color. These portraits/constructions show the influence of Bay Area Figurative painters such as Richard Diebenkorn who currently has a show at the DeYoung Museum. Cootsona's figures appear thoughtful and contemplative, moods mirrored in the paintings in general. In the introduction to Melinda's book of this exhibition, Marianne Rogoff writes,

"Through generous applications of paint and numerous layers of shapes, colors, and shadows that move around on the canvas as she works, the artist provides ample room for us to enter the mind-states of her deep-in-thought figures." Read more of Melinda Cootsona's artist bio here...>>

Also view a video of Melinda at work in her studio here...>>
Melinda's Blurb book can be purchased at The Studio Shop, or previewed and purchased here...>>

Brandon Beatson, Photographer, 1980 - 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 03:54:00 +0000

In tribute to young photographer Brandon Beatson, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 33, the Studio Shop will host a photography exhibition and fundraiser this Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2PM. Brandon was living in Costa Rica and pursuing his dream of photographing nature and surf action shots. (view Brandon's images) As a result of this heartbreaking tragedy we have had the great opportunity to work closely with Brandon's parents and friends to produce an exhibition which honors Brandon's photography and raises funds for charities he felt deeply about.

Upon hearing the news of Brandon's death our hearts broke for Brandon's parents, David and Diana, his younger brother, Brian and his family and friends. It is way too sad when someone dies too young, before the chance to live a full adult life. What started as grief and sorrow and sadness sparked a thought of how to honor Brandon's creativity. Why not offer the gallery as a space to exhibit Brandon's photography? Janet mentioned the idea to Diana, who said that his friends had been thinking of holding an exhibition and were looking for a space to hold the event, so this was perfect. Sometimes when things happen easily it is for a reason.

A meeting was set-up with Brandon's parents and we got to meet his friends, Bill, Joe, Chris, Justin and others, all wonderful, gracious people. Everyone was united in the cause of Brandon's memory and wanted to contribute to make the event happen. There would be camera cards to sort through, discussions about printing and Brandon's favorite charities. As an avid Giants fan and dog lover, proceeds would go to the San Francisco Giants Community Fund and the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue.

Twenty nine thousand images later, thanks to the patience of our digital tech Ty Nguyen and the help of friends and family, Brandon's life's work has been curated to thirty three images that will be in the exhibition. The show is divided into several categories representing Brandon's photographic passions, nature, sports, surfing, street photography, cityscapes and abstract.

When we started thinking about details like donation receipts, splitting proceeds to multiple charities we wondered what we got ourselves into. It would be a book-keeping nightmare to run it through the Studio Shop. Along came Larry Harper of the Good Tidings Foundation to the rescue. He offered to take care of the business side of things and distribute funds to the partnering charities. It feels great when things start falling into place and gaining momentum.

Just a few days left to go. Most of the printing is done. Even the two 24 x 36 prints came back and they look gorgeous: a landscape of sand dunes at White Sands National Monument and a beautiful surf action shot. I can't wait to see the framed photographs on the wall. We'll be busy this week with picture framing and typing final image lists. The art installation will happen on Saturday night, just in time for the Sunday festivities.

Stop in and see the show Sunday, Aug. 4, 2pm. Remember, all the proceeds benefit the Giants Community Fund, Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue and the Good Tidings Foundation.

In loving memory of Brandon Beatson, 1980 - 2013.

The exhibition will be held at The Studio Shop, 244 Primrose Rd., Burlingame, CA 94010
For more information, call the gallery at 650-344-1378

Studio Shop Staff Art Show, July 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:06:00 +0000

This July The Studio Shop is doing something new and completely different, a staff art show to display the multi-talented creativity of our awesome Studio Shop team.

Ty Nguyen brings his digital photography skills to The Studio Shop where he photographs the art work and performs digital retouching and printing for clients. He is a recent photography student at the Acadamy of Art University in San Francisco where he prefers to shoot in film and then print in both darkroom and digitally. The above scene is a panoramic photo collage of an iconic San Francisco location, made with over 90 prints and spanning almost 8 feet.

Gary Mohan is the Studio Shop head framer and is a multi-talented artist with work in photo printing, mixed media and sculpture(on the right).

In his early artistic period Gary experimented with unique methods of photo printing which included Vaseline, photo paper and a face plant. Sounds weird but the results are amazing and you have to come in and see for yourself. One of his prints won first place in a Marathon County, Wisconsin, photo contest but then was unfortunately lost when it went to the state contest in Madison. Now this extremely rare work of art is probably in someone's attic waiting to be rediscovered by Antiques Roadshow and acknowledged as the ground-breaking work that it truly is. Another print from that series has survived and will be on display.

Steve Stowell is the frame builder and master of wood finishing at The Studio Shop. He is also an extremely fine photographer with a career spanning several decades from a Sears camera with flash cubes to shooting weddings with a Mamiya medium format film camera. Today Steve carries a digital camera on hikes and bike rides capturing his visions of pattern and composition.

Kristen Benson, gallery manager, art consultant and frame designer extraordinaire, is a long time artist with an art degree from Humbolt State. She has worked in textiles, mixed media and currently a lot of painting. The piece on left is painting on canvas and titled Moment by Moment.

Carl Martin wears many hats at The Studio Shop including web meister, art installer, IT, HR, photographer, trombone player and janitor. While his trombone playing will not be on display, some of his photography will be. The architectural photo on the right is of an office stairway in Belmont and part of a series of other Bay Area locations.

Also, Janet Martin and Julie Venosa, too late for photographs so come see their work in person.

Julie's finely executed landscape painting reveals a powerful dose of artistic DNA from her father, life long career artist Joseph Kertesz. Julie gained another couple decades of arts education by successfully running the family's Kertesz Gallery in San Francisco in the 80s and 90s.

Janet began her arts education by growing up with her parents at The Studio Shop. During her college years she supported herself as a working artist by carving and selling wood sculptures. More recently she has delved into mixed media/found art sculptures which will be on display at The Studio Shop.

Great Ideas for Framing Kids' Art

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

It's the end of the school year and your child might be bringing home a year's worth of wonderful artwork. Curating the household art gallery can be a difficult task when there is so much art to choose from and only a limited amount of wall space. But there's an easy solution and that is to have a rotating gallery with picture frames with opening backs. That way you can rotate young Picasso's artwork in and out of picture frames and give each piece of art a chance to be displayed in the family art gallery.

Bold primary colors work beautifully when framing children's artwork. These ready-made frames are made of bright anodized aluminum, have a white mat and an easily removable back for swapping artwork. Fits 8x10 inch art or 11x14.
From $32 at the Studio Shop Annex. These frames are ready to take home or can be customized with optional mat colors.

Here's a genius idea from Austin, Texas mom Natasha McRee and artist Morgan Kimble. Acrylic frames with small magnets to hold the art in place -- makes it super easy to change the art. Available in two sizes, fits artwork up to 8 x 10 inches or 12 x 19 inches. Starting at $40 at The Studio Shop Annex.

We also have many colorful moulding and mat options for custom framing of children's artwork, all colors of the rainbow and even pink glitter!

Another tip when framing kids' art is to use acrylic glazing instead of glass. In a busy household acrylic won't break when bumped by running kids or an errant dodge ball.

Congratulations to Gary and Carl!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Congratulations go out to Studio Shop staff members Carl Martin, owner, and Gary Mohan, head framer, for receiving their Certified Picture Framer (CPF) accreditation from the Professional Picture Framers' Association (PPFA), the leading organization of picture framers in the U.S. and Canada. The Studio Shop is now the only shop operating in the SF Bay Area with Certified Picture Framers on staff. Gary and Carl took the CPF test at the annual PPFA convention in Las Vegas in January and received their awards yesterday, March 5, 2013.

While we are proud of them for proving their expertise, it really comes as no surprise since they have almost 46 years of picture framing experience between them. Carl has been in the picture frame business now for 16 years. And Gary has been at The Studio Shop almost 10 years and has been picture framing for almost 30 years! Now that's experience!

The CPF test covers a wide range of picture framing knowledge from art identification to the selection of proper frame methods for long term preservation. An oil painting on canvas gets a different rabbet liner than an acrylic painting on canvas. A digital print from an HP printer needs to dry for up to two weeks before framing, whereas a print from an Epson printer can be framed after one day. Whether framing a watercolor, pastel or needlepoint, they all have their unique properties that require special considerations.

Congratulations to Gary and Carl for showing your picture framing expertise. Now how will they frame them?

Dominique Caron, March 1 - 16, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:05:00 +0000

Dominique Caron at The Studio Shop
Reception Saturday, March 2, 2013
2 - 6 PM

Dominique Caron’s show, Modern Primitive, opens today (March 1) at The Studio Shop. These new paintings, all painted in the last year reveal a growing freedom of expression and thoughful abstraction. Dominique was in the gallery for a preview Thursday night and we had a chance to talk about her influences and inspiration for her paintings.
Dominique's video interview
Dominique's bio
More about the show

Modern Primitive

The namesake of the show, Modern Primitive creates a rhythmic composition with the short crisp marks of bold black and red, eg., red triangle in lower center right, and the sophistication of calligraphic flourishes, eg., upper center. The short marks like staccato percussion and the soft, curvy lines like violins develop a melodic interplay that is a timely reminder of Stravinsky's music for ballet, Rite of Spring (100 year anniversary this year) with its stunning counterpoint of brutal percussion and sweet melodies.

The Dance

The Dance conveys a sense of motion and time with the relationship of the dancer in upper right to the abstracted pattern in center. The presence of the dancer opens the door to interpretion of movement of people and flowing gowns. A story unfolds in the central abstraction as if a long exposure photograph has recorded the path of the dancer. It appears as if the dancer has her back turned to the viewer, receding into the background, the dance is completed.

Tapestry

Dominique describes Tapestry as fiery and organic. A field of tangled wildflowers or the flames of a campfire dancing about. Either way, there is movement and depth created by the weaving of colors, stems or flames.

We currently have 16 paintings by Dominique exhibiting at The Studio Shop and more available. The show is up until March 16 with a public reception on Saturday afternoon, March 2. Please stop by and visit.

How to Light Art

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Clients frequently ask about lighting for artwork at The Studio Shop and it doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some of the basics about light bulbs, placement, recessed lighting and track systems.

Picture lights that mount to the back of a picture frame are a convenient way to provide lighting for artwork. They are available in a variety of sizes and finishes to match your picture frame and home decor.
Track lighting and recessed cans provide flexible lighting for artwork with a clean, built-in look. Track lighting is the most flexible system for moving lights and aiming at artwork. Recessed lighting with adjustable heads are attractive for their clean look but aren’t quite as flexible as track. Recessed lighting with fixed lights are used for wall washing and ambient lighting, not very suitable for art lighting. High-end fixtures can include louvers and filters for focusing light just on the art, reducing ceiling glare and filtering UV rays.

MR-16 low voltage systems are used for track and recessed can systems. They are very popular for lighting of art in residential and retail situations because of the compact bulb size and clean white light. These low voltage systems use a transformer on the fixture or hidden in the ceiling. The bulbs emit a small amount of UV rays which are filtered by the glass lens that comes with most MR-16 fixtures. TIP: Do not touch the inside of the bulb when changing bulbs because your finger oils will make it burn out sooner.

PAR 30 bulbs are larger than MR-16s and have a standard screw-in base. They are commonly used in residential recessed cans and track lighting in art galleries.

Light placement should be set so that the light strikes the wall at 30 to 45 degrees, measured to a point at eyelevel on the wall, approx. 60” from the floor. A steeper angle than 30 degrees will create deeper shadows and shallower than 45 degrees may cause reflective glare. On an 8 foot ceiling place your track or recessed cans 20” to 36” away from the wall and on a 10 foot ceiling, 42” to 60” from the wall.
Flourescent and LED are very energy efficient and have made much progress with full color spectrum but not yet good enough for art lighting.
And finally, the UV light warning. UV rays cause fading and are present in sunlight and small amounts in flourescent and halogen lighting. It is recommended to use UV filtering glass in all picture framing and to avoid hanging framed art in direct sunlight.

Just arrived: Kalani Engles' exhibition catalog.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Kalani Engles by Edited by Carl Martin | Make Your Own Book
(click on the Kalani Engles link above for a full-size view)

The exhibition catalogs for Kalani's show just arrived in the Studio Shop. You can preview the book on this Blurb link and pick up your copy online or the old fashioned way by walking into the store. Hope to see you tomorrow night for Kalani's opening reception at the Studio Shop gallery.

The Studio Shop Turns 95!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:19:00 +0000

During The Studio Shop 95th anniversary last fall, the national Professional Picture Framers' Association learned of our milestone and featured us in the January national newsletter.
PPFA January newsletter Try the link or view below.

SS95: Kalani Engles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:55:00 +0000

Kalani Engles painting, Saddle Road, reflects the stunning and diverse natural scenery of her birthplace in Hawaii.

Saddle Road, Oil on canvas, 48" x 48"

Comments by Kalani Engles:

Hawaii has always been a special place for me. My grandparents and their grandparents were born there, and as a girl I spent every summer in the Islands drinking in the culture, history and traditions. There are many spectacular places in Hawaii, but one of my favorites is the saddle road straddling the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes on the Big Island. It runs from the lush tropical rain forest of Hilo across a vast lava moonscape past snow capped mountain peaks to the grasslands of Waimea. Saddle Road conveys the contrasting landscapes one experiences along this highway. There are many saddle roads in the world, most featuring remarkable scenery. You can find elements of all of them in Saddle Road.

More about Kalani Engles.

SS95: Dominique Caron

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:37:00 +0000

Adventure, Oil on canvas, 48" x 72"

Dominique Caron responded to the theme of time and place with a painting inspired by ancient graffiti in Europe and Africa. Her layered marks and symbols reflect the collective human desire to leave a record for future generations.

Comments by Dominique Caron:

     The sense of passing time has been conveyed to me not so much by studying history but through a visual revelation of the humble graffiti of ancient travellers.
     When visiting famous ancient places, such the Hadrian Villa near Rome, a Portuguese fort on the coast of Africa, the Michel Montaigne tower/study in France and Lascaux and Altamira caves, I have been deeply touched by the graffiti left on the walls by generations of past visitors. They have left their marks in names and symbols, hearts, and humble crosses traced in charcoal, colored chalk, or carved deeply in the plaster, , overlapping each other in a collective cry of, “I was here!”
     What I have seen, in this pattern of interwoven words hanging over the walls, in their haphazard testimony, was a tribute to the interactions of men, famous and obscure, all wanting to leave their mark through the inexorable passing of time.
     When I paint and draw words in a still-life, landscape, or abstract painting, I leave them as a physical trace of a thought, attached to that very instant of the creative process.

More about Dominique Caron.

SS95: Sean Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Hummingbirds, Oil and tin on canvas.

Sean Smith bridges past and present with imagery from ancient tribal myths and modern artifacts of found tin cans, which also serve to represent the life cycle of decomposition and rebirth.

Studio Shop exhibition: Time and Place.

Hummingbirds

by Sean Smith

Hummingbirds

they do this

do that

fly here

fly there

the nectar

of the

red flower

blooming

the moonlight.

More about Sean Smith

SS95: Nancy Torres

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:22:00 +0000

Tom the Tree, Oil on canvas

Nancy Torres examines the theme of Time and Place with this painting of the famous Tom the Tree which stood in front of Burlingame's Easton Branch Library for nearly 100 years.

Comments by Nancy Torres: Most people love the trees in Burlingame. Our motto is “City of Trees”. I remember as a child driving under the canopy of Eucalyptus that used to run down Millbrae as well as Burlingame along El Camino. Millbrae cut theirs down to widen the street for modernization. Even as a child I thought that was dumb. I’m so happy Burlingame saved our beautiful giants along El Camino. One particularly large tree was in front of the Burlingame Easton Branch of the library. It was tremendously large. Recently the trunk and roots had grown so large that you had to cross to the wrong side of the street to drive around them. A debate began to remove it. In the grass roots battle to save the tree some named it “Tom”; I think to humanize it in hopes of tugging on heartstrings. No Luck. Tom came down anyway. Before he did, I spent a day with him to memorialize his grandeur. It is hard to believe, but this painting really is to scale.
More about Nancy Torres.

SS95: Pat Sherwood

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:26:00 +0000

Artist Pat Sherwood describes memories from childhood in her painting, Carolina Lemon Grass, in the exhibition, Time and Place.

Carolina Lemon Grass, Oil on canvas, 36" x 36".

Comments by Pat Sherwood:
I was born in Columbia, South Carolina. My family still lives around Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina. Every summer of my life I have returned to Pawley’s Island Beach (near Myrtle Beach) to vacation. This painting is about the feeling of being there in what is called “the low country." The women weave these wonderful baskets with sweet grass (it actually tastes sweet!) which they grow and cut from ditches in their yards. An ocean breeze and sweet grass under your feet! Nothing could be finer!

More about Pat Sherwood.