Congratulations to Gary and Carl!

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?

Congratulations to Gary and Carl!

Dominique Caron, March 1 - 16, 2013

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.

Dominique Caron, March 1 - 16, 2013