miren@framesbymiren.com
Santa Ynez, CA
805.331.8645
If you love it, frame it!
Your Custom Text Here
Your Custom Text Here
All of these frames house pieces of original art. The mediums vary -- pastels, watercolors, oils on canvas, signed lithographs & serigraphs, giclees, and enhanced giclees (ok, those aren't technically "original art" but close enough for categorizing purposes). Each medium has its own framing recommendations and requirements which, if aren't followed, can potentially ruin a piece of art. Frames by Miren is thoroughly versed in the science and convention of framing original art so as to enhance its beauty and value, as well as preserve its condition for future enjoyment.
This is a 2' x 4' original painting on canvas by renowned local artist Susan Todd-Hamilton that client wanted to hang as only focal point in her entry. She wanted the painting to take up as much space as possible, with a rustic-industrial feel. So I created a truly custom frame of welded steel bar, complete with exposed welded seams and hex bolts; then aged, patinaed and blackened the metal through multiple processes, until the perfect mix of browns, greens, and blacks was achieved. A beige linen fabric was hand-wrapped over a 4" wide wood liner to finish this special frame.
Oil on board, framed with medium tone, distressed moulding. Client wanted to hang with another Gruska painting but didn't want matching; this moulding compliments the rustic green moulding of the other painting with similar profile, distressing and quality of color. They look great on the wall together!
The greens in the moulding play nicely with the greens of the painting as well compliment the style and tone of the frame in the previous slide.
A mottled gold over medium tone wood moulding picks up the warmth and light of the paintings.
Original photograph by Vikki Hunt, matted in grey-blue of background and cream bamboo-accented moulding
Since this pencil drawing had no margins and a cool torn edge, I "floated" the art over a mat in the same color as the paper, then gave it a deep black bevel under a thick 8-ply top mat in same color as bottom mat. Finished with ribbed dark wood moulding that has just enough drama to stand up to the drawing without overwhelming it.
By hand-carving the mat as a continuation of the art it draws the viewer into the painting, (or expands the art out into the room, depending on your perspective).
Vintage photograph in client's own antique frame. Monochromatic wide double mat for a clean, classic look.
For many of us, some of our most treasured family heirlooms are old photographs and other paper-bourne artifacts. Sadly, many of them won't make it to the next generation unless steps are taken now to preserve them - light, humidity, temperature, insects, mold, pollutants, all take their toll, oftentimes quicker than you would think. The proper framing can dramatically slow or halt that destruction by controlling the items immediate environment through proper use of glazing, materials, and techniques. The pieces in this collection are all items of great sentimental value to the owners, that have been framed to enhance, enjoy, and preserve the item.
A client brought me this antique stock certificate that had been passed down for three generations with a specific request: he wanted to hang it on the wall but also be able to take it down and see the reverse side of the certificate. So I made a very shallow sink-type mat, with front and back paper mats, that held the certificate edges without any adhesives (some adhesives can be very bad for paper art). Then cut two frames, two pieces of UV-blocking glazing, and sandwiched the mat package between them. Voila! A frame that protects the fragile vellum while also allowing the client to enjoy a bit of family history, from any angle.
This client wanted to preserve a c. 1962 laminated menu from the Russian Tea Room in New York City that was very special to her. She wanted to be able to take the menu out to look at occasionally, but didn't want the frame to be obviously openable, and did want to be able put it back in place easily. My solution was a custom fabricated acrylic "L" shaped stand mounted within the frame, cut to the exact size of the menu so it was easy to replace it in the frame. There are also two invisible straps holding the menu in place. There is also abeautiful soft yellow antique satin mat under the stand as well as above it. Then finished with a narrow gold fillet and a red lacquer moulding. I made a backframe from the same materials and sealed the whole package. The front frame is joined to the back frame using invisible barrel hinges and powerful neodymium magnets hidden inside the back edge of the frame. All her needs met as well as the need to preserve the menu!
Here are examples of different decorated mats. There's French lines and washed panels - a lovely traditional method of decorating mats using ruling pens, inks, and watercolor washes; embossed mats that feature multiple mats cut and stacked, then wrapped with fabric to make bas-relief like decorations; handpainted mats I do with acrylic paints directly on the mat surface; accented mats with die-cut design elements mounted on the mat. There's lots of other ways to add that special touch to a mat, the only limit is your imagination!
This gallery is filled with original art that I, or select others, have created for clients. Yes, I am an artist as well as a framer, and you'll see some examples of things I've drawn. I'm also an accomplished calligrapher in both modern and traditional lettering and offer those services as well (wedding invitations, signage, letterhead). I'm also "crafty" and created the mercury glass used in the Kita & Frames by Miren signs, I carved the wood plaques in the Kita sign (or rather my husband did on his CNC router machine), I made the French beaded flowers used in a number of frames, and so on and so forth.
A couple of examples I've included here are my son's artwork - he's an accomplished urban artist in the Bay Area with an international following and will gladly work on commission. His pieces are photos #3 & 4.
Anyway, enjoy the fun stuff! And if there is anything you'd like to commission please contact me - I love the creative projects!
These were commissioned to decorate a baby's room. As such they're all paper - no glass or wood - and can hang on the wall or stand on a shelf singly or in a group. In this case the client wanted wild animals with their names in Samala with the English translation below, all in shades of grey to match the baby's room. Each one is approximately 6" x 8" and retailed for $45. Of course, I can create these in any color scheme, language and size.
My son drew these for his niece and nephew using one his graffiti "hands" in colors he thought they'd like. I simply mounted and matted them, then added a narrow light wood frame, so they can hang on their doors.
My son wrote his little sister's name, in her favorite colors and filled the letters with "girly" patterns. He then picked the turquoise silk that I hand-wrapped over a waterfall mat and the floral silver moulding. She loved it :-)
Framing dimensional objects and textiles (fabrics and woven materials) requires a completely different skill set and knowledge base than the framing of art on paper; and is one of my passions and specialties. Mounting methods and materials that are commonly used in framing photos, drawings, and such, will not only fail but can actually do major damage to objects and textiles. Sadly, I've seen beautiful and valuable items utterly destroyed by misguided attempts to display them.
Each of the examples in this gallery are unique and present their own set of challenges in the creation, execution, and final product. But they all share one thing: an exciting and beautiful presentation that jumps off the wall in a sea of flat paper art while securing the item in a stable environment so its value will remain undiminished for decades.
