The 12/16″ acrylic painting ‘Barncat’ is based on a couple of reference pictures by my friend and fellow artist Maria Wulf, who lives in a wonderful rural area in one of the northern states of the US (Find her blog here).
An old barn is part of her farm property. The barn is used for storing hay, and all things discarded. The scene has so many elements that I like! Of course, the senior barn cat named Minnie plays the lead role, as my heart usually goes out to all living creatures, rather than inanimate objects… But the broken colourful furniture on the top platform of the barn is also really adding to the character of it all. This is not usually a topic that I choose for my paintings, but I was just charmed by it.
The perfect frame
When I was visiting my usual framer in Mississauga, my eye was drawn to a framed stock photograph in a rough wooden frame. I had noticed it during previous visits, but this time it really ‘spoke’ to me. The rough wooden frame looked authentic and when I asked the framer about it, she told me she had bought it at an estate sale up north. It used to be… a window in an old barn that had crumbled! I showed her my ‘Barn cat’ painting, we locked eyes and both instantly came to the same conclusion: the painting fit this frame to a tee! So my framer was kind enough to squeeze me in despite her busy schedule, and, as a result I walked out of her store with a framed and ready to hang painting. I don’t think I have ever seen a better example of ‘a match made in heaven’!
Paintings can totally change when they are hung in a fitting frame. What that frame looks like, is not always up to the artist. That is why I don’t have all of my works framed. Sure enough finances and storage and available wall space play a role. But the frame must not only fit the painting, it also should match the interior of the house it will be hung in.
After my move out of the GTA, I was able to find a quality framer right here in St Thomas. What IS a good framer? Well, for starters it is an honest person, that can help you pick the best frame to your taste, that will also complement the artwork. And then, of course, perfectly putting the frame together is also part of the deal. I can totally recommend Lori from Matted Memories on 1256 Talbot St. in Saint Thomas.
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