Whoopee! Our new website debuts!

Dear Friends:

We are so excited. This month marks the launch of the best and most comprehensive art site in the world! A real encyclopedia of today’s world of fine art priced for the contemporary art buyer. Not only is our “shopping cart” ordering system up and running....but we now have fabulous search capabilities which will make shopping for art a breeze. All this, plus an FAQ “learning center” with an easy to use glossary and great information about art and framing. There is also a system for saving your favorites and a way to register for gifts. And more.

Those of you that are used to ordering over the web will enjoy testing out our many features. If you are new to web browsing and buying, we are prepared to help you get real comfortable with our site. Just read the following hints, and if you need additional help, call me at 440.255.1200 or 800.621.1141....or email me directly. I’m janice@galleryone.com.

Click on http://www.galleryone.com/.

To do a quick search, use the search box in the upper right of each page. Enter the artist’s name or title that you seek - or “bear” if you’re looking for an image of a bear. Note that ALL the bears may not come up in a quick search. Only the pieces that have the characters b-e-a-r somewhere in the title, artist’s name or descriptions will show.

To see our POLAR bears, use the Subjects link in the left navigation. Start by clicking “Wildlife,” then “Bears,” then “polar bears.”

Another way to search is to click the Search button in the upper right of each page. It will take you to the Search page where you can, for example, ask to see all the Batemans in whatever price range you wish.

Now, we know there will be bugs and omissions. And we are dedicated to fixing them all. But with thousands of works of art....thousands of images...and miles of data, it will take us time...so we ask your patience....and your assistance.

YOU ARE THE EXPERTS IN HOW OUR WEBSITE SHOULD SERVICE YOU...and you are invited to complain, critique, suggest...and compliment us.

Just email us your comments and we will enter you in a weekly drawing for gifts, discounts and gift certificates. Of course, you will always earn our warm appreciation for taking the time to assist us.

Happy searching and happy shopping!

Janice and your friends at Gallery One

P.S. • Many images need to be improved. Dannette is working on those NOW. Norah Lynne is tackling and editing text. And Alan, Jen, Larry and Joanne are checking over every price....both for accuracy and for providing you with the very best prices in the industry. (You know, we will match or beat the prices of any authorized dealer!)

P.S. 2 • Our website is changing...but some things will NEVER change. Our commitment to the industry’s highest standards of MINT CONDITION works of art and excellence in custom framing prices, design and conservation will always be maintained.

P.S. 3 • BTW, don’t let the technology fool you. Behind each keystroke is a real person....a professional Gallery One staff member, personally dedicated to taking good care of you. Our goal is simple. It is the same goal that we had in 1974 when we began:

We want to be your favorite place to shop for art. Forever!

Buying art, collecting art, decorating with art and enjoying art! Where to begin?

Start here!

Look around your home (or office). If the area is already decorated...and if it was decorated by you or subject to your approval, you already know what colors please you...and you know a bit about the style of design that makes you comfortable. If you haven't committed yourself to colors or styles, look through home magazines and cut out pictures of rooms that really appeal to you.

Next, look around your home. Make a mental list of those spaces that cry out for art work. Those quite often include the wall spaces over sofas, mantles, beds, and credenzas. Analyze your lighting. Does harsh afternoon sun bathe the wall over your sofa? If so, make a note of it. Do you wish that your dining room had more windows? Jot that down.

Accumulate art and memorabilia that you already own. You might be able to appropriate and frame or reframe items that have been in your basement for years. (Such items often can be used in a new way to add personality to groupings, for example.)

Visit your budget. Framed works of good quality might run $500 and up. Can you afford to purchase several works of art at once? Or would one item at a time (perhaps paid for on layaway) suit you best?

If you have a quality art gallery in your community, visit often. When you are ready to buy, enlist the assistance of one of their knowledgeable art consultants. It is the job of the consultant to help you purchase what you like and what you can afford. The gallery will want your repeat business, and will strive to keep you happy.

Feel free to look, ask questions and enjoy. Share information about your home and your likes and dislikes. Reputable art dealers and consultants are knowledgeable and love sharing information with you. Check out informative web sites.










(At http://www.galleryone.com/, we have developed a "learning center" to assist collectors.
Click on www.galleryone.com/format_learningcenter.htm.)

Art pricing seems mysterious to the uninitiated buyer. Works that look similar might bear very different prices. Make certain that you understand why an item is priced the way it is prior to making a commitment to buy.

Finally, don't skimp on the framing. To do so is often like putting Ford tires on your Bentley. Quality art galleries have at least one Certified Picture Framer on staff to supervise the gallery's professional framers. Rely on those pros to make certain your art is framed appropriately.

That's all for now.
Norah Lynne Brown, VP & CPF

What a Difference a Frame Makes!

From fancy gold leaf to colorful textures, frames are now available in an incredible selection. But how do you choose the right one for your picture?

The style and size of the frame should be coordinated with the artwork and any matting or other decorative elements that will be used. The goal is a balanced design that enhances and provides a good presentation for the art, without overwhelming it.

Whether seeking period authenticity or eclectic flair, or anything in between, there is a line of frame mouldings to suit every style.

Some people use narrow, contemporary frames on all of their art, while others enjoy the elegance and drama of wide, ornate mouldings, even on small artwork. The best framing for each piece of art evolves from a combination of personal preference, current fashion and cultural traditions....helped along by advice from a truly knowledgeable professional.

You might have fun visiting us and trying different mouldings on a picture you want to have framed. Notice how different mouldings affect the appearance of the art: some look important, some look formal, others playful. There are many possibilities and looking is fun!

Of course, you’ll need a FRAMING PROFESSIONAL to guide you over technical aspects that affect conservation and composition. For example: 1. On matted subjects, be certain that the width of your matting is noticeably greater than the width of the frame. This helps draw one’s eye into the center of the framed item; i.e., the artwork will show off better. 2. Liners must be properly sized to balance out the frame, again so the eye can roll easily onto the art itself. 3. There are many choices relative to the type of glass you can use...or your art may benefit from NO glass. Your framing professional can advise you. 4. Frame colors are as important as proportions and need to be carefully selected in order to show off your artwork. 5. And, of course, your professional framer should automatically provide appropriate conservation measures to protect your treasures.

Gallery One’s custom framing department is full-service....providing sleek basic metals for posters, a full-line of top quality mouldings for prints, paintings and memorabilia....and now, outstanding “top of the line” artisan frames influenced by history and designed to be tomorrow’s heirlooms. This new line of custom frames will take your breath away. These out-of-this world frames are individually crafted...and are works of art themselves, with 22k gold finishes water-gilded by hand. The corners are “finished” after they are joined — i. e., the joints can not be seen.

The impeccable craftsmanship in this collection has applications for fine art, historic portraits and original period art. And for mirrors and memorabilia as well. The collection is organized by styles: Italian, Spanish, Dutch, American and contemporary. These frames are expensive. They are fabulous. They are more than worth it. And they beautifully augment our “usual and unusual” custom mouldings.

So whether you are framing Suzy’s first report card or your family’s prized original painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, we’ve got you covered...with great design and composition and never-failing conservation materials and techniques. All at prices that are unbelievably low...way below industry standards!

(By the way, we also have a new line of well-priced great-looking ready-made frames...designed by Gallery One designers for a truly custom look at ready-made prices.)

How do we do it all...and do it well?

Our Gallery One staff has nearly 200 years experience in fine art and custom framing...and three Certified Picture Framers in supervisiory capacities. Our suppliers are tops in our industry. And our commitment to taking good care of our clients is legendary.

That's all for now.
NL

Gallery One Wins TWO International Framing Awards

Take a look at TWO Gallery One award-winning entries in international framing competitions! Decades ago, Alan Brown (Gallery One CPF) entered two Professional Picture Framing Assoc. (1978 & 1985) competitions...and was a winner in both. Framers were given identical prints...and were judged on superior design and conservation. Alan’s framing techniques were revolutionary at the time. Now they are part of our “usual and customary” framing systems.




SPECIAL NOTE: In 1986, Norah Lynne and Alan Brown were among the first picture framers in the world to earn the coveted Certified Picture Framer’s designation. Today, Gallery One’s framing and shipping departments are supervised by Peggy Snyder, long-time CPF.

Conserve & Protect: An Art & Framing Feature

Conservation framing (sometimes called preservation framing) refers to the materials and techniques used by picture framers to frame valued art and objects to the highest standards. From matboards to glass to the paper cover on the back of the frame, today’s framers can provide a variety of specialized products and methods to display art and objects in the best possible environment.

As in any skilled craft, each professional framer develops an individual style of conservation framing, but there are a few principles generally regarded as standard: 1. All materials used in the framing should be stable, non-staining and acid-free. 2. All attachments used to support art or objects in the frame must be completely reversible, with no harm to the art or objects. 3. If glass is used in the framing, there must be space between the art and the glass.

What deserves conservation framing?
Anything being framed that has value to its owner deserves conservation framing. This might be fine art or investment art — or it may be a family heirloom. It may be a college degree — or it a child’s crayon drawing.

Conservation framing helps to preserve the value and condition of the art and objects you display in your home or office, and it usually does not cost much more than standard framing. Ask your framer about conservation services any time you have something framed that is valuable to you.

FYI, inexperienced and/or unskilled framers often masquerade as experts in conservation. For the protection of your art and memorabilia, we suggest that you entrust your valuable works to frameshops and galleries supervised by a CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER. Call us or email and we will assist you in locating a CPF in your community. Or ask us to frame your art and objects for you. (email: art@galleryone.com)

That's all for now!
Norah Lynne Brown, CPF
(one of three CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMERS on duty at Gallery One)

P.S. Because you asked! Alan continues to lose weight....he is now FAT...and has left his obese status way behind. He tells me that he needs to lose 30 more pounds to be normal. You, too, can check out your Body Mass Index (if you dare) at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

Picture Walls: An Art & Framing Feature

A picture wall displays a group of framed items in a coordinated design. The frames may be of the same style or of the same color, but most often a picture wall includes a variety of different frames. The artwork may be united by a theme: vacation photos, a collection of sports memorabilia or family portraits. Or connected by subject matter: coastal scenes depicted in photos, watercolor paintings, old engravings, etc. Color might be the unifying factor as color-themed picture walls have a lot of impact, bringing the coolness of blue or the vibrancy of red into the room. Some of the best picture walls display an eclectic mix of sizes, colors and styles that reflects a range of personal preferences and experiences. Such a collection does not have to be limited to pictures. The arrangement can include mirrors, shelves and/or objects.

When placing various sizes of frames and art together, arrange each piece so that one outside edge is in line with another picture next to it, either vertically or horizontally. This technique helps bring a sense of balance to the grouping. Keep the space between frame edges fairly small, typically two to four inches. This will visually "gather the group together." (A great measuring tool to distance one frame from another is your hand...approximately 4” across!) The grouping can build from the center and spread out in all directions....or be developed into a rectangular shape. An irregular shape is very useful if you are likely to add to the items after the initial hanging.

As a picture wall involves several nail holes, work at organizing the collection on the floor in front of the wall where it will hang before moving the items to the wall. Many collectors cut newspaper to the size of each framed item and tape these mock frames to the wall with removable tape before attacking the wall with nails and hooks.

When hanging pictures above a sofa, consider that the bottom of the lowest frame leaves clearance for the head of a seated person. But don't go higher, or the pictures will seem to be floating instead of being visually attached to the sofa. (We suggest that you work with a partner to position art work....and the one that recommends the lowest position is the winner of the “space and place” competition!)

If there is not furniture against the picture wall, and if there are a number of objects to hang, the arrangement can cover the entire wall from ceiling to floor for a dramatic presentation.

Avoid direct sunlight or other strong direct light on the art. Keep track lighting and overhead picture lights away from close contact with artwork as heat from the bulbs can damage the art. Fluorescent lights (including the new compact curly bulbs)may cause fading of some artwork.

Molly and toggle bolts are usually reserved for heavy mirrors. And we personally (except for such mirrors) hang away from studs. Two standard picture hooks should be used for each item hung to "steady" the item.

I'll be happy to take your emailed or phoned questions. Our goal is to help you build a great collection of art...for your enjoyment.

That's all for now.
Norah Lynne

Celebrate Nat'l Art & Framing Month (all October)

Two things continue to astound me relative to the art and framing world:

#1. I am constantly amazed by the number of collectors who take great care and spend many dollars to select artwork...and then skimp on framing the item...often sacrificing appearance or conservation — or both — just to save a few bucks — or a couple of inches.


#2. And I am more than perplexed that many collectors (not ours) are happy to leave their fine art in the care of neophyte framers.

The sad fact is that you can be "a professional picture framer" just by announcing that you are. You can brag that you are an expert in conservation and preservation of fine art without ever being professionally trained, tested or certified. Thus, in handling artwork, you are probably devaluing the items you handle through your ignorance and inexperience.

So this is my plea to you — the art collector: Celebrate National Art and Framing Month (October) in your community by insisting on placing your art in the care of a CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER. We cannot promise that a CPF will treat your artwork as it should be treated...just as we cannot promise that your M.D. got all A’s in medical school. But you’d hardly want to put yourself in the care of a “self-styled doc” who didn’t even complete medical training.

BTW, even if you are one of our mail,

phone or email clients, we are more than

happy to frame your treasures. You’ll

love our pricing, our frame design and

our techniques for design, preservation

and conservation. (Or we can give you the name(s) of CPFs in your community.) FYI, our THREE (3) CPFs supervise every step of your framing process for the protection of your valuable art and/or memorabilia...
GUARANTEED!

For the rest of October, we will cram our blog with info about art and framing...and decorating hints. Feel free to email us with your questions and comments for our ART CONSULTANTS (Jen, Larry, Norah Lynne or Alan) and CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMERS (you might want to ask for Peggy...she is a long-time CPF...director of our award-winning custom framing department).

That’s all for now!

Norah Lynne Brown, CPF (since 1986)

Pictured above:
top: 3 Certified Picture Framers posing prettily!
center: Peggy, in blue, ruling the roost in Gallery One's framing department.
bottom: Experienced framer, Dannette, framing herself.