Christopher Setlock Fine Picture Frames

Artists & Artisans

Review me

Christopher Setlock Fine Picture Frames

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Project Year: 2007

Project Cost: $1,000 - $2,500

Country: United States

Zip Code: 15217

This is a completely different frame. I realized too late that I hadn\'t taken a picture of the actual frame after joining, but this is a similar frame from a few years ago. Let\'s pretend it\'s the same one. In most cases, I start with raw basswood, which I buy already milled to shape. I sometimes...

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

This is the frame after being primed with 6 or 8 coats of gesso, then sanded and scraped with cabinet scrapers. "Gesso" is the Italian word for plaster, but usually refers to the ground or primer material used by painters or framemakers. My gesso is a homemade concoction of rabbit skin glue, finely...

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

This is the frame after the application of composition ornaments. Composition ornaments, or "Compo" is a primitive plastic material first developed in the 17th century to enable mass production of carved details for the decorative arts. If you have a victorian house with curlicues around the...

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Next, the frame is painted with yellow ochre casien paint. Casien is a milk based paint that is often used to paint sets for the theater. It's water based and very densely pigmented.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

After the yellow is dried and sealed with a coat of thin shellac, the highlights are painted with red casien.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

This is the frame freshly gilded. It's awfully bright and garish by contemporary standards, and needs some toning down.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Here is a close up of three corner samples I made at the same time as the frame itself.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

This photo shows the frame after the second of three layers of toning.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

This is a close up of the Sienna washed corners. The final look is coming together, but we're not there yet.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

This is the finished frame.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

Here is a close up of the finished corner samples. May they generate many sales!

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

Here is the finished frame laying on our living room rug.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame - Products

Here is the finished frame laying on our living room rug.

Creating a compo and metal leaf frame