D-Ring Hangers

   D-Ring Hangers are a popular choice of wire hanging hardware for todays framer. The name is descriptive of the "D" shaped wire ring that is used for attaching hanging wire. D-Ring Hangers are also known as Strap Hangers and Flap Hangers and come in a variety of configurations, from the number of mounting holes, length and width, and the maximum recommended hanging weight, so be sure to know what your requirements are before purchasing and installing.

   On most projects I use D-Ring Hangers with two or more holes because I want the extra protection that two mounting screws provide, i.e. should one mounting screw fail. (see below example of a 3-hole D-Ring Hanger that is rated to hold up to 45 lbs.)

 

    When considering hanging requirements on a frame project I include the total weight of the artwork and frame. I also take into consideration the moulding width (Do I have room for 2-hole or 3-hole hangers?) and moulding depth (You don't want mounting screws that could protrude through the front of the frame because they are too long.) NOTE: I personally do not recommend using hangers that have only one mounting hole. If your frame width is too narrow, and you are like me and want the added security of more than one mounting hole, do not think that you are limited to a one-hole D-Ring Hanger. There are two-hole hardware options other than D-Ring Hangers that I will discuss in my next post.

At Painting Frames Plus we offer a wide variety of D-Ring Hanger styles.: D-Ring Hanger Products

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    There are some best-practice techniques for installing D-Ring Hangers that I have learned over the years, and I have put together a short tutorial to help you with your framing projects.

To see the tutorial, please follow this link... D-Ring Hanger Installation Tutorial

I hope you enjoy,
John O'Keefe

Renaissance Frame History

The first moveable frames started appearing during the renaissance period which roughly spanned from c.1400 to c.1600. Early frame designs included the tabernacle and cassetta styles and were based on the architectural entablature...

To read entire article please follow this link:
http://www.paintingframesplus.com/okeefe-arts_frames_gallery_renaissance.php

Barbizon School Style Frame: BARB001

Today's frame...

For more information please follow this link...
http://www.paintingframesplus.com/okeefe-arts_frames_gallery_BARB001.php

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder! (Louis XIV)

    I sold a frame today to someone who was re-framing a very special wedding photo for their anniversary. This sale got me thinking about my frames and my business, how so? Well, if you really think about it, art is very personal. We all have unique tastes and what one person may call beautiful another may not. Being an artist, I have seen this first hand with my own works. There are paintings that I have created that are my personal favorites and yet they are not the paintings most frequently commented on. Other paintings that I thought were so-so have been the paintings to sell first. I have one painting in particular that I refer to as my love-it-or-hate-it painting; "Lilac Pond". I have received feedback that mosquitos should be coming out of the water while others have found it very peaceful and relaxing.

"Lilac Pond" by John O'Keefe Jr.
 

    If the above is true for art, then it must also be true for what frames our art, right? I say yes! Here is a perfect example, I recently received a sample of a new frame (Baroque Louis XIV) that I will be adding to my inventory and my wife absolutely hated it! I however, thought it was beautiful! I try to keep sample frames in the house, usually framing one of my paintings or painting reproductions. She doesn't always like my frame choices but they end up on my walls anyway, however this particular frame I think she will be taking off the wall herself and hiding it for fear I would rehang it. Even though we may not always agree on what is beautiful (she thinks Pug dogs are beautiful and I think they look like aliens) one thing that we do agree upon is that there is art and beauty in so much that is around us, and frames are no exception to this. I guess an argument could be made that the frames themselves are a piece of art ... art framing art! But really ... Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Baroque: Louis XIV Style Reproduction Frame

    So I would like to finish up by saying what an absolute privilege it is to play a part in the finishing touches of such a personal and amazing anniversary gift that I mentioned at the outset. May they have many more years of love and happiness surrounded by the beauty that can be found in all things, even frames!

To order the Baroque: Louis XIV style frame shown above follow this link...
http://www.paintingframesplus.com/okeefe-arts_frames_gallery_LXIV003.php

Renaissance Frame REN005

Todays Frame is:

http://www.paintingframesplus.com/okeefe-arts_frames_gallery_785.php
Check it out!

Painting Frames Plus is Open for Business!!!

   We are officially online now. After months of work our website and supply chain is ready to go. Painting Frames Plus is an online retailer of read-made and reproduction frames. We work directly with some of our frame makers and can thus offer a wider range of styles, sizes and finishes than most other online frame suppliers.

    As a professional artist I am very interested in putting high quality frames on my paintings and most of the frames that we offer are frames that I exhibit with. I prefer to select reproductions that actually are modeled after authentic frames from history, and therefore our site is set up from that standpoint... frames are categorized by historical periods and artistic style.  (see a few examples below)

Louis XIII             Louis XV           2nd Empire         Renaissance

Barbizon School       Federal           Arts & Crafts

    To help you better understand frames and their history I am incorporating into the website a series of short (living) articles that discuss each historical period and frame style, and you can compare our reproductions for yourself.

To view our frame article library follow this link...
http://www.paintingframesplus.com/okeefe-arts_frames_gallery_timeline.php

Please check us out at... http://www.paintingframesplus.com/

I hope you enjoy!
John