Happy Holidays from ArtFinders!

Thanhardt-Burger: Deluxe Hand-Crafted Frames Made in the U.S.A.

Another of ArtFinders’ favorite framing partners is Thanhardt-Burger. Thanhardt-Burger is one of the few framers that still builds, carves, and embellishes historically accurate American and European frame styles using centuries-old, traditional techniques. Each frame is itself a work of art.

Thanhardt-Burger frames are perfect for heirlooms, fine paintings, photographic or painted portraits, fine prints, and stately decorative custom mirrors.

Unlike length moldings, these frames are crafted to minimize any seams at the corners. Many times the corners are embellished and ornamented to disguise any seam. Some of the unfinished ornamental detail castings can be seen in the photo below:

Once the frame and ornament is complete the frame is then hand finished with an under coat of color (rub), metallic leafing, and then the frame undergoes treatment with various patinas and treatments to achieve the desired surface finish.

Since each frame is hand-crafted from scratch it can take up to 8 weeks to complete this labor intensive process.

You can see Thanhardt-Burger frames for yourself on several paintings at Walter E. Smithe’s Oak Brook furniture store or you can call ArtFinders to make an appointment to see some samples in your home or office.

Below is a series of paintings featuring Thanhardt-Burger frames:

Above and below are two paintings by Albert with very ornate frames with lots of detail.

 

Above: An ornate frame for a painting by Chapaud. 

Above: This Raffandre painting has a more classical and simple frame with only subtle acanthus leaf motif at the corners.

Above: “Garden Steps” by Young features a frame with a nice balance between simplicity and ornamentation.

Above: Another frame with minimal ornament.

 

Above: White gold patina perfect for French-inspired interiors.

Above and below: Hand-crafted frames featuring clean lines perfect for contemporary styles.

Tally ho!

This piece just missed getting into the equestrian art post from a couple of weeks ago.
Here in suburban Chicago we are located near some areas that are known for their horse breeding and equestrian sports. At this time of year the Wayne-DuPage Hunt in Wayne, IL just a few miles from ArtFinders HQ holds drag hunts that don’t involve chasing live foxes. The painting above is by Riedmann.

Consign It, Don’t Store It!

Have you redecorated or moved to a new home and now some art in your collection just doesn’t work for you any more? Do you have art in the basement or in closets gathering dust and in danger of getting damaged? Consider consigning the items for possible sale through ArtFinders. Someone else might love it as much as you did. Send us an e-mail with a picture of the item or items to artfinders@gmail.com. Make sure you give us as much information as you can about the art work: artist, type of art, title, where and when purchased, condition, and approximate purchase price. We’ll let you know if we think we can find a new home for your art.

Trifecta! Fine Wine, Fine Furniture, & Fine Art October 15 & 16, 2010.

 

Please join ArtFinders, Toms-Price Home Furnishings, and wine consultant, Priscilla Blagaich for a two-day wine tasting, fine art, and fine furnishings celebration in honor of the opening of Toms-Price Home Furnishings’ new location at the Arboretum of South Barrington.

The wine tasting will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday October 15, 2010 and again on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Wine consultant, Priscilla Blagaich, will introduce you to an exclusive line of delicious boutique wines.

While you are enjoying your wines and admiring Toms-Price’s selection of chic home furnishings, you can leisurely browse a diverse selection of art work from all over the world. Art consultants from ArtFinders will be on hand to discuss the art work with you and assist you with any questions you may have about your art collection.

What: Fine Wine, Fine Furniture, Fine Art

When: Friday, October 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. or Saturday, October 16 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Where: Toms-Price Home Furnishings, Arboretum of South Barrington J-40, South Barrington, IL 60010.

We’ll see you there!

Another Masterpiece…

…courtesy of Masterpiece Framing. Wow. The frame has just been completed on this gracious wine painting by Luzanquis. It looks stunning.

Here is a close-up shot of the quadruple stack frame that does such a great job of enhancing the painting:

The piece was framed using only the best, Larson-Juhl frames. Masterpiece Framing is an exclusive dealer of Larson-Juhl frames.

Equine Art

There is something about a work of art featuring a beautiful horse that gives the viewer a feeling of power, romanticism, and freedom. Whether you own horses or simply admire their beauty we have several artists and styles from which to select in this genre.  Equine portraits: Consider having a portrait commissioned of your favorite horse or select from several existing portraits by the artist, Tapia. Tapia’s paintings are a great choice for those who prefer a traditional look.


Equestrian sports are also a popular theme as seen below with Renalv’s “Hunt Scene,”  “Polo” by Lopesalcedo, and “Race at the Paddock” by Marquez-Velazquez.



Equine art is also available for those with transitional and contemporary styles. The pieces by Morante below can be displayed with gallery wrap style stretchers for a contemporary presentation that looks great without a frame.


The horse-themed paintings above are just a tiny sample of what is available. Equine art is always in style and available in just about every art form and media. Call us if you have any special requests!

Viktor Shvaiko

Above: “Sunny Day in Venice” 1999, 55 x 34” limited edition of 325.

Just in! Two romantic realism hand-embellished giclees on canvas by Viktor Shvaiko. These are both hard-to-find, sold out limited editions.

BIOGRAPHY: Born in Altai, one of Russia's most remote and off-the-beaten-track towns, Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the beauty of the wilderness. His natural inclination for fine arts and his strong urge to share his vision of nature drove him to find a way into the Novoaltaisk Artistic School, one of the two best schools for the arts in the former Soviet Union. Four years of strenuous studies enabled Viktor, a very diligent student, to acquire the skills of a true artist.

Viktor credits his teacher, Ilbek Khairoullinov, for a true fine arts education. A strict regimen of drawing, an intricate technique of using colors, and the influence of the 19th century Russian artist Karl Brynllow brought Viktor Shvaiko close to a traditional academic style of painting. After having attained technical excellence in the manner of these traditional influences, the artist now possessed the tools with which to express his feelings to the world.

Above: “Conte Pescaor” 1997, 47 x 32” limited edition of 325.

At this point, Viktor's main focus became the beautiful Altai landscapes.

The Shvaiko family then moved to Transkarpathia, the western mountainous portion of Ukraine. There Viktor became enchanted with the picturesque and breathtakingly beautiful countryside. He continued to paint and was invited to show in two one-person expositions in Moukachevo in 1990 and a group exhibition in Hungary in 1991.

Shvaiko chafed under the stifling effect that the lingering Russian bureaucracy had on the careers of young artists. Unable to get a visa to a Western country, Viktor was permitted to travel to Yugoslavia. In the confusion of the civil war, he fled to Italy with his paintings strapped to his back, often encountering gunfire from roving bands of militia.

Above: “Bordeaux and Pearls” 2004, 44 x 30” limited edition of  60.

Having arrived in Italy virtually penniless, Viktor survived by selling his paintings on the streets of Rome. He managed to build a following for himself, and save some money. He eventually returned to a now more liberalized Russia, and was able to obtain passage to America.

Arriving in New York with little money and less English, Viktor was again able to survive by selling his work. It was here he developed his penchant for painting the little cafes and other intimate places that we see in his work today, and that have become his trademark. His enticing mix of beauty and mystery has drawn the interest and admiration of collectors from around the world.

Michael & Inessa Garmash

Just in! Two sold-out limited edition hand-embellished giclees on canvas by Michael and Inessa Garmash.
At left is “Toes in the Sand,”  30 x 24”, from an edition of 195.
Below is “A Walk on the Beach,” 48 x 24”, from an edition of 95.


Husband and Wife Team, Romantic Impressionists 

It all started in the little town of Lugansk in Ukraine, 1969. An early starter, Mr. Garmash began painting at the age of three. By age six he started his formal education at the Lugansk Youth Creative Center. Recognizing rare, natural talent, his teachers sent his works to a variety of exhibitions in the then Soviet Union.
An award winning artist from the onset, Mr. Garmash received first prizes at several juried exhibitions, including the Lugansk Regional Juried Exhibition—1977 (Best Poster), the Czechoslovakian International Youth Competition—1978, and the Hungarian International Art Competition of Circus Related Art—1978.  
After graduating, valedictorian from the Lugansk State Fine Art College in 1987, Mr. Garmash began teaching there the following year. From 1989 to 1991, he served in the army (when he met his wife and partner, Inessa) and in 1992 began studying at the St. Petersburg Academy of Art. Prior to graduating at the top of his prestigious school’s class, Mr. Garmash exhibited in France at galleries in cities such as Paris, St. Etienne, Avignon, Lion and Marcel.  
Mr. Garmash also took part in the annual Exhibitions in St. Petersburg, Russia. In addition to painting, he has also excelled in the creation of stained-glass windows and received an honorary medal for his work in the Suvorov Military Museum in St. Petersburg.
Ms. Garmash, born Inessa Kitaichik in 1972 Lipetsk, Russia, has excelled in the arts since early childhood. Proving herself in ballet, gymnastics and music, Ms. Garmash attended classes in all three disciplines and, after graduating from music and ballet school, entered the Lugansk Fine Art School at age fifteen. At seventeen she was accepted as that year's best undergraduate to the Lugansk State Fine Art School. 
Today, Mr. and Mrs. Garmash are considered two of the finest Romantic Impressionists of our day. Their incredible talent is only matched by their love and career stories. In similar fashion to the determination of his artwork, Mr. Garmash courted his future wife, after seeing her for but a moment, by painting her image all over her hometown while she slept. She immediately recognized the passion with which this man cared so dearly and married him shortly thereafter.
The Garmashs began their artistic collaboration in much the same way. Several years after their marriage, Mr. Garmash began a painting of their two-year old daughter, Polina, for a project at school. However, Polina found the painting during her father’s absence and decided to embark upon her own artistic career. Ms. Garmash, after seeing what her daughter had done and not wanting her husband to be upset, fixed the painting using her own training, packed it up and gave it to him for submission. Mr. Garmash submitted the painting for review and was praised for completing his best work ever. He was surprised to see the "new" painting and immediately recognized his wife's hand. They have painted together every since. 

New Chicago Series by Matt Puchalski

Chicago is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city in which so many of us are proud to live, work, and do business. For this reason we are excited to offer Matt Puchalski’s latest series of giclees. The giclee above depicts the landmark bronze lions that flank the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago on a moonlit night. Is there a better and more romantic way to show your civic pride and appreciation for art and culture than by displaying “Guardians” as shown above?  We just love this piece!

In addition to being beautiful residential art works, “Guardians” and the other Chicago designs from this series (seen by clicking the album below) are perfect for decorating commercial/office spaces. Each image or suite of images can be ordered in custom colors and sizes.

View Full Album

“Willis Tower”  is an imposing image that measures 6’ tall. It is an excellent choice for an area requiring a large vertical art work.

Click here to see more about Matt Puchalski's art work.

Luzanquis' Wine Paintings

The still life paintings of Luzanquis are highly regarded for their old-world charm and celebration of the joy of wine and wine connoisseurship.

We like to suggest Luzanquis wine paintings for dining rooms, butler pantries, foyers, halls, libraries, kitchens, and wine cellars.

They are a natural choice for restaurants.

 

The timeless elegance of the subject of wine and winemaking make Luzanquis paintings a perennial traditional favorite.

By the way, the aged-looking, cracked texture that Luzanquis achieves on these contemporary pieces is known as "craqueleur."

Click here for biographical information about Bartolomeo Luzanquis and images of some of his other paintings.

"Surging Skyline II" by Matt Puchalski

Dynamic Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan scape originally rendered in pastels by Chicago artist, Matt Puchalski. Available as a limited edition giclee on canvas or photo paper in custom sizes.

Private Residence: Contemporary Urban Loft

Above: Abstract paintings by Anton Weiss.

This kind of vertical installation of two or more pieces is known as a "stack." This home features very high ceilings with second-storey views, so two stacks of similar abstracts by the same artist were installed to great effect.

ArtFinders were very excited to have the opportunity to help this homeowner select art and framing for this home. This is the swankest urban loft we have ever seen and includes multiple levels of a once-commercial property. We love the way the designer has selected neutral colors throughout the rest of the home and used the art to add exciting color.

These abstract oil paintings are by Andre Padilla. Padilla's abstract baroque style has the dramatic feel needed to add some color and energy to the expanse of wall with 18' ceilings. Bold Larson Juhl frames help to group the paintings in with the console.

Below: A custom 8' wide limited edition giclee of "Surging Skyline" by Matt Puchalski in pride of place. The artist was present to supervise and assist with the installation of this piece.

Below: This is a contemporary landscape by Tienhaara. Have you noticed what a great job the homeowner and designer have done in selecting pieces of art that are different, but have a similar boldness of style and color palette? That thread of similarity has given all the pieces in the expanse of the loft a sense of continuity and design.

Below: An original mixed media abstract on canvas by Jim England.

Below: An abstract oil painting on canvas by Collins.

There is more to see (like sculpture!), but we will revisit this loft in a future post.

Portfolio: Private Residence

"English Garden" by Pena

"Mediterranean Bayside Garden" by Andre Jouan

"Vineyard" by Covian

Room view of "Hillside Village" by Harvey

"Hillside Village" by Harvey