Custom framing is a highly specialized craft. Think about it–one must have the ability to take a painting or a photograph or some other very personal work of art and, by using your eye and your skills, contain it, protect it and enhance it!
That all seems very complicated to me. Yet this is what Penny Wyatt of Wyatt Design does every day of her life.
She began her career working in a frame shop here in Buffalo and in 1999, decided to open her own shop. But Penny found that building frames was just part of it. She also discovered that she loved the dialog and interaction with the various artists just as much or even more than building frames! Penny is very hands on in a wonderful quiet way, embracing her clients and if needed, guiding them through the framing process. Each person who Penny works with has his or her own set of needs and criteria and itis Pennyis job to discover what they are. For instance, an artist may have issues such as time restrictions. There may be special technical aspects concerning a piece such as weight or size. There may be a need for the creation of an added dimensional aspect to a two dimensional surface. Which of the iwhitesi is the right matt for the piece, if indeed white is the color at all? Will the piece or pieces need to be transported and therefore require special qualities? It goes far beyond picking out an attractive fame!
I love Wyatt Designs wonderful new space at 301 Parkside Ave., located directly across from the Buffalo Zoo. Penny laughs that during the winter, while the leaves are off the trees, sheis been able to visit the zoo without leaving her store. Penny can actually see some of the animals while standing at her showroom work table!
Speaking of Wyatt Designis new space, I asked about the wonderful interior colors that were chosen. This is a very yummy mix of a punched up Tuscan palette with a bold, saturated ocher, modern avocado, teal, a deep regal purple and an orange that wonit stop. Penny said that all of the colors were paints that she had been collecting over the years from a local paint storeis iOoops!i shelf! And the fabulous orange was actually a gift of leftover paint from friends in Ithaca that was even MORE vibrant in itis original state, if that can be imagined! But the space really is very iPennyi; a subtle combination of bold yet quiet self assurance all filtered through a talented risk taking eye.
Penny works with both a large and devoted group of artists as well as with iciviliansi that have an occasional need for their own home or office. She said that while the process is similar, she finds that an interior or home project does tend to be a bit more decorative and personal in the choices that are made. Artist tends to be more involved with cost and the enhancement of the piece. So with more than 1000 frame samples to choose from, this still can become an overwhelming experience for the uninitiated, leading one to what Penny calls their iframing threshold.i Her years of work enable her to observe the clues and direct her customer into the perfect selection.
As I was there, one of her artists stopped in with a painting that needed to be submitted to a show within the next couple of days. I watched Penny and her easy-going style travel through the process and come up with the perfect matt and frame! He was happy. She was happy! It just reinforced the lovely experience that comes along working with Penny and the rarified world of Wyatt Design.
Wyatt Design
301 Parkside Ave / across from the Buffalo Zoo entrance @ Russell
716.885.3211