FRAMING
My woodworking practice started in part with live music, mostly Phish. I began casually collecting posters from shows I went to, framing them myself to save money, and as the posters got nicer I was inspired to make the frames nicer. I use poplar as a primary wood - it's forgiving but solid, and takes stains and paints well. And because they're concert posters I exercise little restraint, opting for something bold that expands on the print itself.
Phish at Lakewood Amphitheater, Syracuse, NY, July 2016. Painted poplar frame with symmetrical carving of birds perched and in flight, and commemorative coin inset.
Phish at Riviera Maya, Mexico, January 2016. Poplar frame with black ink stain, tiger maple inlay with emerald green ink stain, clear polyurethane finish. The advantages to this method are that poplar is easier to work than maple, and stenciling the pattern on a maple frame would not only be difficult to do cleanly but also show the grain figuring in the black portion of the frame, which here looks nice and solid throughout.
Phish at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV, Halloween run 2014. Poplar frames with red ink stain, tiger maple inlay, coin inset and carved and painted detail. I was going for a vintage marquee theme, as if the inlay were lights. It was pure luck that I got the spacing right without many attempts and lots of math, especially since the frame is wider at the bottom than on the top and sides. That was done to accommodate the commemorative show coins, which can be popped out via a small hole in the back of each frame.
Phish at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY, August 2015. Poplar frame with black ink stain, carved and painted chevron details, coin inset, and temporary tattoo made permanent under a clear polyurethane finish. If I were to do it again, I'd probably put the chevrons at the top and bottom center rather than on the sides, starting and ending the raceway motif.
Phish at Madison Square Garden, NYC, New Year's run 2018. Poplar frame carved and painted cotton candy pink and blue, complementing the dominant tones of the print.