Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Sampler of Al Young Studios Frame Styles Part 2

"Fluted" frame style
"Acanthus" frame style
Our Studio often chooses between these two frame styles to display original oil paintings--styles known here at the Studio as the "Acanthus" and the "Fluted." 
 Each frame is hand-crafted, gold-leafed, and uniquely antiqued.  Either molding can be constructed with or without decorative corners.  The original, left, was framed without corners, while the original, right, was framed with corners (see also close-up, below).  The frames pictured here also include a small frame "liner," which is also an optional addition to any of our Studio frame styles.
"Acanthus" frame style
"Fluted" frame style with "corners"

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

On the Easel: Elspeth works on 18th painting in The Messiah Collection

Small detail from painting in progress by Elspeth Young
Elspeth is working on a new painting for the Studio's Messiah Collection.  It will depict a mother bringing her little child to the Savior, as described in 3 Nephi 17: 11-24.  Though the Savior, Himself, is not visible within the painting, the young one stretches forth her hand to Him, and in turn, His radiant light encircles her in hope, healing, and, symbolically, the ministering of angels. 
The young one's earnest reaching for Christ is intended by the artist to symbolize the need for all mankind to "repent, and be baptized in [the Savior's] name, and become as a little child" (3 Nephi 11:38)--to be a visual reminder of the Savior's teaching that we too must reach for Christ and "be converted, and become as little children [to] enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).  In the words of Jean A. Stevens, "Our Heavenly Father knows children are a key to helping us become like Him . . . . to become more childlike . . . is a process by which we can become more Christlike."