Faux Bois finishes.

Ammi Phillips   (American, 1787-1865)

Frame designed after an original, circa 1830, on an Ammi Phillips painting, believed to have been executed by the artist. Faux Bois, polychrome finish, simulating cross grain , mahogany veneer.

The range of finishes is broad; expressionistic, like the above, only roughly simulating wood, but having it's own charm, to meticulous examples that do look like wood.

This is an example not trying to look like anything; it's just a painted finish that has worked well on certain paintings. In the spirit of the Ammi Phillips frame.

This one is vaguely supposed to look like burled wood, but is like the others, free form and expressionistic, designed to harmonize in color, but also a counterpoint to the tightness and planar quality of the painting.

Some of the brushes I use when doing false finishes. At the top is a much abused synthetic fiber flat, appreciated for the way the hairs splay out. Next, a watercolor flat, that I try not and abuse. Third, an oil color, natural hair, fan blender, with a broken handle. (The broken handle has no significance, by the way.) Bottom, a natural hair, sable watercolor brush I use for fine lines. If the brushes look wet, it's because they are, as I've just finished a frame, that when dry and sealed, I'll photograph and explain how it was done.