At Sarah Balinskas Art Services, we are proud to offer our own line of handcrafted hardwood frames. Each frame from our In-House Hardwood collection is milled and joined prior to finishing, resulting in seamless, closed corners — a hallmark of fine frame making. These closed corner frames are distinguished by their beauty, construction, and timeless versatility. Take a look at some of the available hardwoods and custom finishes below.
Bleached Maple Gray Wash
For this early shin-hanga print by Hasui Kawase, a clean, no-fuss approach is best. Natural maple is bleached to remove its color and topped with gray wash, resulting in a cool, muted tone that complements the work without overpowering it.
White Painted Maple
Our Painted Maple frames are distinguished by their sleek, seamless appearance and velvety matte finish. Here, White Painted Maple brings light and airiness to this Jaune Quick-to-See Smith lithograph — a rare print commemorating the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Bird's Eye Maple
One of several grain variations appearing in maple wood, Bird's Eye is a unique variety named for its pattern of small, swirling knots resembling eyes — a fitting choice for this swirling Paul Mogensen print!
Walnut Provincial
Walnut finished with a warm, rich stain creates a beautiful framework for this pair of João Modé textile works. For each piece, we custom wrapped velvet-on-rag breathers to match the textile and create a subtle sense of depth.
Walnut Black
A custom notch frame in our Black Walnut finish follows the cut-out collage feeling of this T-shaped John Baldessari print. Working with found images, Baldessari recomposed photographic imagery from film stills and stock photography into prints and collages that played with language, perception, and visual logic.
White Wash Oak
White-washed oak in a 'peaked' profile accentuates the delicacy and fine detail of this Andrew Raftery print. The peaked frame creates a delicate window pane effect, as though we are looking in on the scene, and the striated oak grain mimics the close etching.
Black Rub Oak
John Biggers is perhaps best known for his public murals, especially those painted during his time in Houston. Given the artist's connection to the city, black-rubbed oak is a poetic choice for this early lithograph.
Cherry Natural
With its unusual color and buttery smooth grain, cherry wood is the off-beat beauty of our In-House Hardwood line. Paired with this Ram Kumar painting, it brings out the earthy browns, rusts, and ochre pigments throughout the work.
