Go back to school with FBN's annual Framing Training School Guide

Art Business News, March, 2003

If your eye for design is blurring or your cutting skills are getting rusty, it may be time to get back in the classroom. To help you find the right class, Framing Business News presents the annual Framing Training School Guide. This year's guide is our most comprehensive yet, with several new schools and updated schedules and prices. Most schools provide basic to advanced framing classes and offer convenient schedules in locations across the United States and Canada.

AMERICAN PICTURE FRAMING ACADEMY

122 Spring St., Suite B1 Hartford, CT 06489 6345 South Pecos Road, Suite 106 Las Vegas, NV 89120 888-840-9605 Fax: (413) 647-4553 Web site: www.pictureframingschool.com

The American Picture Framing Academy offers classes and workshops to both framers and frame shop owners/managers. The school is for people who want to start custom picture framing businesses or learn the skills of professional framing.

The comprehensive, five-day course offers instruction in the latest professional framing methods, including creative mat cutting and decoration, mounting techniques, frame cutting and joining, glass cutting and glazing procedures, fitting and more. Students are also exposed to the basics of frame design and selection, retail and corporate sales techniques, pricing strategies, frame shop management and advertising strategies.

The school features state-of-the-art equipment and modern teaching facilities. Lodging is within walking distance of the school. Some scholarships and financial aid may be available. Materials are included in the tuition. The five-day course costs $750. Call for a schedule.

CANADIAN PICTURE FRAMERS SCHOOL INC.

#1 20678 Duncan Way Langley, British Columbia, Canada V3A 7A3 888-252-0040; (604) 533-5328 Fax: (604) 533-9680 E-mail: courses@framing-school.com Web site: www.framing-school.com

Canadian Picture Framers School Inc. offers a basic professional course and an advanced course, each lasting five days. The basic course is a professional-level training course designed to teach the basics of picture framing, stressing hands-on, practical projects. The advanced class covers the topics of conservation framing, French matting, object-box framing, creative matting, glass etching and image transfer to canvas. Tuition is $670 (Canadian) plus G.S.T. and includes the cost of materials and completed projects.

Schedule: Basic March 3-7, April 7-11, May 5-9, June 2-6, July 7-11, Aug. 4-8, Sept. 1-5, Oct. 6-10, Nov. 3-7, Dec. 1-5 Advanced April 14-18, July 14-18, Sept. 8-12

COLORADO MOULDING CO.

2606 South Raritan Circle Englewood, CO 80110 (303) 922-1919

Colorado Moulding Co. offers a three-day basic framing workshop, which includes all aspects of picture framing, including metal, wood and fillet cutting and joining. Students receive hands-on training from instructor Dennis Tilly, founder of Dakota Framing Specialties, on mat-cutting practices and design techniques, as well as assembly and layout for single or multiple mats. Glass cutting, frame assembly and finishing techniques are also offered. The cost of each workshop is $425 and is limited to eight students.

Schedule: March 14-16 and 17-19

FRAMERS' INVENTORY EDUCATION CENTER

5000 S.E. 18th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 800-543-2467 Fax: (503) 238-3899

The Framers' Inventory Education Center provides a full range of framing education services, from four-day basic skills and advanced skills classes to individual and on-site instruction. Classes cover a variety of topics, such as conservation framing, cutting fillets, decorative mounting, laminating, object box framing and more.

The four-day basic course and the three-day Advanced I class both cost $495. Individual instruction is available for $30 an hour. Prices include all materials and supplies. A $125 deposit is required.

Schedule: Basic March 18-21, July 15-18, Nov. 11-14 Advanced I May 21-23, Sept. 10-12

THE FRAME TUTOR

12231 Fort Road Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5B 2H2 800-268-0897 or (780) 944-9149 Fax: (780) 477-3051 Web site: www.frametutorschool.com

The Frame Tutor offers daytime classes for the career-minded framer and evening classes for the hobby framer. Daytime programs consist of three one-week workshops (35 hours). Program 1 covers basic framing, Program 2 covers intermediate framing, and Program 3 covers advanced framing. Courses can be taken consecutively or individually, as long as they are taken in sequence.

Workshops cost $675 (Canadian) and include a manual and all supplies needed to finish projects. A $250 deposit is required at registration. GST is not included in tuition.

Schedule: Program 1 March 24, April 28, May 26, July 14, Sept. 15, Oct. 20 Program 2 March 3 and 31, May 5, June 2, July 21, Sept. 22, Oct. 27 Program 3 April 7, June 9, July 28, Sept. 29, Nov. 3

GOLD LEAF DESIGNS & GALLERY

2646 Broad St. Chattanooga, TN 37408 (423) 266-4453 Fax: (423) 266-4436 E-mail: goldleaf@vol.com Web site: www.goldleafdesigns.com

Gold Leaf Designs and Gallery offers "The Art of Gilding." Alan Shuptrine, owner and master craftsman of Gold Leaf Designs and Gallery gives one- and two-day seminars on the techniques of gilding and other related decorative finishes. Students also participate in hands-on demonstrations and discussions ranging from the historical background of gilding to the steps for restoring and applying leaf. One-day seminars for professionals/designers and one-day seminars for artists cost $600. Two-day seminars in gilding and restoration cost $2,000. Reservations are required 30 days in advance.