Category: Blog

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Featured Artist Kaye Synoground

Self-portrait in watercolors by Kaye Synoground

Spotted-Phalaenopsis-Orchid-600

Kaye Synoground, beloved mother, wife, teacher, and artist passed away in July, 2015.

Kaye was a career artist with over thirty years of experience including professional illustration, as an owner of her own studio gallery, A Closer Look in Multnomah Village, and teaching at places like the Multnomah Athletic Club and The Multnomah Art Center. Kaye was a member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, the Colored Pencil Society of America, the Beaverton Arts Commission, and the Westside Artists group. Her work has been exhibited at the Washington County Museum, the Columbia Arts Center, the Halvorsen Gallery and the Newport Visual Arts Center. She also has had work published in “The Best of Colored Pencil” 1996 and 1997 by Rockport Publishers in Massachusetts.

Kaye passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She had enjoyed a brief remission in the spring and early sumer of 2015, during which time she worked in her studio and put on a lovely retrospective show at Village Frame & Gallery in Multnomah Village. An artist until the end, Kaye showed a zest for art and life that was remarkable and was admired by all that knew her.

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July First Friday and Independence Day at Village Frame & Gallery

Self-portrait in watercolors by Kaye Synoground

July Calendar

Village Frame and Gallery will be open late for First Friday, July 3rd, however, there will be no artist’s reception. We will be closed July 4, 2015 for Independence Day.

Poster with a picture of Kaye painting and one of her watercolor of a classic truck rusting in the grass. The Gallery will continue to feature A Lifetime of Work by Kaye Synoground, through the month of July. The show features new and old works from Kaye’s 20-year career as an artist, and is her first since she was forced to take several months off to care for her health. If you weren’t able to see this exhibit in June, be sure to come visit us this month.

About Kay Synoground

Kaye began studying art at when she was only 13 years old, but initially struggled to  and went on to establish a career in the fine arts. For many years, she painted  signs and did commercial illustration. In a recent interview with The Southwest Community Connection, Kaye explained it was cancer that first convinced her to become a full-time artist in 1993: “It just felt like I’d better be painting if I was going to paint,” she said. “None of us knows how long we have.”

Today, she is well known for her artwork and teaching. Her art has been exhibited at Washington County Museum, Columbia Arts Center, Halvorsen Gallery, Newport Visual Arts Center,  and is part of many collections both private and public. She has also had work published in Woman’s Journal, Fine Gardening, and The Best of Colored Pencil. Kaye illustrated Barbara Blossom Ashmun’s book, Married to My Garden. She had a gallery in Multnomah Village for 16 years.

Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of Kaye Synoground’s art.

If you can’t make it to First Friday, A Lifetime of Work will be on display throughout July during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. Meanwhile, here are a few of our favorites by Kaye Synoground:

Two Persimmons by Kaye Synoground
Two Persimmons by Kaye Synoground

 

Watercolor of back of voluptuous nude woman in shades of blues and peach
Blue Nude by Kaye Synoground

 

Watercolor of orange and scarlet autumn leaves drifting in front of a blue and gold background
Drifters by Kaye Synoground
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Monday Art Break Edition 1

We Interrupt this Monday for an Art Break

Let the phone go to voicemail for a few minutes and enjoy …

Colorful house under red and green tree canopy with a bright yellow sun overhead.
Detail of Premier by Marie-Claude Boucher
Image of Louis Robechaud's painting Le Caves
Le Caves by Louis Robechaud
Horizon II by Richard Hall
Horizon II by Richard Hall

Ahhhhh … that’s better, isn’t it?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled activities. Let’s do this again soon.

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First Friday: A Lifetime of Work by Kaye Synoground

Poster with a picture of Kaye painting and one of her watercolor of a classic truck rusting in the grass.

One of Multnomah Village’s most popular artists returns to painting and exhibiting after her recent fight with cancer.

Poster with a picture of Kaye painting and one of her watercolor of a classic truck rusting in the grass. Village Frame & Gallery is proud to present A Lifetime of Work by Kaye Synoground, which opens this First Friday, June 5th, with an artist’s reception starting at 6 p.m. The show will feature new and old works from Kaye’s 20-year career as an artist, and is her first since she was forced to take several months off to care for her health.

Kaye began studying art at when she was only 13 years old, but initially struggled to  and went on to establish a career in the fine arts. For many years, she painted  signs and did commercial illustration. In a recent interview with The Southwest Community Connection, Kaye explained it was cancer that first convinced her to become a full-time artist in 1993: “It just felt like I’d better be painting if I was going to paint,” she said. “None of us knows how long we have.”

Today, she is well known for her artwork and teaching. Her art has been exhibited at Washington County Museum, Columbia Arts Center, Halvorsen Gallery, Newport Visual Arts Center,  and is part of many collections both private and public. She has also had work published in Woman’s Journal, Fine Gardening, and The Best of Colored Pencil. Kaye illustrated Barbara Blossom Ashmun’s book, Married to My Garden. She had a gallery in Multnomah Village for 16 years.

Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of Kaye Synoground’s art.

More than just an art show, this First Friday is a chance to spend some time with, and appreciate, one of our favorite neighbors and artists. We hope to see you there. If you can’t make it to the artist’s reception, A Lifetime of Work will be on display throughout June during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. In the meantime, here are a few of our favorites by Kaye Synoground:

Two Persimmons by Kaye Synoground
Two Persimmons by Kaye Synoground

 

Watercolor of back of voluptuous nude woman in shades of blues and peach
Blue Nude by Kaye Synoground

 

Watercolor of orange and scarlet autumn leaves drifting in front of a blue and gold background
Drifters by Kaye Synoground
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Did You Get a Copy of Vibe of the Village?

A couple of weeks ago, Southwest Community Connection included a pullout section about Multnomah Village shops and 2015 events and activities. Did you get your copy? If not, click the image below to open it online.

Click here to go to Multnomah Village Vibe article
Southwest Community Connection is our neighborhood paper, published by Pamplin Media Group. You can subscribe to it online or pick up a copy at one of the newspaper boxes in our neighborhood to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Southwest Portland.
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4 Ideas for Decorating with Postcards

Five framed postcards lined up on framer's counter.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had an unlimited art budget? My house doesn’t have enough room for all the gorgeous originals I’d buy. Oh, and then there’s the opinion of my bank account. I guess a girl can dream, but then she’d better get creative. Which is exactly what one of our clients did last month …

Framed Art Postcards

Five framed postcards lined up on framer's counter.
Kind of get your creative decorating juices flowing, don’t they?

She’d been to the museum and picked up postcards of some of her favorite pieces. Not content to just let them languish in a box or scrapbook, she brought them to the Gallery to be framed.

To keep viewers focused on the bold colors in these modern abstracts, we chose heavy 8-ply bright white mats and moulding in one of the main colors of the artwork. Since we used identical moulding, except for color, the finished pieces will look great hanging together as a group. Or, they can be split up and stand alone.

More Ideas for Decorating with Postcards

This got me thinking about postcards as inexpensive artwork. Turns out, I’m not the only one. A friend told me she framed a large set of travel postcards to create a dramatic display in her bathroom. Then I starting finding ideas for decorating with postcards all over the place. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Blow up postcards and have them framed. Now that we have digital printing technology, the sky’s the limit–within the bounds of copyright. Have some vintage postcards you love? Take them to your local print shop and have large prints made. Then bring them to the Gallery for framing.
  • Assemble groups of postcards based on a theme. Pull together postcards from trips you’ve taken or collections based around a special interest, such as botanical prints, architecture, or comics. Have them mounted in matching frames to increase visual consistency and hang in a formal grid shape or more casual free form arrangement.
  • Got Photoshop skills? Go wild. Scan postcards you love and overlay the graphic image with text: perhaps a favorite quote or the note from the back of the postcard. Then have your new creation printed and framed.

Great Spaces for Postcard Decor

Postcards are inexpensive enough to use anywhere, which make them a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. If the humidity gets to them, it’s not a big deal. But, don’t stop there. Anywhere you want art but don’t want to risk losing an original, such as an office or vacation home, is another excellent spot for framed postcards.

Wall art doesn’t have to be expensive. With creativity–and the help of a great frame shop–you can enjoy your favorite masterpieces or make a personalized statement in your home or office. For help, bring your postcards to Village Frame & Gallery. We’re open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

While you’re thinking about your postcard project, here are some close-ups of the project we just framed:

postcard-yellow

postcard-red-2

postcard-blue

postcard-red-1

postcard-black

 

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Seam ripper with hand-carved wooden handle.

Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day, are you ready? Or still looking for something special?

If you’re still shopping, here are 3 gift ideas perfect for moms and available right now at Village Frame & Gallery.

Handcrafted Gifts

Seam ripper with hand-carved wooden handle.
Seam Ripper by Randy Bonella

This year, don’t settle for the same old, same old generic gift. Find something that reflects who your mother is and what she cherishes about her life. Think about the activities she loves and her personal preferences, and then use them as inspiration. Your mom will appreciate the extra thought you put into celebrating her.

Is your mom a fiber artist? Choose a hand-carved seam ripper. A writer? Pick a luxury pen crafted by a local artist. A fashionista? Wrap up a unique piece of beaded jewelry. Not sure? Stop by the Gallery. We’re always glad to help you brainstorm gift ideas and we have a wide selection of unique items.

Art Prints or Posters

In foreground, a couple in long, flowing colorful coats and hats embrace. Behind them is a line of identical women in lime green coats, hats, and umbrellas--each is holding a bouquet of yellow flowers.
By Claude Theberge

If your mom loves art, you’ll love our selection of affordable prints and posters. These budget-friendly reproductions can be the perfect choice when a room needs a bold pop of color. One of my favorite uses for them is to liven up bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms where humidity and heat make the environment inhospitable for original artwork, but there are endless, great looking options for decorating with prints and posters.

1950s photo of couple dining
Which memory is your mother’s favorite?

Mom’s Favorite Photo, Framed

It’s not too late to have a beloved photo framed for display if you opt for a ready-made frame. As with any framing project, be picky about the type of materials used to make the matte and frame so your picture is protected from acids and elements. We have quality ready-made mattes and frames in the most popular photo sizes; it’s up to you to sneak the snapshot out of that box where your mom keeps it.

 

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May First Friday and More

Abstract drawing in neutral tones by Jeanette Nuxoll

Abstract drawing in neutral tones by Jeanette NuxollFirst Friday with Jeanette Nuxoll at Village Frame & Gallery

A printmaker with roots in both Washington and Oregon, Jeanette is currently a grad student at University of Cincinnati where she is earning her masters in fine art. Join us this Friday, May 1st, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. to meet the artist and see her work.

Collage of art for sale at MAC this weekend including bright blue basket, textile arts, and handcrafted jewelryMultnomah Arts Center Spring Arts & Crafts Sale

While you’re in Multnomah Village, visit the Multnomah Arts Center for their Spring Arts & Crafts Sale. They are open Friday, May 1st, 9am to 9pm and Saturday, May 2nd, 9am to 4pm. The sale features the work of over 50 artists and supports MAC’s mission to promote arts education in our community.

Picture of large mirror with elaborate gilt frame

Mirror Closeout

Get 50% off designer mirrors in stock now at Village Frame & Gallery. There are lots of great reasons to decorate with mirrors; come check out our selection and save. Our regular business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219

Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 ● (503) 245-8001
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm, or by appointment.