For years I have admired Tramp Art, produced after the Civil War through the 1930s. The techniques are much older, originating in Germany and Scandinavia. I am especially fond of the frames. Their eccentric, geometric forms dazzle and hypnotize, creating graphic alters around whatever is placed within them. Often they are quite expensive at flea markets. I wondered if there was a way to re-create the look of Tramp Art frames without all of the carving, which could take crafts people of that time months to complete.

I started by gathering some orphaned frames around our craft room that had been used for past shoots. The idea was to build and layer on top of existing frames. Then I took a trip to Da Vinci Artists Supply to find the right material. I ended up buying balsa-wood strips in multiple shapes and sizes. Balsa wood is often used by architects to create scale models of their ideas. By cutting and layering the balsa wood I was able to re-create the  look of Tramp Art. Another material that worked really well was dollhouse decorative trim, which has the carved texture and is the proper scale.

Have a look below to see some of my inspiration and the final projects. Then have check out the September 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living for all of the how-to and sources.

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4 inspiration images from: http://www.folkartisans.com/index.html

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Tags: frames, home decor, Living
Posted by Shane Powers on August 19, 2011 in Behind the Scenes, Photo Galleries