"After the Storm" by Frank Morton

84" x 60" oil on canvas

This painting was an adventure!

Bill needed to make a house call to Frank's studio with samples due to the size. Here, he took measurements of the piece and ordered the frame joined from Larson-Juhl; the frame arrived on panel truck, delivered to our front door.

Amy H. with this massive frame.

On Wednesday, the painting arrived in a U-Haul, again to our front door. Bill and Matt help Celeste (the customer who commissioned the painting) and her friend Donna unload the canvas.
(I would have helped, who would take pictures?--Amy C.)

First, had to watch for traffic...

...Celeste and Bill unload it from the truck...

...and hand it to Matt and Donna...

...Matt and Celeste carry it into the shop...

...as Bill supervises (Hi, Donna!)...

...and now the moment of truth...

First Glimpse of the horses!

Once inside, we began the process of attaching the frame to the painting.

We found the stretcher bars were not quite square, however--one corner was not quite able to squeeze into the frame. 1/8" doesn't seem too much in something that's 7 feet long, but...

...Bill had a plan!

With Frank's permission, a little teamwork and a heavy-duty plane, we were able to shave down just enough of the stretcher bar.

Bill and Matt restretched...

...and cleaned up the canvas.

It fit! Now to attach it to the frame.

Because of its size, we had to fit it on the show room floor. On Thursday, once the dust (or rather, the wood shavings) cleared and cleaned up, Pat, Matt and Amy C. helped spread a tarp as a workspace, and Bill got to work fitting it into the frame.

Kilroy, I mean, Bill was here!

This was a complete fitting job - the back of the canvas is not exposed, and there is a protective barrier between the stretcher bars and the dust cover to prevent accidental punctures from the back. This was an exciting project, and we are honoured to be a part of this!

On Saturday night, the Blue Marble Gallery had a reception for Frank and the Healeys in the unveiling of "After the Storm;" Dr. Healey had not seen the painting yet.

The unveiling!

Dr. Healey's reaction...

...and admiration

Dr. Healey and his wife Celeste

Celeste, Dr. Healey, and Frank

Dr. Healey, Bill, Celeste and Frank

Thanks go to the customer Celeste Healey and the artist Frank Morton for allowing us to document this process.