The next couple of months promise to be pretty busy from the point of view of exhibiting, so I am in the throes of deciding what I will put on display in several different venues. Among these is my regular slot at the Square & Compass, for which I am just finishing a couple of new items.* It promises as a consequence to be a fairly expensive period from the point of view of framing costs, so I decided to try and recycle a frame from a picture I no longer think I will be exhibiting. I took it to one of my regular framers this morning, asking if he would be willing just to cut a new mount to fit in the old frame. He noticed that the format of the old frame was not ideally proportioned for the new image. To my pleasant surprise he thought for a moment, then rummaged in his store and brought out a spare he had there. It was of a noticeably higher quality than the one I had in mind, and far better proportioned. He will be charging me for the new mount, but the frame comes free! I guess that is a reward for my regular patronage of his business. How very kind!
Incidentally, I am quite encouraged by the new line I am trying of monochrome ink wash studies. I have no idea how many pictures I have produced over the years of Almscliff Crag. (A rough guess puts it between thirty and forty.) It is nice to be able to see the place in a fresh way again.
*The Square & Compass is the closest pub/restaurant to one of my favourite subjects, namely Almscliff Crag.