It is through art and art only that we can realize our perfection; through frames and frames only that we can shield our art from the sordid perils of actual existence. Today's deal frames and supplies your art in fine form: for $45, you get $100 worth of custom services at Masterpiece Framing in Bloomingdale.
With more than 2,200 square feet of material selections and workshop space, Masterpiece Framing boasts a bounty of services and supplies to rectangularly wrangle any memory. Custom-framing anything from paintings and diplomas to swords and White House–worthy pieces, the shop's resident experts work diligently and punctually with customers to deliver their desired static narrative. Framing a custom family photo costs an average of $135, including matting, glass, and a wood frame. Other services include custom imaging for converting digital images to canvas ($75 for a 16"x20" print, on average) and restorative services for photographs tattered by sunlight or peanut butter ($75 per photo, on average).
Masterpiece Framing was started by a 20-year-old American Academy of Art student in his parents' basement and, because of his attention to detail, quickly expanded into a full-scale expert operation. Because the founder is an artist, the staff is fully appreciative of the works they frame and attentive to each piece's individual proclivities and radioactivity. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday.
Reviews
Although the reviews for Masterpiece Framing are still growing, DECOR magazine featured the business in a six-page article:
- Determined to succeed, Puchalski worked hard on the fundamentals. He concentrated heavily on customer service—showing up to appointments on time, returning telephone calls and e-mails promptly and thanking clients for their business. Coupled with high-quality frame designs, his efforts began to pay off in the form of repeat business and referrals. – Kristin Stefek Brashares, DECOR
Masterpiece Framing
Matt Puchalski set himself up early for a career in the arts, working as a framer at a nationally renowned studio in high school and enrolling at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. When his workplace unexpectedly went out of business, 20-year-old Matt shrewdly bought up the equipment and customer list, set himself up as the sole proprietor, and decamped to the safety of his parents' basement, where he balanced his coursework with the demands of a small-business owner. Matt's determination and hard work paid off, with streams of repeat customers and corporate clients paving the way for three subsequent business expansions and the company's current success.
A far cry from the shop's humble roots, the current studio shows off the talented staff's technical skill with projects such as a framed flat-screen television or 75-gallon aquarium. Technicians touch up and bring to life faded photographs with restoration projects, and the store's designers craft stunning framing compositions that decorate homes, corporate offices, and even the walls of the White House.
Now that he no longer has to juggle frame crafting and school with the rigors of owning his own business, Matt has time to return to his art, employing brilliant splashes of color to create impressionistic depictions of the stately granite structures, glistening skyscraper lights, and active volcanoes along the iconic Chicago skyline.
