Heritage Art & Frames has been providing top of the line custom
picture framing in Anchorage since 1976. Originally started by Sylvia Hampson in
her home, the business has now grown into a full blown fine art gallery and
state-of-the-art custom frame shop. Rosalyn Barnhill joined Sylvia’s team in
1986. Sylvia shared with Rosalyn the nuances of custom framing, educated her in
the importance of quality materials and nurtured a pride of workmanship. In
1998, with Sylvia ready for retirement, Rosalyn purchased the business that she
had come to love. “Having a job that surrounded me with wonderful art, happy
clients and allowed me to constantly express my creativity was going to be hard
to give up. Buying the business, of course, was not my only option but one I
chose with a sense of pride.” said Rosalyn. In the fall of 2006, Rosalyn
etched another chapter in the history of Heritage Frames by relocating to the
present location. This move allowed her to expand the company’s gallery.
Heritage Art & Frames has always offered fine art. It just got “lost” in the
workshop like atmosphere of the previous location. The expanded gallery space
accommodates a variety of original works by various artist and allows for
upgrades in framing services. A new visualization program allows clients to see
an image of the finished product making decisions easier. “I’m not a hard sell,
I don’t believe there is only one way to frame your art. Framing is a lot like
cooking. There are many ways to prepare any dish. It’s just a matter of choosing
which recipe suits your taste. It took me quite awhile to realize that sometimes
my clients had difficulty visualizing the final product. I guess that’s my
creative strength; I can ‘see’ what the final product will look like by looking
at the corner samples”. Rosalyn attended an educational seminar and
discovered that the framing industry was finally catching up to the rest of the
world. New technology now exists which allows her clients to “see” an image of
what their art will look like framed. Using a camera mounted above the design
counter and a big screen television, Rosalyn can show how the choice in mat and
frame samples will look around in individual’s art. “I can finally show them
what I see.”