Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned custom frame shop and print gallery with five locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We are the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, and also carry the work of his wife Edie Harper, their son Brett Harper, and other artists including John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

Peace on Ice by Charles Frace

With the onset of winter here in Cincinnati, Ohio, it’s time to present to our readers some fantastically detailed scenes of animals in winter by the acclaimed artist Charles Fracé, whose iconic prints of foxes, bears, seals, and other creatures are carried in our five Cincinnati-area galleries.

Surprise by Charles Frace

Winter Scouts by Charles Frace

Bighorn Country by Charles Frace

Family Ties by Charles Frace

A Radiant Moment by Charles Frace

Gray Ghost by Charles Frace

Polar Bears by Charles Frace

Emperor of Siberia by Charles Frace

High Mountain Path by Charles Frace

Charles Fracé, an internationally-renowned wildlife artist, passed away on December 16, 2005 after a long illness. Charles Fracé was born in 1926 in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania. He began drawing at five and taught himself to paint when he was fifteen. His self-instructed talent earned him a scholarship to Philadelphia’s Museum School of Art.

In 1955, Fracé began a professional career as a freelance illustrator in New York City. Eventually, he became one of the nation’s most sought-after illustrators of wildlife. In 1973, with the issue of Fracé’s first limited edition print, he made the permanent change to fine art. Fracé and his art have been the subject of two books, and have been featured at over 450 one-man shows throughout the country.

Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned custom frame shop and print gallery with five locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We are the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, and also carry the work of his wife Edie Harper, their son Brett Harper, and other artists including John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

The Disciples by Edie Harper

Have a very merry Christmas from all of us at Fabulous Frames & Art! In honor of the day, we present The Disciples, one of the beloved devotional prints by Edie Harper, a wonderful artist whose limited-edition prints we carry in our five Cincinnati-area galleries. Let’s take a look at Edie’s other prints as well, shall we?

Under the Tree by Edie Harper

Peepkin by Edie Harper

Spring Creeper by Edie Harper

Crazy Cat, Crazy Quilt by Edie Harper

Edith Riley McKee was an only child born in 1922 in Kansas City, Kansas. A dreamy child, she moved with her parents to Liberty, Missouri, when her father chose to open a short-order restaurant. On trips to see relatives on their farms and small ranches in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, she developed a lifelong love for animals and the vast, lonely expanses of the Middle West.

The family moved again, to Cincinnati, in the 1930s when Edie’s father landed a position with Procter & Gamble. They lived in an apartment on Springfield Pike while Edie attended Wyoming High School (graduating in 1939), all the while creating art at a level beyond her actual years. The desire for formal art training burned in her heart. So in 1940 the respected Art Academy of Cincinnati welcomed Edie as one of its most eager new admissions.

On the first day of the program, on the steps of the administration building, Edie met an equally earnest young man from West Virginia, Charley Harper. In classes and conversations, she learned that he shared her admiration of painters such as Miro and Klee. They studied printmaking with the Stampers and were fortunate enough to spend a semester with legendary Josef Albers, visiting to teach his Color Theory course. For several years afterwards Albers sent Edie his hand-screened Christmas cards.

Turnips by Edie Harper

When Charley was drafted for service in World War II, Edie interrupted her classes to aid the war effort in a civilian capacity. She photographed hydro dams and cement test samples and processed the film in the lab for the Corps of Engineers. Later, she would receive critical acclaim for the black and white photographs she took with her 8 x 10 camera employing her own imaginative subject matter. This resulted in an exhibition at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center.

Soon after the war, Edie and Charley resumed their studies at the Academy. Following graduation in 1947, they embarked on a six-month camping honeymoon throughout America. Edie kept an illustrated journal. Every day they sketched and painted, occasionally the same natural setting, and compared the results.

Upon their return from the honeymoon, Edie and Charley maintained separate studios in the basement of Edie’s parents’ home in Roselawn. The young couple helped care for Edie’s father, who had multiple sclerosis, and were able to save Charley’s earnings from his day job at Schaten Studio. In 1953 Edie gave birth to their son, Brett, named after California photographer Brett Weston. Throughout the 1950s Edie continued painting, supplemented by a rich output of jewelry, contemporary photography, enameling, sculpture, and silkscreen prints.

M Is for Mother by Edie Harper

Over the Top by Edie Harper

Penny Candy by Edie Harper

In the 1960s Edie added weaving to the roster of media she had mastered. During this decade she converted to acrylic paint and completed a series of grid-centric images. Toward the end of the 1960s, Edie returned to explore an early, just-hinted-at interest in the design possibilities provided by stories from the Bible.

Samson and Delilah by Edie Harper

Little David by Edie Harper

Cincinnati-based Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned business and the world’s largest dealer in the artwork of the Harper family, including Edie Harper, Charley Harper, and their son Brett Harper. We also carry work by John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

Cardinals at Probasco Fountain by John Ruthven

To mark the first day of Winter in Cincinnati, Ohio, here is Cardinals at Probasco Fountain, a beautiful wintry scene featuring a cardinal by beloved Cincinnati-area artist John Ruthven, one of the many artists whose limited-edition prints are available here at Fabulous Frames & Art. While we’re at it, let’s take a look at some of Ruthven’s other nature-inspired prints as well.

Mourning Doves by John Ruthven

John Ruthven uses the same techniques as his famous predecessor, John James Audubon. After studying and researching his subject thoroughly, he sketches to rigid specifications then renders the original painting with great detail. Even as a boy, growing up the Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills, Ruthven’s dream was to become influential in preserving wildlife through art. “I continually took my sketch pad with me wherever I went,” Ruthven recalled. He went on to paint a brilliant career that has earned recognition from the highest.

His paintings have been included in acclaimed exhibitions such as The Artist of America exhibition in Denver, Colorado and the Society of Animal Artists, a traveling museum exhibition included at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell, New Jersey. Museums featuring his work include the Smithsonian Institution`s Preservation and Research Center; Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin; the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, Jamestown, New York; and the Cincinnati Museum Center where a major retrospective exhibit of his work, John A. Ruthven – In the Audubon Tradition, was mounted.

Eastern Wild Turkey by John Ruthven

Female Ring-Necked Pheasant by John Ruthven

White-Tailed Deer by John Ruthven

Dining Out by John Ruthven

Winter Field by John Ruthven

Black-Capped Chicadees in Snow by John Ruthven

Hipple Cardinal by John Ruthven

Neighbors by John Ruthven

Oakgrove Pintail by John Ruthven

Snow Dance by John Ruthven

Tully Koala Bear by John Ruthven

Snowy Owl Family by John Ruthven

Red-Breasted Nuthatches by John Ruthven

Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned custom frame shop and print gallery with five locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We are the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, and also carry the work of his wife Edie Harper, their son Brett Harper, and other artists including John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

Gift Rapt by Charley Harper

The holidays are quickly approaching… Let us help you play Santa for your loved ones (and even yourself!) this time of year. At Fabulous Frames & Art, we have a vast selection of great Charley Harper gifts for everyone on your list. But time is running out; make sure to head to one of our Cincinnati-area locations ASAP to pick up these great gifts!

Smart Phone Decals: For the tech lover in your life, we offer a variety of protective Charley Harper decals for smart phones and other devices, featuring three different designs.

Toys, Books, & Puzzles: And these aren’t just for the kids! In the last few years, several beautiful books and games for kids have been released, including ABC and 123 books for toddlers, a floor puzzle for young children, and jigsaw puzzles for older kids and adults. What a great way to teach your kids about animals, shapes, colors, and nature, all while introducing them to the wonderful world of Charley Harper!

Home Accessories: We offer a selection of home accessories featuring the bold geometry of Charley Harper, including mouse pads and a wide assortment of Harper mugs.

Stocking Stuffers: We offer a ton of little things that make great stocking stuffers or small gifts for your child’s teacher, a neighbor, an old pen pal, or any of the other many people on your to-buy-for list. Packs of Charley Harper notecards, Christmas tree ornaments, journals, and calendars are all available for purchase. New this year are Charley Harper bookmarks and self-adhesive book plates, perfect for the avid reader on your list!

Charley Harper Art: We also carry a vast selection of framed and unframed Harper serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and posters.

Gift Enclosures: Of course, a gift of Charley Harper art needs an appropriate gift enclosure with your own holiday sentiment! We carry a wide selection of cards, invitations, and other paper ephemera, including these adorable gift enclosures.

During his long and distinguished career, Charley Harper illustrated numerous books, most notably The Golden Book of Biology, magazines such as Ford Times, as well as many prints, posters, murals, and other works. His work focused on the natural environment, and Harper often created works for nature-based organizations, among them the National Park Service; Cincinnati Zoo; Cincinnati Nature Center; Hamilton County, Ohio Park District; and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

Harper was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations. He called his style “minimal realism,” capturing the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. Using graphic shapes and bold colors, Harper distilled and simplified complex elements. His nature-oriented artwork is often contrasted with the realism of John James Audubon and the simplicity found in Inuit Art.

Fabulous Frames & Art, a family-owned custom frame shop and print gallery with five locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We are the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, and also carry the work of his wife Edie Harper, their son Brett Harper, and other artists including John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

Petunias by Brett Harper

Here at Fabulous Frames & Art, we know that winter is closing in on us. Today, we’d like to show you the delicate lines and bright colors of serigraphs by Cincinnati artist Brett Harper. We think they’re the perfect antidote to winter gloom! Brett is the son of renowned Modern artists Charley and Edie Harper, and a talented artist in his own right.

We adore the way in which Brett’s prints capture the essence and beauty of flowers, including zinnias, petunias, wild irises, daffodils, and wisteria. What a lovely way to bring a bit of vivid color into your home!

Zinnias by Brett Harper

Mushrooms by Brett Harper

August Lily by Brett Harper

Sunflower by Brett Harper

Amaryllis by Brett Harper

Wisteria by Brett Harper

Fireworks from the Earth by Brett Harper

Country Pickins by Brett Harper

Daylilies by Brett Harper

Daffodils by Brett Harper

Bittersweet by Brett Harper

Cyclamens by Brett Harper

Chinese Lanterns by Brett Harper

Wild Iris by Brett Harper

Cincinnati-based Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned business and the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, including books, serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and posters. We are proud to also carry work by Charley’s wife Edie Harper and their son Brett Harper. Other artists we represent include John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.

Cool Carnivore by Charley Harper

Please join us at the Fabulous Frames & Art Montgomery gallery for our annual Charley Harper celebration, on Saturday, December 3rd, 11am-5pm, at 10817 Montgomery Rd. in Cincinnati, Ohio. On display will be a vast assortment of Charley’s serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and posters, as well as some originals. Charley’s son Brett will be the host, and we will have hot cider on hand. You will even receive a free Harper print with your purchase!

Serengeti Spaghetti by Charley Harper

Birdfeeders by Charley Harper

Watermelon Moon by Charley Harper

Baffling Belly by Charley Harper

Savoring Sycamore (Yellow Bellied Sapsucker) by Charley Harper

Pier Group by Charley Harper

New York Harbor by Charley Harper

Beetle Battle by Charley Harper

Confiscation by Charley Harper

Skipping School by Charley Harper

Best Dressed (Wood Duck) by Charley Harper

Ladybug Lovers by Charley Harper

Round Robin by Charley Harper

Cottontail in a Cotton Field by Charley Harper

Cornprone by Charley Harper

Tall Tail by Charley Harper

Bear in the Birches by Charley Harper

Antypasto (Pileated Woodpecker) by Charley Harper

Jumbrella by Charley Harper

Wrented (House Wren) by Charley Harper

Whitecoat by Charley Harper

Red and Fed by Charley Harper

Squirrel in a Squall by Charley Harper

Furred Feeder by Charley Harper

Potluck by Charley Harper

Charley Harper was born and raised in Frenchton, West Virginia, and came to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend art school, where he met his wife Edie. During his long and distinguished career, he illustrated numerous books, most notably The Golden Book of Biology, magazines such as Ford Times, as well as many prints, posters, murals, and other works. His work focused on the natural environment, and Harper often created works for nature-based organizations, among them the National Park Service; Cincinnati Zoo; Cincinnati Nature Center; Hamilton County, Ohio Park District; and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

Harper was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations. He called his style “minimal realism,” capturing the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. Using graphic shapes and bold colors, Harper distilled and simplified complex elements. His nature-oriented artwork is often contrasted with the realism of John James Audubon and the simplicity found in Inuit Art.

Cincinnati-based Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned business and the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, including books, serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and posters. We are proud to also carry work by Charley’s wife Edie Harper and their son Brett Harper.

Eastern Wild Turkey by John Ruthven

To our US-based customers, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Fabulous Frames & Art! To celebrate this special day, here is Eastern Wild Turkey by noted Cincinnati-area artist John Ruthven, one of the many artists whose limited-edition prints we carry. Below the fold, some more images by Ruthven.

Mourning Doves by John Ruthven

John Ruthven uses the same techniques as his famous predecessor, John James Audubon. After studying and researching his subject thoroughly, he sketches to rigid specifications then renders the original painting with great detail. Even as a boy, growing up in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills, Ruthven’s dream was to become influential in preserving wildlife through art. “I continually took my sketch pad with me wherever I went,” Ruthven recalled. He went on to paint a brilliant career that has earned recognition from the highest.

His paintings have been included in acclaimed exhibitions such as The Artist of America exhibition in Denver, Colorado and the Society of Animal Artists, a traveling museum exhibition included at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell, New Jersey. Museums featuring his work include the Smithsonian Institution`s Preservation and Research Center; Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin; the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, Jamestown, New York; and the Cincinnati Museum Center where a major retrospective exhibit of his work, John A. Ruthven – In the Audubon Tradition, was mounted.

American Bald Eagle, Bicentennial by John Ruthven

Female Ring-Necked Pheasant by John Ruthven

Cardinals at Probasco Fountain by John Ruthven

White-Tailed Deer by John Ruthven

Dining Out by John Ruthven

Winter Field by John Ruthven

Black-Capped Chicadees in Snow by John Ruthven

Snow Dance by John Ruthven

Red-Breasted Nuthatches by John Ruthven

Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned custom frame shop and print gallery with five locations in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We are the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, and also carry the work of his wife Edie Harper, their son Brett Harper, and other artists including John Ruthven, G. Harvey, John Stobart, Mort Kunstler, Michael Blaser, and Charles Frace, among many others.