Petrov Frame Atelier creates individual handmade and custom frames, provides restoration to antique frames and paintings, and offers professional gilding services. Proprietor Anatoly Petrov recently discussed his background and the history that brought him to Broad Ripple.

"I am originally from central Siberia, near Lake Bakail, a very deep lake that holds about 20 percent of the world's fresh water," he explained. "I had an early interest in carpentry and woodworking. I was trained to be a polychrome wooden sculpture restorer in Russia. After I immigrated to America in 1997, I found a job at the Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company in upper Manhattan, the oldest frame house in New York City. It was a natural transition for me, because making frames utilizes the very same technique as making wooden sculptures. I worked at Julius Lowy for about two and a half years as a gilder."

He continued, "After I moved to Indianapolis, I had a studio at the Stutz Building downtown where I did frame restoration, and then moved the studio to my house, where I made hand-crafted custom frames out of my garage for about three years. Although I was working as a gilder in framing and restoration, I wanted to know more about the retail side of the business, so I bought the custom framing shop on Lafayette Road. That shop had over 3,000 customers, and I added antique restoration, gilding, and painting restoration to their existing custom framing business."

The skills that Petrov learned originated in the Old World. "Italy is where picture framing started," he said. "They took the items or images and placed a border around them, which developed into frames. In the early Renaissance, the painter had to wait for a frame to be designed before he could create the painting. Making frames by hand is a multi-step process that not many shops can offer. I make the frames from scratch using raw materials. I have a molder that gives shape to a frame, then I carve the details of the design. Once the frame is carved, the surface must be prepared with layers of gesso and clay before it can be gilded. After gilding, the frame is polished in a process known as burnishing. Finally, the frame is antiqued. In the end, the frames created are exact replicas of period frames from centuries past."

Petrov continued, "It is truly rewarding to have the opportunity to put my name on the back of a frame. It is a chance to continue the traditions of the great painters. These frames often go back 500 years and have a history in themselves. What I do is create a museum-quality frame, to complement the picture in the best possible way, so it can last for centuries."

He is a member of the Society of Gilders, a small, close-knit community of artisans with about 300 members worldwide. There are only a few shops offering these services in the United States, and Petrov's shop is the only one of its kind in Indianapolis.

Walking into Petrov Frame Atelier is like visiting a local neighborhood art museum, with diverse oil and watercolor paintings on display for sale. He is planning to expand the selection as his business continues growing.

"I always wanted to move to the Broad Ripple area because I loved it," he said. "My wife grew up just three blocks from here and I feel this is a great place for our business to be. I was looking for a new location and I feel so fortunate to have found it. The street level is a showroom and a gallery, but the basement is where we do the magic."

Recommended reading on Petrov's artistry includes Frameworks by Paul Mitchell and Lynn Roberts, as well as Julius Lowy's Secret Lives of Frames by Deborah Davis.

Petrov Frame Atelier is located at 5172 N. College Avenue. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Inquiries can be answered at 293-2122. Petrov can be found online at: www.petrovgilder.com or on Facebook at: facebook.com/petrovframe

Petrov Frame Atelier aims to be a one-stop location for all your art needs, from purchasing and framing personal images to restoring and preserving heirloom pieces. It also offers packing, hanging, and shipping services for art, helping your family treasures last for generations.