Nine PPFA Members Earn Designation of Master Certified Picture Framer (MCPF)

Nine members of the Professional Picture Framers Association™ (PPFA®) earned the designation of MASTER CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER®, or MCPF®, during the PPFA Annual Convention, March 7-11, Las Vegas, Nev.

Jackson, Mich. (PRWEB) March 21, 2007 -- Nine members of the Professional Picture Framers Association™ (PPFA®) earned the designation of MASTER CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER®, or MCPF®, during the PPFA Annual Convention, March 7-11, Las Vegas, Nev.

The four-hour exams took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in which one room was converted into a "frame shop" with the equipment and materials necessary for custom framing.

The nine who earned the MCPF designation, the highest in the Association, are:

Lorraine Alvarez, framestudio, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Adela Davis, M.D. Sales, New Braunfels, Texas

David J. Hewitt, D.J. Hewitt, Madison, Fla.

Thomas Houston, Houston's Custom Framing and Fine Art, Ashland, Ore.

Vivian Kistler, Columba Publishing Company, Akron, Ohio

Lester Martin, Martin's Gallery, Hanover, Pa.

Meghan MacMillan, MacMillan Custom Framing, Baltimore, Md.

Barbara Pelton, Artfully Framed, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Sylvia Wilson, Windrush Gallery, Fairfax, Va.

Candidates presented four framed works - art on paper; art on canvas; textile; and an object. These pieces, each accompanied by a written description including a description of the artwork, handling issues, framing methods and materials used, were disassembled, analyzed and scored by the examiners using the established criteria set forth by the Certification Board.

Each candidate completed a condition report and then had 90 minutes to complete a randomly selected framing project, which included cutting and joining the frame, sizing and cutting a double mat, sizing and cutting a backmat and filler, attaching the artwork, sizing and cutting the glass, fitting and finishing, and completing a framing description form that listed the methods and techniques used as well as the reasons for using them.

Merrill Grayson, MCPF designee, organized the exam and served as an examiner, along with MCPF designees Ellen Collins, Fran Gray, Mark Klostermeyer, Kerry Wilson, Don Berkman, Jini Lumsden, Linda Pujo, Nona Powers, and Fred Horton.

The nine new MCPF designees join 30 others who have earned this designation. The CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER®, or CPF®, examination was developed in 1986 in conjunction with Educational Testing Services (ETS) to provide professional recognition to individuals successfully completing the established criteria. In 2000, the Certification Board outlined a plan for advanced certification and, over the next two years, developed the plan for the MASTER CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER program. Any picture framer who has a minimum of four years of hands-on experience in retail or wholesale picture framing, has been a CPF for a minimum of four years, and has taken or instructed a Recertification course within the last four years may apply for the MCPF examination.

About PPFA

Serving the art and framing community worldwide, the Professional Picture Framers Association™ (PPFA®) encourages artisans to hone the time-honored skill of custom framing. As the professional trade association for the custom framing industry, PPFA connects nearly 3,500 frame shops, art galleries and suppliers to a network of knowledge and support. PPFA, a PMA® member association, builds on its 36-year history of establishing the best practices for framing and providing programs and services essential for entrepreneurial success. Through education, certification, business services, industry research, and events, PPFA leads its members to discover, understand, and act on new business opportunities.

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