As an art-centered business, we wanted to reimagine our Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing locations as hand-painted watercolors. Our goal was for the watercolor representations to fit right in with the artistic culture of each neighborhood. We selected Canadian artist Lisa McKaskell of Lighthouse Moments to bring our storefronts to life, due to her experience with storybook watercolor illustrations. She was able to accurately capture the storefronts, while adding a touch of whimsy.

After we received the paintings, we got to move forward with our favorite part: custom framing. As custom framers ourselves, we knew the importance of selecting the perfect frames for these watercolor pieces. 

Earlier this year, Walter Adams Framing received recognition as a San Francisco Legacy Business. This prestigious designation celebrates businesses that have been integral to the cultural fabric of the city for 30 years or more, honoring their contributions to San Francisco’s history and identity.

In honor of the San Francisco Legacy Business recognition, we wanted to partner with a frame designer whose work incorporated historical significance. This is one of the reasons we chose ValCo Ornate Frames to design the frames for the watercolor artwork of our picture framing stores. 

Honoring Historical Legacies with ValCo Ornate Frames

Val Schaefer, the founder of ValCo Ornate Frames, has a deep appreciation for timeless design. While his primary framing style draws from the Victorian era, he also loves exploring Baroque, Rococo, Damask, Gothic, and other historical styles. These designs are timeless for a reason; they resonate with the human mind through symmetry and rhythm. This sensibility aligns well with the missions of both Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing: to view the frame not only as a border, but also as an integral component of the art display. 

According to Schaefer, “There’s also something deeply symbolic in these patterns, layers of emotion embedded within the ornamentation. What excites me most is bringing that old world language into a modern context. I love how classical forms look when paired with contemporary color and artistry, and how they can elevate any genre of art. Each piece becomes a rare balance of history and innovation.”

Shared Values As Veteran-Owned Businesses

Another commonality between Walter Adams Framing and ValCo Ornate Frames is that both brands are veteran-owned businesses. Walter Adams Framing is co-owned by veteran Keith Wicker, who proudly served 20 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard before settling in San Francisco — and before starting a career in custom framing. 

ValCo Ornate Frames began at the intersection of art therapy and a desire to fill a gap in modern frame art. After years in the military, Schaefer needed a way to process what he had been carrying. Working with wood, cutting, shaping, layering, and creating became therapeutic.

Learn more about Val Schaefer and his passion for creating bespoke frames in the following interview. 

An Interview with Val Schaefer of ValCo Ornate Frames

Q. What inspired you to start a framing business?

When I started looking for frames for my own art, I realized I wanted more control over the final product. I had a specific vision, a modern take on historic ornate frames, but couldn’t find anything that quite matched it. So I decided to create it myself. What began as healing turned into a passion for craftsmanship, design, and the creation of art. Every frame is handmade and hand painted. While some may share similarities, each is truly one of a kind.

Q. When did you first start working with Walter Adams Framing?

Keith Wicker and Lloyd Haddad reached out to support me as a frame artist by introducing my work to their community. It meant a lot to have established framers recognize and uplift what I’m doing with ValCo Ornate Frames. They’ve asked me to frame watercolor paintings of each of their storefronts, a project that beautifully combines our shared appreciation for the craft of framing. Collaborations like this allow clients to experience the merging of fine art and artisan framing, where each finished piece exists as a pair of connected collectible works.

Right now, we’re finalizing the frame concepts for each store’s watercolor art. We’re working through the design phase together, and part of my process includes creating visual renderings that show their artwork in different ValCo frame styles. This helps explore how various designs can complement the character of each storefront painting. 

It’s a creative, collaborative process that combines our ideas and aesthetics to produce something truly distinctive, art wrapped around art, crafted with the same care and rarity that define bespoke design.

Q. Are there specific aspects of designing frames for the watercolor pieces that stand out for you?

It’s a great opportunity to showcase the wide range of intricate mouldings I work with. Each design offers a different feel, and pairing that with hand applied color and finishes gives every frame its own character. I love how different mediums interact with carved detail; it’s where the artisan’s hand truly brings the frame to life.

And I love the idea of two artists (Lisa McKaskell and myself) coming together to create landmark art for frame shops that celebrate creativity the way Capricorn Framing and Walter Adams Framing do. It’s a meaningful collaboration — one of pieces made for those who appreciate the rare and the handcrafted.

Q. Do you have goals for business expansion, or where do you see yourself headed?

I’m intrigued by the relationship between art and its frame. It still surprises me how few artists design their own or collaborate with framers early in the creative process. In Europe, that dialogue between artist and frame is second nature, part of the artwork’s language. Here in America, our art traditions are still evolving, and I love being part of the movement that’s reimagining the frame as an art form in itself.

Formal fine art education is expanding me as both an artist and a person, and that growth shows in my work. ValCo isn’t about scaling production; it’s about deepening expression. Each frame is a sculptural exploration of raw wood, ornamentation, and color, crafted intentionally, never repeated, and collected as a standalone work of fine art.

Q. What are a few of your favorite things about your work?

A few of my favorite things are simple but meaningful. I love starting with a pile of raw wood and ending with something beautiful and unique, something that didn’t exist before my hands shaped it. There’s also the mindful space that comes with creating. It’s quiet, focused, and grounding.

When someone sees my work, I hope they feel both the history and the hand behind it, that they recognize it as something truly one of a kind, made with intention, patience, and care.

Custom Framing as a Celebration of Art, History, and Shared Values

The collaboration between Walter Adams Framing, Capricorn Framing, and ValCo Ornate Frames is a celebration of artistry, history, and shared values. From the whimsical watercolors by Lisa McKaskell to the handcrafted ornate frames by Val Schaefer, each element reflects the beauty of collaboration and craftsmanship. 

Together, these works honor San Francisco’s creative legacy while highlighting the timeless artistry that connects past and present — a perfect reflection of what it means to frame with intention and purpose.

To learn more about ValCo Ornate Frames, visit www.valcoornateframes.com