Framing a Winter Landscape: Oversized Ballpoint Drawing of Palisades Tahoe

At Underglass Framing — San Francisco’s trusted frame shop since 1985 — we see a lot of winter art come through the door, but every so often a piece lands on our design table that feels like the season itself walked in. This ballpoint-pen drawing of Palisades Tahoe has that effect: stark, quiet, beautifully spare. No extra flourish, no digital tricks — just ink on paper capturing the mountain in its winter stillness.

That simplicity became the heart of our framing approach. The drawing is delicate and detailed, so we intentionally designed against the fineness of the linework by choosing a thick, substantial frame. The added visual weight gives the piece grounding without overwhelming it — almost like a solid pair of boots in the snow.

To bring warmth into the otherwise icy palette, we selected a copper-toned frame with a subtle glow. It plays beautifully with winter light and offsets the coolness of the drawing. Inside the frame, we used a black reverse-cut mat to create depth and a crisp outline around the artwork. The result sits somewhere between arts-and-crafts honesty and minimalist restraint, a balance that suits both the scene and the artist’s unembellished style.

We love supporting the work of artists who let the materials do the talking, like @justanoldsweetsong — and we love helping our clients protect and display pieces that feel personal, seasonal, or simply grounding.

If you’re looking to frame your own winter artwork — a drawing, a print, a photograph from the mountains — or you’re finally ready to bring in that poster you’ve kept rolled up for way too long, we’re here seven days a week. As always, we offer museum-quality materials, careful design guidance, and a wide selection of handpicked ready-made frames while they’re in stock.

And with holiday framing in full swing, it’s not too late to treat yourself or someone you love to something that’ll hang beautifully long after the season changes.