John Al Hogue's Bio

The initial success fueled an appetite for new framing challenges. The new business partners began traveling throughout North America attending seminars and working for many different frame makers often working without pay. They even had the good fortune of apprenticing with a retiring master frame maker with a distinguished reputation for his hand-carved and gold leaf guilded frames – many of which hang in the Smithsonian Institution, The White House, and many other prestigious institutions.

Seventeen years ago Terry and John Al Hogue moved to Hawaii and started their first substantial full service custom frame shop. The brothers have been framing for Hawaii and Mainland art galleries ever since. Over the years they have framed prints and originals by many of the world's most well known artists. Including original paintings by Norman Rockwell, Picasso, Miro, Dali, and original prints of Rembrandt. During the past seventeen years the brothers custom frame shop has framed over 30,000 pieces of collectable fine art. That tradition of fine craftsmanship continues today. 

When John Al Hogue began painting himself in 1992 he was already an accomplished frame designer, wood frame carver, and gold leaf guilder. Ten years as a professional artist, and twenty years framing experience, allows Hogue to supervise his framing craftsman in building frames that are works of art in their own right. Each frame is carefully chosen to enhance the unique beauty inherent in each individual piece of art. 

John Al Hogue’s style is very difficult to reproduce accurately using most printing processes. Print shops were unable to capture either the original painting’s subtle detail, or the transition of finely blended color layers. The print must capture the subtleties of Al’s trademark painting style – "paintings which appear to transmit their own glowing light source."

Out of frustration, John Al decided to learn how to make prints himself. After several years of research he decided that Iris Giclée was the only printing method capable of capturing his subtle style. He hired one of the world’s best printmakers, Ernesto Clark, to work with him for over a year to learn art of printmaking. Together they were able eventually to make prints virtually indistinguishable from his original oils. Finally, John Al could make prints worthy of the original paintings.

Mastering the printmaker’s art allows Hogue to now personally supervise his own master printmakers in faithfully reproducing his original art in every print. His Giclée printmaking studio combines the best of modern technology with the spirit of traditional European hand pulled prints. Lyson archival inks allow Hogue prints to reproduce the widest color gamut possible. By combining these archival inks with the finest hand-combed canvas or fine art paper allows John Al Hogue fine art prints to meet the expectations of the most discriminating dealers and collectors. Lastly, hand accenting helps each print mirror the detail, beauty, and most importantly, the ‘signature transparent glow’ of John Al Hogue original oils. 

By controlling all aspects of production - from creation of the original oil, through printing and framing - Hogue can maintain his precise quality standards. Each framed print is created with exacting attention to detail and delivered to the customer with loving care.