Uwe Mueller and Alexander “Ali” Rafiee are talented artists and designers. Mueller is a sculptor and graphic artist; Rafiee paints canvas and ceramics with intricate designs. Both know how difficult it is for artists to display their work.

Together, they opened Artissimo, a custom picture framing facility with art gallery, in Redwood Plaza in Napa last September. The artists displayed are from the North Bay area, primarily from the Napa Valley.

“We rotate the art every six weeks,” said Mueller, a Napa resident native to Germany. “We have an opening reception for the artist and have had four different artists since we opened. The openings have live music, sparkling wine and appetizers and have become very popular. In the gallery we try to display non-traditional wine country art. We want to do something different than everyone else. From the first artist who saw our space, they’ve liked what we’re doing. We’re now booked a year out.”

Artists have come into the shop, sometimes to get framing work done, and asked to be included. Mueller also studied the Artists’ Open Studio catalog, visited those whose work intrigued him and invited them to display at the gallery. Most of the artists are members of the Arts Council of Napa Valley.

Rafiee’s large painted ceramic bowls add splashes of color around the room.

“I’m originally from Persia, but spent eight years in Greece working as a ceramics and painting artist,” said Rafiee, who has lived in Napa for 14 years. “I spent four years painting in a small factory. When you paint every day you really learn your craft. I get the unglazed pottery from Clayhouse on Tanen Street here in Napa and they also fire the work for me. I teach ceramic painting at Clayhouse on Wednesday nights.”

While both Rafiee and Mueller appreciate the art on their walls, it’s the framing side of the business that makes the gallery a reality. All of the framing is done on the 1,300 square foot premises.

“We have an interesting collection of frame molding,” said Mueller. “We carry Roma molding, which is handmade and hand painted in Italy. It’s upscale and you don’t see it everywhere. Our Larson Juhl molding is sold internationally and can be seen in interior design magazines. We try to offer quality molding that is different than what every other frame shop carries.”

Matting brands are Nielsen Bainbridge and Artique. All mats are acid free.

“We use protected glass so the art lasts and it doesn’t have to be reframed,” said Mueller. “The framed artwork is like fine furniture, you’ll keep it forever. If the customer wants it, we also have plexiglas. A high-end glass we carry is Tru Vue museum glass which preserves the crispness of the artwork.”

The museum glass is displayed side-by-side with regular glass and seems to disappear.

“We have a fast turnaround time and average 10 days to two weeks to get the framed art back to the customer. We are competitively priced with other similar stores and also offer basic frame moldings. We frame a lot more original artwork than posters, but can frame whatever the customer wants. Many of our customers collect fine art and we’re able to enjoy that artwork for at least a little time while it’s here. We want to be known for quality customer services. Once customers come in, they’ll come back. They love the way they’re treated in our store.”

Napa photographer and massage therapist Susan Pittman Stephens is one such customer.

“I’ve had Ali frame my photographs since he first had his own store four years ago,” said Pittman Stephens, whose company is called Light Inspirations. “He’s wonderful and always accommodates me. I like his taste and how meticulous he is. I trust his advice and the way he personalizes work for me. Right now, I have a show at the Veranda Club Spa in Yountville and in a couple of days I’m opening an art exhibit, ‘The Human Effect,’ at Studio II Gallery on Soscol Avenue. When you’re having a show with five to seven pieces, it’s always hectic and stressful. Ali understands that and helps. I wish him well; anyone who comes into the shop can see what excellent work he does.”

How did the business partners decide on the concept of a framing store and art gallery?

“Ali has 20 years experience in framing,” said Mueller. “We met in a frame shop. I love art in all forms and studied photography at Napa Valley College. I finally got a degree in finance and economics in Santa Clara, because an art degree wasn’t paying the bills.”

Rafiee owned Ali’s Design & Frame Shop, in a building on Solano Avenue he shared with Wine Country Florist. When the floral business moved out, the owner gave Rafiee 30 days to find another location. During the transition, Mueller walked in and the two discussed Rafiee’s situation.

“It was going to be difficult for me to lease a large place alone, but it was possible with Uwe,” said Rafiee.

“The economy was slow and I was looking for something when I got my (business) degree and this came along at the right time,” said Mueller. “We searched all over for a place with the right amount of space to work, good light and convenient parking. I told Ali I’d only do the framing business if we did it with a gallery. I love the art and the energy of an exhibit.”

Rafiee agreed. “Many frame shops don’t have the space for a gallery. Everything happens for a reason. I didn’t want to leave Greece, but I married a Greek-American girl from Napa who was visiting her uncle. We came here. That is why I think everything happens for a reason. Some people say it’s difficult to have a partnership, but I say try having a business that you run yourself. No one is there when you’re absent.”

Currently both partners work 10-hour days, six days a week.

“As times goes on and we make progress in getting our name out, we’ll both take two days off a week, which will allow us more time to create our own art,” said Mueller. “It’s always challenging at the beginning.”

The partners designed and built the long curved desk that runs along one side of the room. They also painted the walls a custom color, a combination of mat colors Desert Dawn and Mushroom, which Mueller had seen in Florence. The color shows the artwork and frames to their best advantage.

“At the end of the day, I’ll sit here and take in the store, the desk we designed and built ourselves, the walls we painted and the artwork,” said Mueller. “It came out better than we could possibly have expected. We feel lucky that we’ve been well received by the community and artists.”

Artissimo is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3373 Solano Ave. in Redwood Plaza, 257-1889. Art openings are posted on the Arts Council Calendar www.nvarts.org/visual.shtml.