DANVILLE — Michael Holtz of Danville and his wife Jane, of New Jersey, first laid eyes on each other in 1971 when they met at a boat dock in southern Italy. Michael was serving in the U.S. Air Force at the time, and Jane had been backpacking across Europe for three months, with Italy being her final destination.

A love of art was one thing that drew them together. Michael had gone to school for photography, and Jane has enjoyed art since she was a child. While they were in Italy, Michael and Jane took the opportunity to paint together.

After a long-distance relationship that lasted two years, the couple was married in 1973. Within a couple of years they moved back to Michael’s hometown, where they raised two children and grew a successful business — Images Framing and Fine Art.

“I’m so glad we decided to live in Danville rather than in the big city where I grew up in New Jersey,” Jane said. “This has been a wonderful place for our family and our business.

“The community has been so supportive of us over the years. We know all our customers by name, and we know their likes and dislikes.”

Images Framing and Fine Art got its humble beginnings just more than 30 years ago in a simple, two-room building at 801 W. Williams St.

Michael feels the secret to their success through the years has been customer service and attention to each individual.

“We look at each project as if it was going to be hung in our own home,” he said.

“The frame has to definitely compliment the piece of art,” Jane said. “We ask our customers a lot of questions about their home décor, furnishings, and color schemes. After all, the artwork in their home is really a reflection of themselves.”

Jane said the most satisfying part of their job is seeing the smile on a customer’s face when he or she comes into the store to pick up a finished work of art.

“We love our job,” Michael said. “We never know what somebody will bring in for us to frame. Every day is different for us.”

They have done some unusual projects during the years — including framing a piece of hair belonging to Abraham Lincoln, along with all the proper documentation. Another time they created a frame for a set of bagpipes.

Although they still do plenty of artwork, they also frame a lot of military medals and design shadowboxes for all types of collections and memorabilia. They also mat and frame many antique, hand-sewn pieces such as needlepoint, embroidery, and silk scarves.

Family life

Both of their grown children, Allison and Marcus, live away from Danville now. However, they both attended Cannon Grade School and Danville High School. And everyone in the Holtz family went to Danville Area Community College at some time in their lives.

Customers from years ago might remember their children when they were infants. Jane often kept them in a playpen up front in the store.

“I believe I brought Allison to work the most,” Jane said. “Maybe that’s why she is so social today. She loved the customers, and they loved playing with her.”

Even though neither of their kids had an interest in taking over the framing business someday, they always helped out while growing up.

“We always gave them age-appropriate jobs around here,” Jane said with a laugh, “so they’ve been exposed to art all their lives.”

Marcus graduated from Southern Illinois University in business and finance, and Allison earned her degree in plant and soil science, also from SIU. Allison recently started a job at the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, N.C.

Jane developed her interest in framing when she first worked for the late Elizabeth Cunningham, founder of the Danville Art League and owner of the former Gallery and Art Shop on Williams Street. “I really enjoyed the framing work and decided that I wanted to learn more about it,” she said.

Mike was working at K’s Merchandise when it first opened its framing and art business. Jane also had a second job in retail, which gave them little free time for their new venture.

The business continued to expand, however, and before long it outgrew its small quarters. So in 1982, the Holtzes moved their shop to 421 N. Gilbert St., which formerly housed an antique store. Michael quit his retail job and joined Jane full-time, and they hired four additional people.

“The hardest thing was giving up my management job at Meis department store, where I had worked for 10 years,” Jane said.

“The Gilbert Street location turned out to be more convenient and much better for our customers,” she added.

They incorporated a gift line and an expanded gallery. They also carry stock prints and can order prints for customers, and they sell specialty artwork from a number of area artists.

“Even though the shop was busy, we always made time for family,” Jane said. “Between the two of us, we attended all the kids’ school activities, and we also had a flower and vegetable garden at our house every year.”

As long-time members of the Second Church of Christ, they helped out with Vacation Bible School and volunteered n the church nursery when their children were small.

Several years ago, both Jane and Michael started exhibiting their own original artwork, and she has won several awards for her plexiglass creations. Images Framing and Fine Art has a booth in Danville’s Arts in the Park every summer.

After all these years, Jane still works a second job, and has been with the Curves fitness center for eight years now.

“I have two jobs that are fun,” she said, “and not many people can say that.”