Design is Everywhere!

Artistic design is everywhere! Char’s daughter designed this swimsuit for her swimwear company and is featured in this month’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. It is also featured online. The Male model is Chris Paul from the LA Clippers.

Here are some other examples that are on trend:

Design created by using Fractals

Black and white landscape photography

Black and white macro photo of a vintage pocket watch - Photo taken by ClawzSkunk

Black and White Trees in reverse by Norman Silverstone

Venus by Aubrey Beardsley

He was unknown in 1892. By the time of his death in 1898, a mere six years, he had broken through the Victorian unconscious and hurled England into the 20th century. Many of his drawings first made their appearance in books or magazines with relatively limited subscription. Despite this, his erotic, humorous, and haunting drawings came to be popular and have been for more than a hundred years.

A great example can also be found in Goldfrap's Video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeawPUpTHJA&ob=av2e

Congrats to ASI

At the Beginning of the year Visualarts Ltd.. assisted selection and placement for Perham's beautiful new hospital Perham Memorial Hospital and Home in conjunction with Jennifer Paist from Horty Elving. Together we selected artist Tanya Garvis to create custom colored glass enamel infused copper tiles to enhance importance of the donor wall.

ASI did all of the signage in the project and have featured the donor wall in their overall case study for the PMHH project, please see the link that is featured on ASI's website. The link describes the great collaborative process that went into the design. The project also received 1^st runner up for the “Best of ASI” at their national sales conference in Miami.

Thanks to ASI for the nod!

http://asisignage.com/OurWork/CaseStudies/tabid/109/Default.aspx?case=195

Is Art your Passion? Find it here at Visualarts

Sweet Framing Sale

Do something Unexpected in 2012

You're Invited!

If you're in Minneapolis, remember to stop by and see what we have to offer!
Also, as a special opportunity to our wonderful clients, we're offering this invitation to the "Spring into Paris" event at International Market square, presented by LiLu Interiors. The open house starts at 10:00am with the event following at 11:00 in studio 546. Space is very limited, so RSVP soon to rik@liluinteriors.com.

Phone-ography Seminar: A success!

Thanks to everyone who made it to our cell phone photography seminar, presented by Bob Cunningham last Thursday - it was a huge success! We received amazing feedback from our attendees who seemed to learn such valuable information from Mr. Cunningham about taking successful photographs from their cell phones. A huge thanks to Mr. Cunningham for not only graciously agreeing to present at the seminar, but for also giving one-on-one assistance to those who wanted more information after the seminar. From Left: Char Hovi, Diane Lumpkin, and Bob Cunningham

For those of you who missed the seminar, but are interested in hearing Bob Cunningham speak - stay tuned for a schedule of seminars happening next fall for the annual Fall Design Event at International Market Square.

Cell Phone Photography Seminar at International Market Square: April 14th, 2011

On April 14th, International Market Square will be hosting the MinneMarket where over 40 IMS Showrooms will be featuring select product lines, manufacturers’ introductions and promotional specials for 2011 - all conveniently offered in the IMS Atrium for your convenience.

From 1:00-1:30pm, professional freelance photographer, Robert Cunningham will be hosting a seminar on Cell Phone Photography sponsored by visualarts in studio 185. Learn how to maximize your cell phone camera's capability: best exposure, sharpness, composition, color vs. black and white, flash vs. ambient-lighting, camera options, uploading and e-mailing your pictures.

Mr. Cunningham will be available for approximately two hours after the seminar at visualarts in suite 197 for those of who would like a one-on-one tutorial with their cell phone and also view his photography. We will be raffling off one of Robert's 8x10 photographs with a certificate for 50% off the framing for the photograph to use at visualarts. The seminar is free of charge for MinneMarket guests.

To RSVP to this trade-only seminar, e-mail frontdesk@imsdesigncenter.com.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Winter Park Art Festival: Mixed-Media

Last weekend, we headed to the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Florida to get a taste of what some 225 artists from around the country had to offer. Within the next few weeks, we'll be blogging about the artists that blew us away. You'll be seeing artwork from a variety of mediums such as glass and ceramic pieces, photography, painting and mixed-media - which we are featuring this week from artists Will Corr and Rasa Pranckunaite.

Will Corr
"For over a decade, my work has been exploring the complex relationship between representation and abstraction. The motif-driven compositions, comprised of natural, social and historical iconography, serve as framework to investigate this interaction." -Will Corr

Cloud Climbing, 52x37,

Oil, charcoal, sawdust, wood, nails & wire on canvas & wood, 2007

Suburbia by the Sea, 50x38,

Oil, paper, found objects, wood & nails on canvas & wood, 2007

Please visit Will Corr's website to view his amazing portfolio, or e-mail him regarding any questions at info@willcorr.com

Rasa Pranckunaite

"My monochromatic photographs encompass everyday organic objects such as rocks, seeds, and stones. They are made strange and illusive by their enlargement and removal from their original contexts. Without any other illustration or symbolism, they evoke a multitude of associations spanning the ancient to the futuristic." - Rasa Pranckunaite

2pods

Reflection

Split

To view more of Rasa's beautiful collection, visit her website or contact her at rasavaiva@gmail.com

"Managing the Discount Question"

We've borrowed this great article from renowned sales specialist, Jody Seivert, on how designers and salespeople alike should anticipate the difficult subject of giving price reductions and discounts to buyers. This is a must read for anyone in the widespread industry of sales. Please see Seivert's contact information, blog and twitter links after the article for more insightful information.

"Can You Take a Little Off...?" Managing The Discount Question

When is the last time you heard that? And it doesn’t matter if you are a designer or a showroom salesperson, the question gets asked more and more these days as buyers are looking to save a few dollars on everything.
How are you dealing with this question now? Or are you hoping the question will stopped being asked when the economy turns around?
Here’s the bad news – the economy is what the economy is right NOW, and waiting for it to improve is a recipe for disaster. You will miss business opportunities that may not come around again. And the good news is that you can actually take actions to Anticipate and Avoid this question, by asking questions of your own.
It’s simple – ask your buyer what the price range is that they are expecting to invest at this time. And the only answer that matters has a number in it. Now, that number can be unrealistic, in which case that’s what you talk about. If you are uncomfortable talking about the money and the possibility of them requesting a discount later on, I suggest you preface the question with a statement like this:
“I know that many people are looking for reductions and discounts, and expecting them due to the economy. So that you and I don’t have that conversation later, let’s talk right now about what you are willing to invest in this project. I value our relationship, and a conversation about discounts later on may damage what we have created together. Can we do that?”
The purpose is to AVOID discussing this when time and talent has been invested in finding the right products for them. And if later on they still ask you to take something off, you can refer to this conversation and understanding – something you cannot do if you never raised the topic to begin with.
Please muster the courage to do this and tell me how it worked for you. Remember, whatever you sweep under the rug you are destined to trip over later.

-Jody Seivert
jody@onexone.com
Blog
Twitter

Investment Art - Not to be Passed Up

Recently, we had clients looking for investment art who passed up on these two Miro and Chagal pieces. The Miro, sold to another client for $525,000 was then sold at auction for $1.7 M. The Chagal, sold to another client for $950,00 was then sold at auction for $2.7 M! These were both turned around in less than six months, which is simply amazing.

Joan Miro

Untitled 1949*

25x19 inches

Sold for $525,000 - turned around for $1.7M

Marc Chagall

Sold for $950,000 - turned around for $2.7 M

Although Visualarts, Ltd. handles all levels of art, if you are looking for investment pieces - now is certainly the time to do it!

Max Beckmann and the Mysteries of Life

After reading a compelling article in the Wall Street Journal on artist, Max Beckmann, we couldn't help but relate the late artists work to that of Daniel Boylan. A common theme in Beckmann's work was "man's inner self and the mysteries of life", but he also painted landscapes, cityscapes, history paintings and mytholigical works.


Beckmann's, Self Portrait in Tuxedo

Artist Dan Boylan, an Omaha, Nebraska native works mainly instinctively and paints images that "...are a fragment of the visions I started out with as a boy."


Sammy, 30"x38"
Oil on gessoed board



Sarah II, 30"x38"
Oil on gessoed board



Syd, 52"x70"
Oil on gessoed board

To see more on this artist, please visit our showroom or his website.

Landscapes by Mary Johnston

"Born and raised in Duluth, MN, the landscape around Lake Superior gave me a beautiful palette of water, sky and forest to inspire my work...the scenes from the Great Lakes region continue to be the main focus of my creativity."

-Mary Johnston



Day by the Lake, 36x36

Prairie Sunset, 48x60

Orange Sky, 36x36

After the Plow, 30x30

Come view these gorgeous pieces - new in our showroom!

For more information on the artist, make sure to visit her website.

Showroom Update: New Artwork

Lately, we've got all sorts of new goodies in the showroom. These richly saturated watercolors by artist, Calvin deRuyter, almost make us forget about the cold weather months not so far ahead. Stop by soon to check out these gorgeous pieces!


Foothills Plateau, watercolor on paper



Lakeview #2, watercolor on paper



Southwest Inspiration #8, watercolor on paper



Hidden Pond #3, watercolor on paper


More new pieces to be posted soon!

International Market Square Launches New Website.

Built in 1905, the IMS building was modeled after the San Fransisco Design Center - and in 1985 became Minnesota's largest renovated building and now provides the most innovative home designs. IMS continues to be the largest home and commercial interior design marketplace in the Upper Midwest.





This year marks the 25th anniversary of the design center - and they have completely re-vamped the website. For information on International Market Square's history or to browse the directory of designers, showrooms and offices, visit the new site.

New Artwork: Marie Kvasnik

Stop by and check out this great new artwork brought in by Minneapolis-born artist, Marie Kvasnik.


Carpe Diem
Oil on canvas, 38x55


Cause Silence Isn't Golden When I'm Holding it Inside
Oil on canvas, 60x33


Black and Blue Sky
Oil on canvas, 24x20


Mahjong
Oil on canvas, 48x24

Showroom Update: Artist, Daphnae Koop

We are crazy about these beautiful pieces by Minneapolis-based artist, Daphnae Koop! Make sure to come see these new addtions to our showroom at IMS.

Hope Springs. Carved reclaimed wood with inset glass.

In the Listening Sky. Carved reclaimed wood with inset glass.

Detail: In the Listening Sky

No Other Prayer. Carved reclaimed wood with inset glass.

"It is my great hope, and my ambition, to paint work that calls to something beyond itself, something larger, deeper, a thing I sense in the stillness that happens when I am unguarded in front of a painting with a brush and pigment in hand and nowhere to hide."

-K. Daphnae Koop

Learn more about the artist at her website.

Artist: Kit Eastman

Kit Eastman, a St. Paul, Minnesota based textile artist is currently creating hand-painted objects in the Japanese tradition of katazome, or stencil-dyeing, using natural dyes on linen, cotton and silk. The following pieces are available in our showroom and are absolutely beautiful in person! In this collection, Kit has employed multiple dyeing and printing techniques on fabric, as well as simple piecing and stitching to convey her thoughts about the urban landscape near her St. Paul home.


Remembered Contours, dyes and pigments on silk organza and cotton

Morning Doves, dyes and pigments on silk organza and cotton

Caw en Repose I, dyes and pigments on cotton/linen - embellished

Caw en Repose II, dyes and pigments on cotton/linen - embellished

To view more of Eastman's work, visit our showroom or the artist's blog.

Showroom Update: Artist, Roy Cacek

Into the Bright Night

Vague Impressions

Light Pollution

Metro Glow

View more of these stunning pixilated pieces by Roy Cacek in our showroom at International Market Square!