The designers wanted to create a feature art installation in this show suite at the new Meccanica condominium development in Vancouver, BC. The concept was to create a gallery wall that reflects the eclectic, modern taste of the client’s target homebuyer.  For the discriminating modern home buyer, generic poster art just won’t do. The designers needed to find distinctive, high quality artwork available in miniature size, and within a tight budget and tight time frame!

Hatch has been making entertainment posters, or "show posters", in their letterpress print shop in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1879. They maintain a working museum that strives to preserve the history of the art of letterpress with an archive that includes type and woodblocks, posters, and documents. Our growing collection is distinctive and eye catching.

Just saw the Jean Paul Gaultier show at the DeYoung and it was truly amazing.  First the Alexander McQueen show at Met, now Gaultier and ARTINFO.com covering the The Costume Institute Gala Red Carpet Arrivals.  This trend begs the question -- Are the Ladies Who do Lunch you see in W Magazine the new Medicis  and the designers " their" artists?

I recently found these great Artaissance.com youtube clips from 2007 featuring artists: Maeve Harris, Mary Margaret Briggs and Max Hayslette painting "in-action."  They are great vingettes that capture each artists' artistic inspirations and studio practice.  Watch and enjoy!

Modern and Mid Century Modern are terms that are often bandied about in the design industry. Grand Image takes them very seriously. Modern (with a focus on Mid Century aesthetics) has been a consistent theme at Grand Image since its inception. On our website’s advanced search feature you will find a category called “Modern” and those works are specifically curated to reflect the aesthetic of modern design from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Devan's cheeky take on new vintage design and hollywood:

Don't get me wrong. There's a place for vintage posters...you know the ones of the dancing women with wine labels and grapes in Italian restaurants around the country. I get it. I'm not against them per se - but I wouldn't mind seeing something different. I loved this installation shot of a restaurant from 2011 so I thought, "I'd go there."

The Stranger, Shunpike and some fun-loving Grand Image employees invaded the Space Needle Saturday night for the Satellite party.  The event was a benefit for the Genius Foundation, a nonprofit that gives out $5,000 Genius grants to five local artists every year.

First day of Spring...300 cloudy days a year and let it be known I'm ready for some sun.  And some vitamin D and even more so, I'm ready for the local saltwater pool to open.  I started swimming last year and found this pool at the referral of our Art Director, Kate. It's a hike to get there - literally - but it's so worth it.

This TV season has been full of great shows to catch new Grand Image artwork. From new hits such as ABC's Revenge and NBC's Are You There Chelsea? to critically acclaimed favorites such as Showtime's Dexter and ABC's Modern Family we have spotted artwork all over the TV airwaves.  Keep reading to learn more about our staff's favorite TV shows and the Grand Image artowrk they spotted!

Grand Image's TL Lange was greatly inspired by the work of Mr. Tàpies, "I like the imperfection in his work" Lange used to say in many of the conversation he used to have with me. We are saddened to learn about his passing from the New York Times.

"Antoni Tàpies, a largely self-taught Spanish abstract painter whose seductive tactile surfaces, often scratched with mysterious graffiti-like marks, made use of unconventional materials like marble dust, ground chalk, sand and earth, died on Monday in Barcelona. He was 88."

Regeneration Modern Furniture: Presents The Yoors Family Panel Discussion

If you are located in or around the New York City metro area this week, we strongly encourage you to attend The Yoors Family Panel Discussion. An excellent opportunity to learn more about this true Modern master, we all wish we could be there this week. RSVP: regenerationfurniture@gmail.com

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine, FL is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States. The Flagler Hospital opened in St. Augustine in 1890 and has operated as a non-profit institution in the city ever since. When it came time to renovate last year, hospital designers wanted to emulate the forward thinking artistic community while preserving the organization's history and creating a sense of balance for its patients.

Grand Image provided artwork for the brand new Westport 164? Boardwark, a custom designed Yacht tailored perfectly to the client's modern taste. Artists featured on this project include art by Gregory Garrett, Malcom Hill, Mary Farmer, and Patrick Atkinson. The Westport 164 was featured in the Spring 2011 edition of Yachts International Magazine and with a nine-page spread featuring all the luxious bells & whistles incorporated into the interior and on deck design by Westport Shipyards.

January 23, 2002 - while driving to the hospital in hopes of receiving a liver transplant, I received the news of T L Lange's suicide. The irony and significance of this real life event will stay with me forever. I was blessed with the gift of life.For T L, we have his legacy and memories.

With today's Grand Image email featuring a new Budget Edition (BED) image by Kathe Fraga we thought it would be interesting to post a blog by Kathe describing her new work, and popularity on pinterest & twitter!

"Through Twitter, I've met a wonderful group of designers, writers, artists, gardeners and more-and the conversations and the kind generosity of this group has been amazing. The ideas and opinions are endless.

And while Twitter is a great way to "talk," Pinterest is fantastic resource for sharing images-favorite flowers, favorite places, favorite colors. It's basically a collection of virtual "bulletin boards" organized by whatever topics you like."
~ Kathe Fraga

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2012: 
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango

Dance into the New Year with this vivacious and appealing reddish orange

Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

Has pantone created their own cross pollinated fruit??

Not dramatically different from last year’s Honeysuckle, this year’s color also draws inspiration from the tropics.

Grand Image’s un-paralleled history of providing the best imagery available on the market positions us, and in turn you our customer, to reap the benefits of the surging hospitality market described below.

Abbrev. "Hotels Freshen Up After Postponing Renovations" By MARTHA C. WHITE Published: December 5, 2011 via New York Times

Helen Frankenthaler, the poetic abstract painter whose technique of staining pigment into raw canvas helped shape an influential art movement in the mid-20th century and who became one of the most admired artists of her generation, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at her home in Darien, Connecticut at the age of 83.

Our Grand Image artists are always up to creative endeavors in their local communities! This weekend our very own Kate Endle did a book 'signing' & 'singing' with Chris “Caspar Babypants” Ballew at a book event in West Seattle on December 11, 2011. Video includes Caspar explaining how he wound up with this sideline to his rock 'n' roll career!

'Eames: The Architect and the Painter,' a documentary narrated by James Franco. Directed by Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey, from a screenplay by Cohn. 84 minutes. Not rated; suitable for mature audiences. Northwest Film Forum (Seattle), through Thursday, December 1st, 2011. Check your local listings to see show times near you.

The most recent release of Grand Image’s Print on Demand (POD) line welcomes ReD Ognita to the stable.  ReD Ognita is an award-winning photographer, born in Philippines and currently living and working in Beijing, China.  Ognita’s images have a distinctive aesthetic inspired by the architecture of his environment in China–similar to Hiroshi Sugimoto’s ‘Seascapes’ and the quite contemplative nature of a Mark Rothko painting.

Two little letters sum up the hottest trend I spotted at High Point;

RE-cycled, RE-claimed, RE-purposed

This actually hit me out of the blue, while Larry and I were walking to lunch one of the afternoons at market.  He asked me, “what trends or new things have you seen”, and I thought about it and realized, not really “new” but old in a new way was what I really took away from most of the case goods and even some of the soft goods showrooms.

Grand Image to host the Northwest's NEWH Hospitality Industry Network 'Honor 4 Awards' on November 30th. The event honors excellence in the industry and anounces this year's scholarship recipients. 

Location: Grand Image, 4730 Ohio Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134

Time: 6:00pm cocktail reception, 7:30pm awards ceremony

Cost: FREE for members!, $10 for non-members + Amenities

RSVP: https://secure.newh.org/rsvp/viewrsvp.asp?rsvpid=306

In yesterday's inbox there was a great new article from GOOP about Decorating with Contemporary Art. Interior Designer, Art Consultant and all around tastemaker Maria Brito goes over a variety of ways to mix contemporary art & interior design in any environment. Below is an excerpt covering ‘How to Buy Art' that we at Grand Image all found very interesting! At Grand Image we publish a variety of artists that are represented by galleries all over the USA and encourage you to look through our POD & BED collections to find artworks that meet both your interior design and personal taste needs. Links to the featured Grand Image products: Judy Morlock #81611, Patrick Atkinson #82528 (alternative substrates information), JB Hall Original on Canvas #HJOC-237.

Grand Image invites you to attend the opening of master tapestry artist Jan Yoor's retrospective exhibition in Paris this month. Couleurs Shock opens at newly renovated Galerie Chevalier on Thursday October 20th which coincides with the opening of the international contemporary art fair FIAC and runs through November 26th 2011. This is a rare opportunity for industry professionals and art consultants attending this year's FIAC to experience these monumental original works in person. To view Jan Yoors entire POD Collection, click HERE.

Techie is not a word friends would include when describing me but Steve Jobs was one of my heroes.  There are designers and there are suits.  Steve was extraordinarily both, and what change he brought with that power.  Thank you Steve for showing the world that in business, design, beauty and cool do matter, and the market will reward you for caring about aesthetics. 

Please feel free to share your comments.

MasterCard®'s new 'Stand Up to Cancer' campaign commercial includes artwork from two Grand Image artists Rodney White & Pamela Viola. In the commercial, two women are overcome with joy when surprised by Ray Romano, who thanks them for standing up to cancer by using their MasterCard®.

NBC’s family drama Parenthood, has been featuring a lot of Grand Image artwork recently.  In the latest episode, the scene in the pediatrician’s office was filled with GI artwork by artist Nathaniel Mather. Mather’s childlike renderings of animals, flowers and rough-edged patches of color evoke early 19th century primitive art, while a symbolic allusiveness and playfulness of spirit give his work a sophistication and poise that are emphatically contemporary. 

Nine years ago I received a liver transplant. Since that time a personal passion of mine has been the Seattle-based charity Transplant House that provides transplant patients and their caregivers with high quality, affordable housing during their pre-and post-operative stay.

As part of this year's Transplant House Auction, we are holding a drawing for a signed, studio edition glass piece by Dale Chihuly, valued at $7,000.  You do not need to be present to win.  Purchase Your Drawing Tickets by November 11, 12 Noon PST  Only 280 tickets available. 

Treasures galore!  Grand Image is participating in the Seattle Design District Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, September 17 from 10 am to 3 pm.  Located in the Terris Draheim parking lot on the corner of Orcas and 6th Ave S in Seattle's Design District, this inaugural outdoor event will feature over 60 vendors specializing in home furnishings and decor. Food vendors and entertainment will also be on site.  

Grand Image will have a great selection of original paintings and digital prints at up to 80% off retail prices!  Below is a sampling of the works of art that will be availble at our booth. 

Grand Image artist David Marty has his first museum show opening at the Clymer Museum in Ellensburg, WA. The exhibit of over 20 oil paintings opens Friday, September 2 and will run through October 30. The show coincides with the annual Ellensburg Rodeo, one of America’s Top 10 professional rodeos.  Several of the paintings in the show are of the Ellensburg and Eastern Washington region.

Art transports people.  It brings us closer to places we want to be.  A vibrant cityscape recalls the hustle and smells of our favorite cosmopolitan locale, and an image of water lapping on the shore lulls us to a relaxing beach.  Photography alone documents images of places we may never see but art photography takes us one step further to evoke the feeling of a place – to have a truly sensory experience through the visual.

A private collector in the Seattle area recently acquired the iconic Tethers triptych by artist TL Lange. The works are now featured prominently in the owner’s incredible lakefront residence where they perfectly complement the home’s modern design and exquisite collection of mid-century treasures.

Grand Image artist David Palmer is in the news again.  In a campaign to protect the world's rain forests, Palmer has collaborated with an eco-friendly sandal company Chipkos in the creation of the world's most expensive flip flop. If you thought Louboutins and Jimmy Choo's were pricey, how does a one-of-a-kind hand painted pair of Chipkos, priced at $18,000 sound?  Of course you probably won't ever be able to wear them, but instead you can store them in a mahogany wood and glass display case they come with, and feel good about your contribution to the world's conservation efforts.  With the purchase of these sandals, Chipkos will protect 100,000 square feet of endangered rain forest land.

On Thursday July 28^th, Grand Image and our design neighbors on Ohio Avenue, hosted our 3^rd Annual Modern Design Block Party. This year we tried something new - we had a local Taco Truck set up shop right out front of GI as well as inside the gallery we offered frozen and “on the rocks” margaritas. I didn’t have a chance to try either, but from the crowds of people out front, and the amount of liquor consumed, I would say both were wildly popular!

We are excited to announce the addition of seven colorful and patterned images by Bainbridge Island-based artist Kathe Fraga to our BED (Budget Editions) line of open edition digital prints. The newly released images from Kathe Fraga’s French Wallpaper Series are inspired by hand-painted motifs found on the timeworn walls of grand old Parisian mansions.  Fraga also draws inspiration from patterns found on vintage kimonos, hand-blocked wall panels and hand-worked embroidery.  Each painting resembles an aged decorative panel adorned with birds, flowers, vines and leaves in the Chinoiserie style. Using layers of time, age and color, the artist’s modern interpretation of this style yields magical, dreamy, softly faded, and colorful narratives.

Some of our clients, particularly smaller frame shops and residential designers, are often puzzled by the difference in price between limited edition and open edition digital prints and posters.  Its hard for them to justify trying to sell a 30” x 30” limited edition print for $325 or an open edition print for $180 not including the framing cost, when they can just offer a nicely framed poster for $60 to their customers.  Retail clients too often want to know why it makes more sense to buy a fine art print over a poster.

Grand Image artist Campbell Laird has been using eco friendly materials for the last few years, and had recently discovered new fine art paper made from Bamboo, a renewable resource. Knowing his interest in the environment, John Paul DeJoria, founder of Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron Tequila asked Laird to join his new endeavor called JP Selects, an online marketplace for products made using sustainable resources that donates portion of profits to social and/or environmental causes. 

As a follow up to the recent post where Devan Walker, National Sales Manager, shared most popular images among her clients nationwide, here we present best selling images in the last six months from three of our Account Managers. Looks like tree imagery is as popular as ever.

We've asked our Account Managers to share some of the best selling images in their territories in the last six months.  Devan Walker, National Sales Manager, discusses three most popular images among her clients nationwide. The winners are Patrick Atkinson's "Cerulean Flora 1", Campbell Laird's "khmer 8" and "Koi 2" by DF Photo.