Gango Editions Design Lab

Born in the Ukraine, Vitaly spent the first twelve years of his life in Kiev, a colorful and culturally rich city replete with old cathedrals and large oak trees. He was a sensitive and highly imaginative child, seeing the world as a series of moving images. He later lived in Italy and Australia before making his way to Oregon, where he now resides. Vitaly received an MBA from Monash University in Australia. He also trained as an actor and a life coach. His photography comes from a multidisciplinary perspective and conveys his intimate connection with the beauty of nature.

Q. What do you see as the central appeal to your artwork? What do you see in your artwork that your fans might see as well?

A. My appeal comes from understanding what makes a good composition. A composition must have a point of focus and relationship between the objects. It must bring out emotion and in my case I often go for serenity, simplicity and Zen. Something that people will look at for a long time and keep seeing more and more in it, something that moves and inspires them.

I take a lot of photographs but only a very small percentage makes it through my own critique. Then I spend many hours working on them in Photoshop, enhancing the key features, hand painting, applying textures, all to create the result I want.

Q. How did you get on the path to becoming a professional artist? What has led to your success?

A. I was originally trained as a business coach. My art career as a photographer began when I met David Lorenz Winston who is a top selling poster artist, known for his work called “Solitude”. David was a friend and one day he was taking some experimental photographs. I started having all these ideas and was suggesting to him different strategies. In retrospective this is really funny, me telling one of the most experienced photographers what to do. However David was very patient with me and delicately pointed out that instead of telling him I should start experimenting with photography myself. Since then I have taken over ten thousand images and my work has been featured is some top fine art photography journals like Silvershotz (see article here) and licensed to some large manufacturers and design firms.

I think the secret for my success is a keen eye for composition and relentless pursuit for beauty and perfection and most of all my sensitivity to the subject at hand. Having a business background also helps me to be more professional than the average artist, producing a variety of work that has commercial value.

My other key success factors are the mentors and colleagues who constantly inspire and challenge me to be the best in my field.

Q. Sometimes art can be a passion and sometimes it can be a labor. Has a favorite image failed to meet commercial success? Do you have a secret favorite in our collection that you simply love, no matter if anyone buys it?

A. Sure there is always a difference between decorative art and what one may call experimental art. There are many of my images that may never make it to the stores but to be true to myself as an artist I have to engage in that process because it feeds my creative self. The reality is that some images may take years to be discovered by the public but that does not lessen their value. As an artist I am always torn between producing a commercial product that may please a large percentage of the population versus doing whatever pleases me irrespective of whether it has any commercial value. In truth one needs to pursue both of these paths, some images dedicated to please the public and others for pure artistic inspiration.

I have one image (Moses Tree B&W, shown above) that was extremely difficult to work on because I had to remove so many obstructions. It has been a top seller for me personally and yet it is still relatively undiscovered in the general market. I think it is the light that makes this image powerful, although the tree itself has a lot of wisdom, having been around for so many years.

My other personal favorite is one of my early images. It is called “Poppy Mirage” (at right). To me it just speaks of elegance and beauty. I just love the textures and all the interweaving lines in the flower.

Q. Where does your artistic inspiration come from?

A. My inspiration comes from two sources: one by looking at other great artist work and the other from being in nature. When I am lacking inspiration I simply pick up my camera and head off into the mountains. The first few shots may seem forced but after a while I get into the creative zone and all is flowing again. It is kind of like mediation for me.

Q. How do you inspire yourself to create and keep your creativity flowing?

A. Most importantly the actual process of creation is something that elevates the human spirit no matter what creative endeavor you are engaged in. Just the fact that you are creating something that has never been done before, in your particular way, is so exciting. It is like a treasure hunt, one never knows what he/she will discover. I truly believe that this creative energy is common to any profession in which a person is willing to take risks, grow and learn. There are times when I spend many hours on a particular image and it simply does not amount to anything. But that is the cost of a creative pursuit, because other times that risk pays off big time.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. I am working on a large Coastal Collection in B&W; the ocean always inspires me. I tend to be drawn more to B&W/Sepia work at the moment, maybe because it has that classic timeless feel about it. But that may change as I also love subtle color images.

See all of Vitaly Geyman’s photos available through Gango Editions .

Paul Brent is an artist whose paintings of coastal life and nature have gained widespread recognition both nationally and internationally. His passion for creativity has led to an expression both in fine art as well as producing designs for functional and decorative objects. Regarded as today’s foremost coastal artist he has always been intensely aware of his surroundings and his artwork reflects his wonder and admiration for scenes and objects of natural beauty.

The following interview will explore the artist’s inspiration and method.

Q. As one of our best selling artists your work attracts a broad range of
customers. What do you see as the central appeal to your artwork?

A. If the meaning of art is to impart emotion visually then I think the message of all of my art is to create the emotions of joy and relaxation in a world that is full of stress. I think this is possibly the greatest appeal of my artwork to those who buy it. My artwork not only fits in with people’s décor but often takes them away to a fond memory of a beach retreat or the simple pleasure of a moment in time that is a quiet getaway moment. This is what I have seen in my artwork and have had many comments from lovers of my art who have said the same thing.

Q. How did you get on the path to becoming a professional artist? Was their a pivotal moment that made the difference in your success?

A. I have been creating art since as early as I can remember. My mother was an elementary school teacher and always had a lot of art supplies around that she encouraged me to use when I wanted something to do. I began selling my art when a friend suggested I display my art at an outdoor art show in 1976. A pivotal moment came when buyers began asking if I had prints of my work. I started publishing prints and selling them to framers and galleries in 1986. My career took a big leap forward at that moment because I went from a local artist to selling my work around the globe in one year.

Read the rest of “Get to Know Paul Brent” »

Alan Hausenflock delved into digital photography in 2001, after being inspired by the work of Galen Rowell. Alan’s background in information technology, along with his passion for the medium, proved to be the perfect mix. His exquisite scenery shots capture the beauty of his home on the East Coast. As Gango Editions has expanded its photography and custom printing options, Hausenflock’s pieces have taken off – proving him to be one of our most popular photographers.

The following interview will explore the photographer’s inspiration and method.

Q. How did you get started as a professional photographer?
A: I was in a doctor’s office in 2000 and picked up a magazine and discovered a photo of the Owens Valley by Galen Rowell. (shown at right) I was mesmerized by it. My wife bought me a Kodak camera and I was off and running. After a few years of posting work on the internet, Robbin Allen of Gango Editions emailed me in April 2006 and asked if I’d be interested in being represented by Gango. I felt very fortunate. Then in August 2006, Nicole Chavez was assigned as my working contact at Gango. Since then my relationship with Gango Editions has matured into something that is hard working, creative, and beneficial to us both.

Q. Tell us about a pivotal time in your career.

A. A pivotal time for me was in 2007 when the economy went south and my business did too. I had to decide if I was going to continue or not. I was also in a creative slump and I wasn’t satisfied with my work. It took almost a year, and in the process of deciding what to do I experimented with many different approaches to photography. I managed to find ways to give the final photographic image a more artistic look which was more in line with what I wanted. I think my new direction is also more in tune with the home décor market. Nicole’s guidance was also a big help, so in the end I stuck with it.

Q: As one of our best selling artists, your work attracts a broad range of customers. What do you think is the appeal of your artwork?

A: Nature has always appealed to me. Art has always appealed to me. Although I’ve never had the talent to be a painter, when I shoot an image it’s with an artist’s eye and a technical mind. When I look at a scene, I see the artistic composition but I also look for potential in terms of what can be done with the image.

I never thought of this before but I’m told that my images are masculine in nature. I do like color and contrast, old Hollywood black and white, infrared and sepia, all of which have a broad appeal. I also live on the East Coast so I’m close to the beaches and bays, the fishing boats, the hard work and romance of the sea. The Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley are just a few hours west, and rolling hills and farms are between the mountains and the sea. Savannah is to the south and Pennsylvania is north. I think this kind of imagery appeals to many people.

Q. How do the seasons affect your work?

A. I find that every season is special it its own way and I shoot all year. Summer is the most challenging in terms of landscape. In Virginia I call summer “The big green blah”. But then there’s the beach and sailing, and quaint little towns along the shore. You just have to drive farther for those places.

Q. How do you keep the creativity flowing? How do you bring your skill, inspiration, and work together?

A. I find that shooting something new will spur creativity. I also try to stretch past my comfort zone in subject matter, and that can sometimes have the same effect, and sometimes not. Other times I’ll go back to a previous shoot or even to finished work and try something I’ve just learned. Like anyone else, I get in a rut like “if I shoot one more tree, I’ll burn my camera”. The drive is there but I’ve got nowhere to go. When these dry spells occur I’ll start looking at all kinds of magazine imagery, new software, videos etc. Invariably I’ll get new ideas and new paths to follow. Feedback is very important to any photographer/artist, positive or negative. For me it’s like putting gas in my image car. The car is my technical skill with cameras, software etc. With a full tank I can drive the car wherever I have the inspiration to go. When I get to where I want to be, the work I produce generates more feedback by family and friends, and of course Gango. Feedback equals more (or sometimes less) gas for my image car and I hit the road again.

Q. Has your work ever frustrated or surprised you? What are some challenges you face in making art and how do you overcome them?

A. Oh yes, many images have both surprised and frustrated me. Between camera exposure, environmental conditions and post processing I can only be about 70% sure of how an image will eventually turn out. In my mind, what will make the biggest difference in an image are its subtleties of light, color and contrast. A challenge for me is to live with a finished image for a time. Invariably, I’ll make small changes in things I hadn’t noticed before and in the end I’ll have a better image. I want the customer to look at the finished image, and want to be there.

I have to be mindful of appealing to the many different tastes and preferences of the general public and I try to have a broad subject matter. I also take queues from Nicole about what she would like to see more of such as black and white. I recently started a B&W project on neighborhood eateries and storefronts in Richmond’s Historic Fan District. I’ve also had an ongoing B&W project of colonial life in Williamsburg, Virginia. I keep track of what images sell and I try to gage trends but it’s very subjective.

Q. What are your plans for the upcoming year? What’s your next step?

A. Just to see if I could, I’ve always wanted to create just the opposite of the imagery I usually do. Light, low contrast almost dreamy work. I also feel strongly about the need to find different shooting environments. I’m going to Miami in May and I hope to go out west in 2012. I want to go back to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, New England and perhaps Oregon. Places I’ve been before but without a camera.

In terms of a next step, I would love to do photography projects for someone where I could travel and see different places. Perhaps with more recognition by the public and with Gango Editions continued support, I might just get there. Other than project work, I’m content to keep learning and creating, and having fun doing it!

See all of Alan Hausenflocks photos available as custom prints and don’t miss his photos that are available as open editions

Jeni Lee grew up in the countryside of Northern California and the lush forests of the Northwest. She attended artist residencies on the Oregon coast, in New Mexico and in Vermont, and she received a BA in Painting. She quickly built a clientele base of private and corporate collectors. It was not long before her whimsical abstract pieces took fire in the mass market. Jeni is one of our best-selling artists and continues to bring new, creative pieces to the market.

The following interview will delve into the artist’s background, work habits, and inspiration.

Q: What do you see as the central appeal to your artwork?

A: My artwork has always been fueled by strong design and inspiration from nature. I feel that most viewers are attracted to my fresh style and use of color, pattern, and texture, and are drawn to the unique ways I use materials in my work.

I believe the attraction to my work originates in my playful approach to the art making process. Collecting inspiration is my creative foundation, whether that be through traveling to find new materials and ideas or experimenting with materials and following trends. Although I frequently rely on my natural and trained talents to make engaging art, in order to keep it interesting, I always invite possibility through chance and happy mistakes. That’s the magic of the process.

As a talented colleague once shared, “If I knew what I was painting, it would ruin the surprise.” His words have been carried into each of my studios. It is this process, with my use of materials, that makes my work distinctive: Drips of wet color, brushstrokes of paint, smudges and marks of crayon, torn and crisp textures of collage. Through the use of these techniques, I am able to share my process with viewers, and they are able to acquire a more intimate feel for how the work is created. I create art that people can live with and be inspired by.

Q. How did you get on the path to becoming a professional artist?

A: I created my first abstract watercolor in high school. It was a small piece on paper with atmospheric tones of gold and yellow. It’s amazing to look at my work now as an adult and see that my style was with me then. It was at that age, I knew I wanted to express myself through creating beauty in art.

Although I went to college to study art, I really learned to paint by painting. And painting a lot. Right out of college, I acquired my first art studio and made myself to show up to create every day. That routine, which soon grew to be habit, mixed with a few years of working in an art supply store, where I was able to play and discover with new materials, gave me the core foundation for who I am as an artist today.

Q. When was the pivotal moment that your career took off?

A. As an emerging artist, I began showing my work in local cafes and galleries and quickly found my work in demand. My first solo gallery exhibit nearly sold out. It was a very exciting time, and I believe my career took off from there. I began exhibiting in a variety of venues, such as art galleries, art street fairs and fundraisers, and found the time to travel, visit galleries and attend art residencies. I continued to cultivate relationships with clients, and quickly received commissions for unique projects for local hospitals and hotels. It was all to feed not simply the art itself, but my career as an artist as well. It was that taste of success which drove me to decide to be the working artist I am today. I believe much of my success is due to my dedication, motivation, and openness toward new paths and choices.

Q. Have you ever been frustrated or surprised by a particular image?

A. The great success of the “14 Friday” series has surprised me, but most of their success is due to the fact that their creation involved play, color, and instinct. Aside from deciding to create artwork involving large playful, organic circles, I didn’t have a plan for how I was going to make these. That’s the magic of the art process.

There have been times when I have felt frustrated with a piece in process, and usually when that happens, I step away from it, maybe take a walk and return to it later. Or maybe I will start another piece. To avoid art that seems forced or overworked, I sometimes have to let it go and remember to paint from the heart to find the piece that sings.

Q. Do you have a secret favorite?

A. My secret favorites are the abstract landscape style designs, like “Skyline Symmetry” and “Blue Mood”. Early in my artistic career, I started painting the figure, then to landscapes. It is this series, with the atmospheric washes and playful patterns, that best reminds me who I am and was as a painter.

Q. How do you keep the creativity flowing?

A. What I treasure most about working for myself as an artist is that it allows me the time to travel. Exploration is my biggest inspiration for keeping the creativity flowing and for discovering new ideas. I’ve traveled to Italy for the amazing countryside, architecture and frescos; to the Southwest to immerse myself in the diverse landscape; to Hawaii and Mexico to gather insight on their cultures; and I often take day trips to the Oregon coast to refresh my creative spirit.

One of my favorite sources of inspiration has always been browsing images in home décor and art magazines. Even as a child I often made collages with my favorite paint swatches from the hardware store and fabric patterns from the magazines. It is exciting to mix new and vintage design trends and I love to get a peek in to how people are creating artful and inspiring living spaces with art, color, and design.

Q. Explain how you bring skill, inspiration, and work together.

A. Before I go into the studio, I collect all my sketchbooks, design notes, pictures, and anything else that may inspire an artwork. I surround myself with those sources of inspiration, keep them stacked on the table next to my coffee, tack them up on the walls of the studio. Usually in the morning, I begin to sketch out ideas, and I think about what color palette I am inspired by, while considering composition and what materials would make an interesting piece. Then I start painting. I work intuitively and just let go and make art! That’s where the element of surprise and the essence of good art begins. As I move along, I use my skills and talents to refine my work into a more cohesive piece: Add a color here, change pattern here, and enhance a section there. It is a dance between me and the artwork, until at one moment, it is done. Perhaps my success is due to the fact that my audience can see this moment too, when an artwork is completed, it sings and visually pleases and inspires. I am incredibly grateful for that.

Q. What is your favorite time of year to create?

A. The seasons significantly influence my creativity. The transitional spring and fall are my favorite times to start new bodies of work, or to begin a new project, for they bring an inviting sense of possibility and change. Often summer is my time to roam and refresh, while in winter, I am in the studio the most finishing and refining designs.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. Recently in the studio, I started a new series of atmospheric paintings with large color washes and drips of paint, inspired by the messy palette I use while painting. From there I may begin to integrate patterns and details, but I am not sure where the new series will take me. That’s part of the process and the surprise.

Q. What are your plans for the upcoming year?

A. For the upcoming year, I want to continue my investigation with new color combinations and playful textures. Layering paint, brushstrokes, and lines, with some of the new color trends I am seeing, excites me. I recently returned from a trip to New Orleans where I acquired an eclectic sense of expression: a place where the old truly mixes with new; where design is a historic mix of European influences with modern novelty. That style compliments my own artistic expression and I anticipate the new art that I will create from that experience.

See all of Jeni Lee’s prints at Gango Editions here.

Click on the image below to virtually page through our catalog. To download your own copy click here .

She brings us a world of whimsical characters – chefs, waiters, bathing beauties…all to brighten your day. One of the most highly licensed artists in the world, Gango Editions is proud to have Jennifer Garant as one of our artists. Garant is a prolific painter, providing us with new pieces on a regular basis. Please visit our website at www.gangoeditions.com for our full collection.

You can download the Jennifer Garant Hot List here .

Abstract Art is on the rise and Gango Editions has a large selection of choices. Don’t know where to start? Check out our best selling artist, Jeni Lee (JLE). All of the hot list items are available as open edition prints as well as custom giclees on paper and canvas in a variety of options. Call us today for more information: 800-852-3662

You can download our New Releases Hot List here .

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