May 15, 2010
If you haven’t heard of personal-prints, you haven’t opened a mail order catalog in the past 10 years. The appeal of one-of-a-kind artwork by internationally collected artist Scott Kennedyhas led to the introduction of art sales from mom and pop gift stores to fashion catalog retailers.
Nestled in the foothills of Berthoud, CO and overlooking snowcapped Long’s Peak is the ideal setting for internationally collected artist Scott Kennedy’s family owned and operated publishing company Solstice Arts. The company was founded in 1998 with Scott’s painting “Love Birds”– a fun image where customers can have their names ‘carved’ inside a heart on an aspen tree below two black-capped chickadees (see attached). “Love Birds” was twice named by US Art Magazine as one of the top selling art prints in America.
Love Birds - Scott Kennedy
From that print, the company’s personal-prints brand has seen tremendous growth, and after their first several years eclipsed total sales of 120,000 framed prints through many national catalog companies. From personalized gifts featuring black bear cubs to modern images with butterflies, Personal-Prints appeal to every demographic. While Scott still paints fun and whimsical new images for the personal-prints brand, the business is now jointly run by his two sons (Tylerand Ryan), who even contribute their own art.
Personal-Prints recently put together a program for gift stores to sell personalized artwork, and select stores along the front range of Colorado now display prints tailored to their clientele – Personal-Prints has over 100 personalized images. In difficult financial times, stores are excited to sign up for the new retail program, as they don’t have to make a large inventory investment. Since each print is a one-of-a-kind, each store sells from in store samples, and orders prints for their customers as needed. Solstice Arts then personalizes the artwork and drop-ships directly to the customer within 2 days.
While there are a considerable number of imitators springing up, Scott was the originator of personalized artwork and his Personal-Prints continue to set the standard in both quality and innovation. What other company can boast an internationally collected artist whose fine-art original paintings sale for a price that would make you blush?
That said, Personal-Prints is only one brand under the umbrella of Solstice Arts. The true depth of Scott’s artistic talent is displayed in his fine art that is also published at their facility. Two of his serious fine art paintings (“Iris” and “Blue Moon”) were selected by the prestigious Art Renewal Center (ARC) as finalists in their coveted 2010 salon. The annual awards are selected from over 1,700 applicants from 30 countries around the world by a juried panel of artists and art historians, and both of Scott’s pieces were selected to represent the ARC’s “standards of craftsmanship and excellence.” Prior to receiving the awards, Scott was inducted as an ARC Approved Living artist, a distinction bestowed on only 60 artists worldwide.
Scott’s figurative works are designed and painted using his family and friends as models. For example, “Iris” explores emotion and beauty with a painting of his daughter, and “Blue Moon” is a dramatically full sized painting of a family friend. Each painting is full of vivid contrasts in colors and shapes to create dynamic, beautiful, and realistic compositions. These captivating pieces are unique, as they are framed with antique nineteenth century shuttered windows with hand forged hardware. These ultra-realistic paintings are reproduced and sold as limited edition canvas giclees.
So, whether you are interested in personalized art gifts around the $99 price point, or you are a fine art collector, Solstice Arts offers two highly successful and proven brands. For more information about Solstice Arts, or to become a dealer, visit www.personal-prints.comor www.solsticearts.com.
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