We are well known for the ability to customize any artwork for display in your home or office. Very recently we had the opportunity to create a custom “Sunset Triptych” for one of our customers. A client had seen my “Sunset Triptych” at an art festival and felt it was perfect for their living room. The original artwork was done in a horizontal format. The client really liked the multiple panels, but wanted it in a vertical format. I had him send me a photo and dimensions of the space where he wanted to hang the piece. I created a vertically formatted triptych to be displayed above the fireplace in his living room. Check out the results!
At Canvas Zoo we can also customize any of your photos to fit your space. A client of ours had taken a photo of a beautiful sunset over the ocean and wanted to display that beauty in her home. She e-mailed me a photo of the space where she wanted to hang the photo, along with the sunset photo she had taken. Using the dimensions she sent me, I determined that the photo was too small to look good at the size wanted, so I needed to enlarge it. There are a number of ways to enhance your photos and I gave the client several ideas of different enhancements. She selected a “painterly” version and chose to have a triptych with a slightly larger center panel. The end result was stunning. Here is the before and after:
It is always exciting to see how art can transform a space!
As many artists and photographers ask us what are the steps to registering their business we wanted to make it easy to find.
How do I do it?
Step 1: You will need to file for a local business tax receipt. Click here for the application www.myclearwater.com.
Step 2: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Apply here for free www.irs.gov.
Step 3: File a “Fictitious Name”/a.k.a. DBA Registration with the Florida Department of Sate, Division of Corporations at this. File here at www.sunbiz.org.
Step 4: Register for a Florida Annual Resale Certificate with the Florida Department of Revenue: click here at www.myflorida.com.
You will receive a Certificate of Registration and a Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax. This is necessary for a business to collect sales and use tax. It also allows business owners to buy or rent property or services tax-free (when purchases or rentals will be resold or re-rented).
There are many additional resources available to you:
- The chamber of commerce where you are or closest to your trading area.
- The US Small Business Administration website supports small businesses throughout the country at the following website: www.sba.gov.
- The Small Business Development Center website contains a wealth of business information and market research. Check them out in our area at the following website: www.sbdctampabay.com.
- Score is an organization that encourages the formation, growth and success of small business throughout the country. Visit them at the following website: www.score.org.
Good Luck!
Last night was a great surprise! My brother plays French horn for The Boston Pops Orchestra and they were performing at the Mahaffey Theater. He got our family box seats at last night’s performance: a tribute to Barbara Streisand. I forgot how wonderful it is to hear world-class performers live. Music nourishes the soul in a way that cannot be explained. It was a good reminder that “the arts” encompasses a full range of sensory and emotive experiences, which enrich our lives. We need to enjoy and support live performance more often.
Here I am with Keith Lockhart, the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. We played in our high school band together. I played clarinet and he played bass clarinet.
For a while now, we’ve hosted free monthly workshops and seminars to bring visual artists and photographers together and share best practices on how to get over certain bumps in the road while growing your business. I know how hard it is to make it as an artist – just the inertia to get going – let alone keep it going while constantly coming up with new creative ideas – it can be pretty rough some days. And, in order to make it, I firmly believe that you’ve “gotta have a little help from your friends.”
“Art Marketing: How to Get Your Work Noticed” was a workshop conducted by visual artist and art marketer Sara Mullins. It was great to have a visual artist who also understands what needs to be done in order to create a customer following. There were 45 people in attendance, some driving over 90 minutes to hear her. Lots of good new information, lots of reminders. One attendee posted it this way, “I had been pondering over my lack of focus. After attending a mini workshop last night. I am now more grounded and ready to set personal goals …get back on track. Last night gave me the “push” that was needed.”
I second that thought. It reminded me of why we do what we do and how we got here. How do we make it work? Of course a combination of the basics of traditional marketing, social media, face-to-face, and going where the buyers are. The two real secrets to success (whispered in your ear only): 1. Know that your overriding purpose is to service others and 2. Be passionate about what you do, and by keeping your eye on those two things – everything else will fall into place. 
A couple walked into the Menaul Art Gallery Monday afternoon. They found me on the internet and came all the way from Miami to buy a piece of artwork! We found a design, “Spectral Reflectance,” that was a perfect piece for their living room. We produced it in a custom size for over their fireplace and framed it. I will be delivering it tomorrow before setting up for the Coconut Grove Art Festival (also in Miami). It is exciting to me that someone would come across the state to purchase my work!
Recently I had the pleasure of attending a banquet held by The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. Menaul Art/Canvas Zoo was a finalist for the Small Business of the Year Award. I was thrilled and honored that though our business is fairly new to the community we were nominated for such a prestigious award.
This event is sold out every year with over 400 business leaders throughout Pinellas County in attendance. Mayor George Cretekos congratulated the winners. My wife Jerri and I feel privileged to work in a community that values small businesses like ours.
Here’s an artsy photo I took a few hours ago at Mediros Beach. I took the usual sunset shots, but saw this upon returning to the parking lot. The wind was blowing the tall grass just after sunset. The circular strand of grass caught my attention as being a graphical design element that was a little unusual for a strand of grass.
Circles are symbolic of many things and may suggest deeper meanings. They can represent unity, wholeness, and infinity. Many believe that time is circular. The circle is the second step in sacred geometry leading to the creation of the universe.
Was this perchance, just a blade of grass I came across, or a sign or symbol that presents an opportunity for personal reflection? Comments are welcome!
Be sure to visit my fine art website at www.menaul-art.com
With the new year fast approaching, it got me thinking about a few things, especially our health. Good health is important. Otherwise, one is distracted from living life to the fullest by lack of energy, physical pain, illness, etc. I’ve spent many years reading books on the subject of health and managing weight. I’ve finally found the answer. It is too simple for most people to accept. The real answer doesn’t make anyone rich. What is the answer? Eat real food! Eat fruit, vegetables and meat (if your body does well with chicken, fish or red meat). Try it for two weeks for every meal and see how you feel. Eliminate sugar and all processed foods. Most health problems seem to dissappear when the body is properly fed and nutritional deficiencies are remedied. It may take some discipline, but it is well worth the effort.
Make it part of your New Year Resolution. What are your resolutions?
When Nestor De La Hoz finished his gallery show here, he offered Jerri and I one of two paintings to show his appreciation for hosting him. I first want to say how honored I am that he would gift us something so special. We had to choose between two different paintings, that sparked two different emotions from me. The first (my choice) was a very detailed piece that shows this state of desolation. Nestor pointed out how much detail was in the work and how much time he had spent on it. The second piece brought a “happier” feel when looking at it. I could picture it hanging in our home, but I was still drawn to the first painting, which we ended up choosing. The piece now hangs in a hallway outside the kitchen in our home. I am so touched that Nestor wanted me to have this painting that is so special to him. We had this connection, this almost “brotherhood,” formed by the time he left and I think this friendship is built on respect for one another as artists. Nestor has this “old school” art vibe and I do everything digitally, yet we were still able to connect through our work and it’s very meaningful for me that he appreciates what I do, and I certainly appreciate his talent and passion for art. We both have this mission to create joy in the world through art. It’s our “pay it forward.”
We were so honored to host the Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance event at Menaul Art. We celebrated military personnel past, present, and future while raising awareness of the Florida Veterans Memorial. All of this was wonderful and such an honor, but what really hit home was when my wife, Jerri, brought in my dad’s Navy uniform. I was surprised by the emotion I felt when seeing this again. I was picturing my father in this uniform in WWII at 17 years old, and just trying to grasp what he went through at that time. Also, the mazes we had from Laura Evans from her son are beautiful. They tell moving stories about survival. He used art as his escape, even though he could not escape, physically, from the situation he was in. The mazes tell a story of survival, in a sense, and I think that’s truly amazing. These are just two of the memories that come to mind when thinking about the TBVA art exhibit weekend. We thank everyone for their participation and support.
