The United States of Design

By Linda Tischler, Fast Company

From GM to 3M, in boardrooms and on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley and on Madison Avenue, design matters more than ever. Around the globe, American designers have never been more influential. Welcome to an unexpected and inspiring moment.

For the complete story, please visit:  http://www.fastcompany.com/design/2011/united-states-of-design-american-designers

If you need help with art and design for your company, contact us at (888) 440-9260 or visit our website at:  www.artrentandlease.com - we provide artwork to beautify and enhance your space, tie into your branding and improve morale.

Landscapes with a Fantastic Flair

This is not your typical landscape!  Portland artist Kelly Neidig's original paintings are amazing - she adds a fantastic boldness and style to a sometimes serene subject.  Sized from 18" x 18" and up, we have paintings that will bring the beauty of fine art into your space for sale, for rent or for lease.  Ask us about our free initial consultation....(888) 440-9260.

"Surfside Dream" Turns A Dull Hallway Into A Work of Art!

The long title for this stunning Triptych is "A Surfside Dream of an Encounter with Gerhard Richter" and is shown installed at an Investment Bank in New York.  We were entrusted with filling the empty walls within a matter of days....the company had just moved into new offices and a client was coming in for meetings the following week.  Voila!  Original oil paintings can really enhance a company image and help offices look modern and vibrant.

For information on how we can provide artwork to fill your empty walls, visit us at:  www.artrentandlease.com or call for more information:  (888) 440-9260.

Table of Elements Artwork, from Fabulous "Circular Statements"

Artist Janet VanFleet creates beautiful "Circular Statements" utilizing reclaimed and found objects.  She creates including commissions for clients including the "Table of Elements" - a fantastic way for science and industry to enhance the workspace.  Ask us about commissioning an elemental table for your space! (888) 440-9260

A Bold New Look for the SF Art Museum in Jittery Economic Times

The new visual identity ditches the old mark, a red square with “Asian” at the bottom, in favor of a simple letter “A.”

It’s been a rough few years for museums. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is no exception.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported last year that the museum was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Desperate to survive into the 21st century, the 45-year-old organization--which has one of the largest collections of Asian art in the world--ushered in a massive institutional overhaul. First, it restructured its long-term debt. Now, it’s restructuring its look, with the help of branding giant Wolff Olins, in hopes of broadening its appeal.

For the complete article please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665119/a-bold-new-look-for-sf-art-museum-in-jittery-economic-times

If you're in San Francisco don't forget to visit the SF Asian Art Museum!

Airplane Art: Awesome Retro Logos of Airlines from Bygone Eras

The graphic is studded with awesome retro logos of airlines from bygone eras, ("The Route of the Air Chiefs" -- classy!). But the timeline itself is the most fascinating part, showing how a motley bunch of tiny air operators in the 1920s clustered together like The Blob almost overnight in 1930 and 1931, giving rise to The Big Four: United, American, TWA, and Eastern Air Lines. (Pan Am actually consolidated a few years before.)

The thickness of the lines corresponds to "the relative market share of passenger traffic for each airline," according to the poster retailer. It's also interesting to see the impact of airline deregulation in 1978 visually, as smaller operators like Southwest and America West suddenly spring up and former behemoths like Pan Am dwindle. It's cold comfort if you're stuck on a JetBlue flight without that extra leg room option, but maybe tossing out a few of these factoids to your seatmate will help you pass the time before landing.
[Buy from HistoryShots.com for $29.95;

For the complete story from FastCo Design, please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665200/infographic-of-the-day-a-visual-geneology-of-the-airline-business

We love fun art and design, especially when it involves aviation!

"Recovery" Original Acrylic on Canvas by Kohn

Vibrant original acrylic on canvas, these paintings really inspire creativity!

For information on an art rental, art lease or to purchase artwork for your space, please call us at (888) 440-9260 or visit the website at:  www.artrentandlease.com

About us:  Art Rent and Lease, founded in 2000 is a woman-owned and operated company that works with business clients in the US.  Our specialty is providing rotating art display's for the lobby, conference room and other public spaces.  Ask about how we can help bring the beauty of art into your space!

"Work Of Art"....The Next Great Artist Series on Bravo TV - Watch Episode 5 on November 9, 2011

Episode 5: Ripped from the Headlines

The artists must create a piece of art that illustrates a headline which strikes a cord with them. PREMIERE: Wednesday November 9, 9 pm

In the fifth episode, the contestants are invited to visit the home of one of the most recognized publications in the world -- The New York Times. The artists must rummage through bins of newspapers to find a headline that strikes a cord with them and are then challenged to create a piece of art that illustrates the story they selected. The winning artist will have their work hung in the New York Times building. Artist Adam McEwen, best known for his text paintings, serves as guest judge.

For more, visit:  http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-2/episode-5-ripped-from-the-headlines

An Artist Who Sews Paper Into 3-D Sculptures

Paper craft is at a tipping point. In recent months, we’ve covered artists who transform the commonest material into everything from outlandish 18th-century wigs to painstaking replicas of Walkmen and Game Boys. And even Bravo’s Work of Art: America’s Next Great Artist features a paper sculptor among its contestants. Now, we bring you Jennifer Collier, a British artist who recycles paper into 3-D objects by sewing sheets of it like fabric.

Not surprisingly, Collier worked with textiles before migrating to paper. “Found and recycled papers have always been my biggest source of inspirations, so it just came to be that they also became the media, as well as the inspiration for my work,” she tells Co.Design. Thereby, a typewriter is crafted from typewriter manuals, a telephone from phone directories, and a camera from old photos.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665244/an-artist-who-sews-paper-into-3-d-sculptures

Art Rent and Lease supplies paintings and sculptures for rent, lease or sale to business clients throughout the US.  For more information visit our website at:  www.artrentandlease.com

Unique Art Sculpture by Zenos Frudakis

From Dodinsky's Garden of Thoughts, wanted to share this beautiful and unique sculpture with you:


For more, please visit https://www.facebook.com/thegardenofthoughtsbydodinsky?sk=wall#!/photo.php?fbid=234971823222894&set=a.106927599360651.22282.101401346579943&type=1&theater

For information on artwork for your building, offices, lobby, executive center or facility, please visit our website:  www.artrentandlease.com or call us for information at (888) 440-9260.

A Greenhouse Made of 100,000 Legos

 

A Greenhouse Made Of 100,000 Legos

To the list of amazing things Legos are capable of, add this: They can feed you.

London industrial designer Sebastian Bergne has built what’s being billed as the world’s first greenhouse made entirely out of Legos--an 11.5-foot-tall translucent shed that nourishes edible plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and sunflowers.

Set down in London’s famous Covent Garden, it’s got walls and a pitched roof constructed using 50,000 clear Legos, with another 50,000 brown Legos on the ground to mimic the look of soil. (Cute.) Bergne tells Co.Design that the Lego Greenhouse was thrown together in just one night, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. And while it’s a temporary structure--designed as part of the London Design Festival--it hints at the potential for Legos to be used as a construction material in the real world. Up next: a Lego computer?



For the complete article by Suzanne Labarre, a senior editor at Co.Design, please visit: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665026/a-greenhouse-made-of-100000-legos

Look at these Paintings Cross-Eyed...they pop into 3-D

Look At These Paintings Cross-Eyed, And They Pop Into 3-D

There’s no need for lenticular sheets, Avatar-themed polarized glasses, prisms, or red-blue anaglyph glasses to see the 3-D images in Theo Prins’s DIY stereoscopic paintings. Just go cross-eyed.

It’s a pretty simple trick: When you look at the center of the stereoscopic pair above, place your finger about halfway between you and the screen. If you converge your eyes to focus on your finger--i.e., go cross-eyed--you’ll notice the images on the screen begin to overlap. Adjust your finger's position until the images completely overlap. (Because you're still focusing on your finger, the images on the screen will be blurred.)

If you’re doing it correctly, you’ll see three images on the screen. The center image will have depth and the two outer images will not. The hardest part, actually, is to remove your finger and allow yourself to focus on the screen without uncrossing your eyes.

For more, please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665007/look-at-these-paintings-cross-eyed-and-they-pop-into-3-d

For paintings that rotate in and out of your lobby or conference room every 3 to 6 months or so, give us a call at 888-440-9260 and ask for Lisa!

Holy Stalactitie! These Images of Gems are really Paintings

 

 

These Absurdly Realistic Images Of Gems Are Actually Paintings

Holy stalactite!

Carly Waito is a young Toronto artist who paints pictures of semi-precious gems and minerals that are so frighteningly realistic, they’re virtually indistinguishable from a photograph. Every last facet and minute imperfection is captured in astonishing detail. The kicker: The paintings are tiny, some just 4.5 inches wide.

“I start by collecting the mineral specimens, usually from dealers online or at shows for mineral collectors, or from eBay,” Waito tells Co.Design. “Then I photograph the specimens using my DSLR with a macro lens and a complicated setup of lights and mirrors to get the reflections on the facets just right. I take many subtly different photos of each specimen before choosing one to print to use as my reference to paint from.”

Each piece is executed on masonite board with oil paint and small (very small) brushes. Waito’s first solo show, at Narwhal Art Projects in Toronto, stays open until October 2. To buy a painting, contact the gallery at contact@narwhalartprojects.com.
[Images courtesy of Carly Waito]

For the complete story, please visit FastCoDesign:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665050/these-absurdly-realistic-images-of-gems-are-actually-paintings

If you'd like information on paintings for your offices, building or facility please call us at (888) 440-9260.

Salt More Precious than Gold? This Painting that is...

By Bettina Werner, The Salt Queen
The artist in front of "Salt More Precious Than Gold" painting created with textured colorized salt.  Courtesy the Salt Queen Foundation, New York

For the complete story and more amazing images, please visit our friends at Sensational Color: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/media/set/?set=a.61586545599.98007.61567350599

Another Salt Painting by Bettina Werner - fantastic and sensational color!

 

Copyright Bettina Werner 2009
Courtesy The Salt Queen Foundation, New York
http://www.bettina-werner.com/

Experimental Glasses That Turn Wine Into Art

I love wine and art....this is the perfect combination!  Thanks FastCoDesign and Belinda Lanks for a great article that we've shared!

Wine glasses generally come in two varieties: red (with a big wide bowl to facilitate oxidation) and white (with a smaller mouth and tapered bowl). We’re far from sommeliers, but, to us, it seems a shame that, with so much energy devoted to developing wine, so little creativity goes into the glasses in which it’s served. Gumdesign, an Italian design collective, fixes that disparity with playful twists on traditional crystal stemware.

Most of them are subtle, clever interpretations of the usual form: One, for instance, comes with its own cork stopper; another has a dainty spout. We’re partial to the one whose tulip bowl sits slightly tilted on its stem; when paired, they can lean in or away from each other.
If you’re a wine snob who holds fast to the belief that a glass’s shape can impact bouquet, these designs may not be for you. For those who select wine by the look of the label, these glasses might have the power to make box wine palatable.

They’re made by ColleVilca, an Italian factory that makes crystal objects by hand. To order, send an email to: mirella@vilca.it.

For the complete story, please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665037/experimental-glasses-that-turn-wine-into-art

Amazing 3 D Printer Technology!

What is 3 D Printer Technology? An art form!!!

From Wikipedia:  3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material.^[1] 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers offer product developers the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that can serve as product prototypes.

See a cool demonstration video on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw

Rotating Lobby Artwork Really "Makes It" Stunning

A beautiful photographic triptych installed in a client's lobby, rotated every 3 months.  We use a Gallery Systems hanging system that makes it easy to hang and doesn't damage the walls.

For information on a rotating art rental program, please call us at (888) 440-9260

Saturn Photo - Stunning Piece of Eye Candy

Taken by NASA's Cassini robotic orbiter, the shot was captured from the dark side of Saturn as the Sun's bright rays illuminated every piece of dust and debris circling the planet. Cassini has offered astronomers a never-before-seen look at Saturn and revealed more information about the planet than any craft before it. The craft has taken so many pictures of the ringed wonder that they were recently made into a short flyby film that looks like it was created by George Lucas rather than a robotic space explorer.

For the full story please visit: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/nasa-cassini-orbiter-snaps-unbelievable-picture-saturn-144133480.html

Insanely Complex Ceramics Made By Hand, Not 3-D Printer

Irish artist Nuala O’Donovan draws on patterns found in nature to create impossibly complex abstract sculptures. And she makes them using something else found in nature: her own two hands.

Nuala O’Donovan’s porcelain ceramics look in every way like the stuff of high-tech manufacturing. They’re intensely complicated sculptures, riffing on some of nature’s most elaborate visual spectacles, from snowflakes and flowers to pine cones and radiolaria.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664888/insanely-complex-ceramics-made-by-hand-not-3-d-printer

Thank you for visiting the Art Rent and Lease blog!

Rolex Learning Center is a Work of Art

As featured in Architectural Digests "Buzz Worthy Buildings" the Rolex Learning Center is a work of art in itself!

Funded by luxury watchmaker Rolex and described as “an intimate public space” by co-architect Kazuyo Sejima, of SANAA, this undulating concrete-and-glass structure in Lausanne, Switzerland, combines laboratories, a library, restaurants, social spaces, and more on the campus of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.  

Perforated with openings that admit sunlight and frame plazas, patios, and other public spaces, the roof has an organic profile that swells and subsides. SANAA’s founders, Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, were awarded the 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the jury hailing the partners for their “vision of a building as a seamless whole, where the physical presence retreats and forms a sensuous background for people, objects, activities, and landscapes.”

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/features/2011/07/architecture-survey#ixzz1TKAu5Ytf

Buzz-Worthy Architectural Building Pushing the Boundaries of Design and Energy Consumption

 

Amsterdam-based UNStudio designed the sculptural white ridges on the façade of this office building in Groningen, the Netherlands, to be more than merely ornamental. Environmental studies indicate that the wedge shapes reduce energy consumption by acting as shades to control the amount of direct sunlight. The architecture firm also created the structure, occupied by the national tax office and the student loan administration, to be easily converted into housing, should the tenants ever decide to depart.

Photo: Ronald Tilleman, Courtesy of UNStudio

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/features/2011/07/architecture-survey#ixzz1TK994b72

 

 

Industrial-Chic Art Displays

Bulldog Clips
Inspiration We first saw this industrial-chic clip technique used at a Columbia College gallery display of Bird Machine posters.
How to Make a pencil mark on the wall at each corner of the poster, so you know where to hammer the nails. Nail through the center of four bulldog clips (one at every corner) and hang the poster (buck naked or mounted on matte board) against the wall. If you want to create a sense of depth, wrap one end of clear fishing wire around a nail and loop the other end through the hole in the bulldog clip so the poster hangs freely a few inches from the wall. (If your poster rolls up, add weights to the bottom of the paper.) Vary the lengths of the fishing wire with a group of prints for visual variety.

Clipboards
Inspiration Being a magazine fiend sometimes pays off. We were inspired by photographs of the studio of Scandinavian artist Lotta Jansdotter in out-of-print mag Blueprint (it’s still online, though: blogs1.marthastewart.com/blueprint), which showed the artist using about a dozen clipboards on her wall to organize her ideas.
How to Simply nail through the center of the clipboards onto the wall, then post a few of your favorite postcards and small prints on each board.

Plexiglas and foam board
Inspiration The combination of scant funds and scores of work forces art students to get creative with their showcasing techniques. As a result, the frame-free Plexiglas approach has popped up at university galleries around town.
How to Blick Art Materials (42 S State St, 312-920-0300) has everything you need for this DIY framing job. Slide your print between a piece of foam board ($2–$4) and precut Plexiglas ($2–$20). Adhere the unit to the wall using either L-shaped nails ($10 for a box of 100) or Frameless Swiss Corner Clips (starting at $10), which, unlike the basic nail and hammer method, securely bind the foam and Plexiglas together with clips before you hang the piece on the wall.

Of course you can always call us....we can help you choose artwork, framing, help you install your artwork, rotate your art every 3 to 6 months and more!  We work with clients throughout the US and offer a complimentary initial visit.  Call us at (888) 440-9260 or visit our website: www.artrentandlease.com for details.

For the complete article courtesy of TimeOutChicago: http://timeoutchicago.com/shopping-style/home-design/55513/hang-art-without-a-frame

Design Thinking Can Yield Results IF Expections are Managed

It may not be a silver bullet, but design thinking can yield results if companies manage their expectations and commit themselves to implementing good ideas.

These excerpts from fastcodesign.com really hit home when it comes to artwork - many times our  clients know they need artwork but fail to strategize on how to actually accomplish this task. 

At Art Rent and Lease, we can only help the client with budget, selection, installation, etc. - we can't force them to make a choice, but they can let our experts choose for them.  We can't force them to get their team to collaborate, but they can let our experts collaborate.  Why leave old, outdated artwork on the walls when you can replace quickly, easily and inexpensively.....just get it done by letting us help YOU.

Some quotes from the article:

• Ideas are a dime a dozen; it’s implementation that decides triumph or failure.
• To work, design thinking must meet with realistic expectations.

These realistic expectations are what make design thinking work. Perhaps companies would have better luck if they spent more time formulating the right expectations at the outset. For our part, creative consultancies have an obligation to explain more clearly what we can't do -- that a great strategy doesn't solve a problem by itself. It can be daunting, even painful, to tell our clients this truth, but doing anything less is asking to fail.

For the complete article, please visit: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664575/the-best-strategy-for-big-innovation-knowing-your-limits?partner=co_newsletter

For help with your artwork project give us a call:  (888) 440-9260

Compelling Interiors: Contemporary Art Beautifully Paired with 18th-Century Desk

From Architectural Digest

For the renovation of her Manhattan duplex, designer Elissa Cullman of Cullman & Kravis, collaborated with architect John B. Murray. Above: Crotch-mahogany doors swing open to reveal the library, where Kenneth Noland’s 1962 acrylic Warm Reverie beckons from above the sofa. To the left is a late-18th-century English writing desk.

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/features/2008/11/art_slideshow_112008#ixzz1TK2qzQvX

If you need compelling artwork for your interior project, office, lobby or conference room, contact us for a free consultation: 888-440-9260 Art Rent and Lease.

How to Use Royalty Free Web Clip Art

A beautiful original oil painting by Atlanta artist Ronda Waiksnis - while not free clip art, original works of art are available for rent and lease to businesses throughout the US!  Call (888) 440-9260 for more information or visit our website at www.artrentandlease.com.

A great article from eHow:

Copyright and usage rules apply to clip art, just like any other image or photograph. It is important to understand the correct, legal use of clip art before incorporating it into any of your projects or content.

1 ~  Distinguish between clip art licenses, realizing that most of it is either considered public, meaning it is completely free for use, or royalty free. Royalty free means you must purchase a limited license, which is sold to allow personal, educational or non-profit use of the clip art images. For example, purchasing the Microsoft Word program gives you a license to use all clip art images included within the program.

2 ~  Check Microsoft Word's collection of clip art to see whether what you are looking for is available. Using clip art from a legally purchased version of Microsoft Word is the easiest way to ensure the clip art you are using is royalty free and legal to use for as long as your license for Microsoft Word is valid.

3 ~  Purchase a CD of clip art images, which may include a collection of anywhere from a hundred to thousands of graphics for royalty-free use. These CDs can be found from online stores, as well as office supply and computer stores.

4 ~  Get the best images you can afford. Finding the cheapest price for royalty-free clip art might not be the best approach, as cheaper clip art may be lower in quality and more widely used. If you are looking for a more exclusive or unique image, it is best to be willing to pay a little more to secure the rights to use it.

5 ~  Access a website like Microsoft Office Online or CoolArhive.com to find royalty free clip art (see Resources below). Many websites offer free clip art for use on the Web, as long as you are using it for non-commercial purposes. Others charge low, one time or monthly fees to download images.

Read more: How to Use Royalty Free Web Clip Art | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2091748_use-royalty-free-web-clip.html#ixzz1RXAeCOLq

Plantable Furniture - A New Trend?

Is this the trend to come? Apparently it is (according to a recent Design*Sponge visit to the Stockholm furniture fair). Plant-able furniture that can grow your garden inside your furniture (think small flowers and herbs?). It can be useful both inside the home, out on the balcony patio or in the garden. It is truly the new wave of multipurpose furniture for small space gardeners.

Always something new and exciting in design!  If you're looking for artwork for your space, call Art Rent & Lease at (888) 440-9260 for a free consultation from one of our designers throughout the US.  You can also visit our website at:  www.artrentandlease.com

For the complete article, please visit: http://www.studiogblog.com/shop-for-garden-products/furniture-garden/garden-trend-plantable-furniture/

"Art is Life. So to Learn It, You Engage with Life" Mark Bradford on Teaching

By Annelisa Stephan on July 6, 2011 under Behind the Scenes, Education, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

“What’s available on the surface isn’t all that’s there,” Mark told her. In other words, when you make art you find yourself—even if that wasn’t what you set out to do. That was the story for Mark, too. His thing wasn’t vertical lines or composition or intensity, but simply paper. “I’d always be picking up paper, picking up trash,” he told them. “At first I thought I was just cheap, but then I realized that was just me.”

The students wanted to know if Mark—whose work hangs in places like the Whitney and LACMA and who was officially declared a genius in 2009—ever struggles, gets stuck. Um…yeah. “I get mad! I get impatient!” He described a typical day in the studio, a roller coaster of emotions that included triumph, despair (break for lunch), resignation, and finally fragile equilibrium. He also talked about two paintings in his studio that he was struggling with, and admitted to throwing some in the trash. “I feel no different than you guys,” he said. “Every time I do a painting or a sculpture, it’s like it’s the first time.”

The 2:00 bell rang. “If I could pass something on to you,” Mark said, “It’s this: Keep going. Push through it. Try to step back. Don’t tear down your self-esteem. Bad painting? All right. Bad painting, good person.”
For the complete article, please visit:  http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/art-is-life-so-to-learn-it-you-engage-with-life-mark-bradford-on-teaching/

How to (Carefully) Clean Your Canvas Paintings

Original Oil by Liron Sissman

Over time, a beautiful art collection can lose some of its visual impact due to dust, cobwebs, dirt, water stains and other wear and tear. Fortunately, there are a few strategies for cleaning paintings on canvas that will not damage the paint and will keep an art collection looking its best.

For complete instructions, please visit eHow: 

 http://www.ehow.com/how_4762005_clean-canvas-paintings.html#ixzz1RXKvwT00

 

Use Your Existing Company Art Resources

Assemble Your Resources

• Some wonderful "art" can be found in objects your company already owns. As you walk down the hallways of any big movie studio, you see movie posters and set photos, and sometimes even the founder's hat and eyeglasses, on display. An ad agency plasters the walls with memorable campaigns. A sports club presents photos from each year's team.
• Check your company for all visual products generated during design, sales and marketing. Assemble process art into one larger piece which dramatizes the creation of your product. Also check for photos, awards and trophies, maps, certificates, and any print products such as menus, brochures and news clips.
• The key is to combine your objects in a way that enhances their drama. Coordinating their framing with your space is key. You may wish to hire an  art consultant to help with your project.

Art Rent and Lease helps companies utilize their resources for image enhancement, branding, to fill empty walls, to change up the look and feel of their space.  Call for information: (888) 440-9260 or visit us at www.artrentandlease.com

Shown above is an installation of Meg Black's pieces at an architectural firm, featuring various company projects.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.ehow.com/way_5163511_corporate-art-planning.html

Corporate Art Planning

Corporate art planning can be a great way not only to buy art, but also to sharpen your business goals and brighten the mood of your company. Budget is not your only consideration. Your physical space presents your company to visitors of interest--clients, shareholders, the competition. Your choice of art also signals your company's social standing, its attitude to its internal and external community, and its history.

Set Your Budget, Your Priorities and Your Time Frame

• Will you be placing a few big pieces right away, or are you planning for the next 10 years? If you are a new company moving into new offices, your process will be different from that of a company with a collection of objects reflecting its history. You may choose to spend your entire budget on one Picasso, or you may wish to set your corporate tone throughout your space.

We Can Help!

• Consider renting or leasing your art - you conserve capital, can expense the payment and best of all, you can have your artwork rotated every 3 to 6 months for a fresh, new look in your lobby and conference room.

Call us at (888) 440-9260 for a complimentary consultation!

A portion of this text is courtesy of eHow.com - a fantastic source for everything you want to know!

How to Copyright Art

With more content being made available on the Internet, including songs, poetry, movies and books, it has become easier to steal the intellectual properties of other artists. Copyright laws are becoming enforced more strictly to protect the rightful owners. There are a number of ways to copyright your art so you can benefit from these protections.

We're not offering legal advise - this is a great article from eHow.com that we wanted to share:

1.  Ensure that the art that you want to copyright is truly your own creation. If anyone else was involved in the creation, she must be included in the registration process of that art

2. Read the useful literature that the US Copyright Office puts out on copyrights (see Resources below). This will help you understand your rights and legal requirements.

3. Pre-register your art with the US Copyright Office. While there is no law that requires you to apply for a copyright, it is a good idea to register your art with this office so that any legal enforcement can be obtained in the future if necessary.

4. Fill out an application to register your copyright with the government through the US Copyright Office. There are different forms for literary works, performing arts, sound recordings and visual arts.

5. Submit your art copyright application to the US Copyright Office. Do not forget to include a copy of the art that you would like to register.

6. Expect to receive a certificate of registration for your art copyright in about 6 to 8 months. It takes time, but it is well worth it. The copyright will last as long as the lifetime of the certificate holder, plus 70 years.

Read more: How to Copyright Art | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2153636_copyright-art.html#ixzz1RX7FmX7X

For information on art rental, art leasing or purchasing artwork please call Art Rent and Lease - we work with clients throughout the US and provide original artwork starting at just $25 per month.  An example is a 24" x 24" original piece by artist Shawn McNulty shown above, renting for $60 per month.  Visit our website:  www.artrentandlease.com