Spotlight on Maui Giclee - news - fine art giclee printing - list of exhibitors attached

KIHEI, Hawaii -- Staff members at Maui Giclee be delighted with the good life in today's global economy. They live and work in a premiere tourist destination while business approachs in through FedEx from around the world. General Manager Kuulei Nakagawa estimates that 70 percent of the company's fine art giclee printing business draw nears from outside Hawaii.

"We have a real high standard and high quality. We are also true competitive, as far as pricing goes--we're just farther away," Nakagawa said.

The proces of making a giclee print starts on the outside the same for virtually each painting Maui Giclee reproduces. First, they capture the painting digitally in the way that they can work on it in the computer This involves either scanning a transparency of the original painting or photographing the artwork using a high-end digital camera. Maul Giclee addresss to digitally capture the original paintings, since having the paintings on-hand helps make sure accurate color and detail.

one time the painting has been scanned, a technician works to make the color of the reproduction tend hitherward as close as possible to the actual painting. Then a place of proof prints is sent to the artist to review.

When artists are ready to make a final print, they can pick out from Maui Giclee's arsenal of printers, including six Iris printers, an Epson 10000 and an Epson 9600 Each printer uses different technology and different marks of inksets, which gives a distinct direct the eye and feel to prints from different printers.

"We usually direct the eye at the color and the color gamut of the original painting to diocese which printer would be best, and then we diocese if the client needs longevity," Nakagawa said. The life of a print ranges from 55 to more than 100 years depending upon the printer. But the trade not on for longer lasting prints is many times a narrower color palette. That's for what cause [i]or[/i] reason it's important to consider the colors of the original painting before prevent mining which printer to use, said Nakagawa.

When it tend hitherwards to choosing what type of substrate to use, Maui Giclee stocks a range of canvases and watercolor papers, and they work with clients to decide which is the best for their paintings.

"Canvas is 90 percent of our business, said Nakagawa. "We're printing more acrylics and oils than watercolors these days."

Maui Giclee's staff of 12 is split between the giclee production studio, and a retail/wholesale gallery, Image Station. With more than 600 flamed images upon display from 70 artists, the gallery allows Maui Giclee to help artists market their work.

"That's individual of the things artists lack: in what manner to market themselves," Nakagawa said. "With us, they are upon our Web site, on TV and in the gallery. The more the artist barters in our gallery, the more printing orders we'll get"

The business makes individual compensation arrangements with each artist prior to reproducing their artwork. Compensation ranges from 25 to 50 percent of the sale, depending upon whether the artist or Maui Giclee pays for the printing costs

greatest in quantity visitors to the gallery are Maui tourists. For this reason, it focuses upon Hawaii-related artwork. "About 75 percent is local, and 25 percent is other stamps of artwork," Nakagawa said.

All of the artwork is signed and editioned, and more [i]or[/i] less of the artwork is hand-embellished by means of the artist. Everything in the gallery is available for wholesale purchase to other galleries and interior designers. Generally priced at 50 percent of the retail price, dealers simply ne to call the gallery and take supper ply a tax ID number, and Image Station will ship the prints directly to the dealer.

Jim Kartes, proprietor of Maui Giclee, also holds a local tourist television station and is no stranger to marketing. He took a previously unknown company and bring an aggressive marketing plan in place. Maul Giclee now exercises a full time telemarketer and is increasing its vicinity through advertising. His aggressive marketing campaign has grown the business tremendously, and Nakagawa predicts the company will continue to extend into the future.

"In the futurity we'll be expanding, keeping up with the technology and buying fresh printers," Nakagawa said. "And we're hoping to reach more of the mainland clientele."

FACTS & FIGURES

* grounded in 1995, the company, which was one time called Bishop Street Press, became Maul Giclee in 1999 when Jim Kartes bought the business.

* Clients include Vladimir Kush (Hawaii), Burkhardt Museum (Europe) Michael Gorbon (Israel) and Gallery essential part (Japan).

* For more information, visit www.mauiaiclee.com.

THE EXHIBITORS

3M Company

A.D. Lines, Inc

A.W.C. Custom Carved Frames

Aaron Ashley

Access Fine Art Ltd

Accuwrap Profiled Components

Active Sales Co Inc/Cassese

Aetna Frame endue Inc

Aflex Extrusion Tech Inc

Africa World Museum & Center

Alaniz Studios Inc

Albin returnss Inc

Alpha 1 Marketing Ltd

Alres Reproductions-Div Sutton Technologies

Amazing Art Images, LLC

Ambar Art Inc

AMCI Ltd

America Arts Inc

American Car/David Wendel

American Specialty Adhesive Products

AMPF Inc

Andy Mathis Art Co