Category: Uncategorized

Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, and DC art Holiday Gift Guide: from ArtInsights!

holiday-gift-guide-disney-star-wars-harry-potter

We put together some gift guides for fans of all stripes this holiday season.  Well, actually, we just posted what really great sorts of images you can get for your favorite Star Wars, princess, or Marvel, or DC, or Harry Potter fan.  That certain movie coming out this weekend is causing quite a stir with collectors, and we are finding that PARTICULAR gift guide is actually coming quite in handy for them!  So…here is our Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, and DC art Holiday Gift Guide: from ArtInsights!

Honestly, as someone who filled my house with art before I had a stick of furniture and barely enough money to buy said furniture at Ikea, the idea of buying art as a holiday gift seems like the easiest and best idea in the world.  It doesn’t occur to a lot of other people, though, so allow me to make a case for art as a gift.  While it’s true that art is a very personal thing, that’s what makes it so special!  Even if you give a gift certificate, the idea of saying “here’s something that will make your house more welcoming, more uniquely you, that speaks to someone’s inspiration and artistic passion”…what could be better than that?  

And i’ll tell you a story from our own family…this year is the first that my family is doing a “Secret Santa”. When asked (incognito) by my secret Santa what i’d want, I told them.  I talked to an artist and asked her to create an original of a mermaid with red hair and green eyes, while keeping to the price range we all decided on, and my secret Santa is getting it for me!  There’s something beautiful about giving art to someone you love.

SO.  Here are some links to various collections to consider.  Don’t delay, though.  If you’re like me, you’ve waited long enough, and now’s the time.  Contact the gallery if you have concerns about the art arriving in time, or if you need help finding something perfect for your price range and the interests of your love one—it’s a bit daunting trying to pick something out and i’m HAPPY to help!  and, of course….

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Leslie at
ArtInsights

That crazy freight train coming down the track, or coming from a galaxy near you….

star wars art

Do you know someone who enjoys being a girl, or a princess in disguise?

disney princess gift guide

This is next year’s Star Wars.  Batman vs. Superman is going to be HUGE!

dc comics

Avengers! Civil Wars! Apocalypse! Marvel news is everywhere!

marvel art

We all have beasts and know know where to find them, but what about the care of wizards?

harry potter art

Looking for something inexpensive but special for that burgeoning collector in your world?

Treasures on Canvas

We sell vintage that’s been vetted within an inch of its life–here are some great options for the nostalgic collector you know….

Vintage Disney Slider

John Alvin Show

Happy Holidays!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Jedi knights, stormtroopers, Disney princesses, wizards and witches, instead of sugar plums are dancing in my head…

it’s Pagakwaanchristmakah!

(or HOLIDAYS AT ARTINSIGHTS)

The last two months of the year have been blowing by so fast i can hardly catch my breath.  It’s been so long since i’ve visited or called, my family thinks i have a drug problem (which, if you count caffeine, i do, and if addiction to it is wrong, i don’t want to be right…) and my friends think i’ve dropped them all because i’m now “an old married woman”.  Gah!  I tell them to think of me as being in graduate school–(otherwise known as Apple one-to-one) so i can learn how to make a better web magazine–which means learning to build a website and become a film editor!

Actually we’ve been very busy working on our new website and making it different than anything else out there, somewhere people can buy art, learn about the artists, with educational and informative specials like our upcoming interview with Stuart Craig, the production designer for all the Harry Potter movies!  I’ve also been working on our press credentials so we can be in the center of new movie releases, get interviews and expand awareness of all things movie art.

With the sell out of the Mad Hatter limited edition from Alice in Wonderland, i feel the world of film art and the acceptance of it as authentic and worthy art is beginning to happen, and since i was at the beginning of animation art being considered real art, which only really happened about 15 years ago, i think i see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s a love train for production and interpretive movie art.  

Obviously we still love and sell animation art, but we are only willing to represent art we can trace and authenticate from the minute it left the studio, and that’s getting harder to do since a few folks out there are doing unnecessary restoration–we REALLY want to educate our clients what to look for and how to proceed and genuinely believe this will lead to more loyalty by our clients.  It’s worked so far!  

So now the task and labor of love is to build together the informative and fun side of our site– that we hope will excite and inspire film animation and illustration art fans and really just fans of film in general enough to keep seeing movies new and classic, to allow it to enhance and inform our lives in a positive way–with the gallery side, which eventually will have quite a diverse collection of art and a growing collection of artists exclusive to us as well as the artists who have been at the top of their field and collectors already know about.   We always have tons of art that’s not on the site, so call us if you’re looking for something for the holidays that’s special and exciting.  We have been doing a ton of commissions this year and we are proud of the number of amazing artists who are working with us or we are planning to partner with in the near future!  

We are very serious about believing education and information (in the form of our web magazine) will expand our horizons and our loyal clientele.  And we’re having fun!  Speaking of fun, as I am getting my press credentials together i actually got to interview the aforementioned Stuart Craig, 3 TIME OSCAR WINNER for Dangerous Liaisons, The English Patient, and Gandhi who i called in England and spoke to for an hour–and let me tell you i was extremely nervous!  I had one day to prepare and so thank goddess i’d already seen all his movies (except one movie named Saturn something or another..) It all turned out all right, AMAZING in fact! and i’m typing up our interview and i’ll also have a recording of it as a podcast.  

All that did was make me thirsty to do more interviews and educational series pieces so we’re working on some more and on getting more artists involved with it!

Now:  What are holidays like at ArtInsights???

For one thing, as a retail person for the last 23 years, I carry an ipod with me everywhere right now so i don’t have to hear traditional holiday music.  We have more than 1000 holiday songs on our computer and yet we only play them from the 21st to the 24th.  The rest of the time we play what i’ve compiled as on the edge, non-traditional yet lovely songs that give visitors that warm fuzzy feeling.  I’m going to be starting a playlist on December 1st and adding one song a day of songs from that list for those of you who want something different to listen to!  

(because sadly, there’s no “Rage Against The Machine” or “Nine Inch Nails” Christmas album…)

Also, we are open on Sundays and stay open late when there are folks around.  

Why?

Because this is the time when almost everyone who comes in the gallery says “Wow!”  and “This is the coolest place ever!” and lovely things along those lines. I’m not going to go through days where people ask “Is there a REAL art gallery in this center” and not lap up this enthusiastic appreciation like a st. bernard!  

and we also seem to get our very best vintage Disney art at around the last week of November, i maintain this is because some collectors want to get stuff even crazier and more awesome than the stuff they show me (like key set ups? stuff I think is the rarest of the rare!  but go team!)  So i get gorgeous art and my collectors get to see stuff they never see, get a chance to buy stuff they never have normal access to, and so i have to find the perfect homes for them.  

Examples?  A 6 sheet from The Reluctant Dragon in great condition.  that’s 81 x 81 inches.  Or art i’m getting that has an original background by Claude Coats from Lady and the Tramp.  I love this time of year!!

We put together a show of both Star Wars and Harry Potter art because we love the 501st (that’s the group of stormtroopers and Darths who do charity events in costume..) and they support Toys for Tots so we wanted to do a show where we donated a percentage to that–consequently we had our friend and intern Zabrina dress like Princess Leia and marched in the holiday parade with them and they were an amazing hit, as you’d expect…as many adults get giddy as kids around them, and if you can’t find something to be giddy about during the holidays, you’d better hunker down in your hovel with a pup named Max and start planning your midnight attack on Whoville.

and our friends at the HP Alliance have been doing such an amazing job we wanted to support them with the movie coming out so a percentage of profits from that art is going to them.  

The Reston Town Center looks amazing during the holidays and i really don’t think there’s anywhere quite as pretty as shopping centers go–So if you live anywhere near us, come visit during the holidays.  You won’t hear Perry Como or Brenda Lee, but you will have a warm fuzzy experience and i’ll love seeing you, whether you’re old or new to us.  

Happy HOLIDAYS!

Leslie and MIchael

New Website

Happy Holidays!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Jedi knights, stormtroopers, Disney princesses, wizards and witches, instead of sugar plums are dancing in my head…

it’s Pagakwaanchristmakah!

(or HOLIDAYS AT ARTINSIGHTS)

The last two months of the year have been blowing by so fast i can hardly catch my breath.  It’s been so long since i’ve visited or called, my family thinks i have a drug problem (which, if you count caffeine, i do, and if addiction to it is wrong, i don’t want to be right…) and my friends think i’ve dropped them all because i’m now “an old married woman”.  Gah!  I tell them to think of me as being in graduate school–(otherwise known as Apple one-to-one) so i can learn how to make a better web magazine–which means learning to build a website and become a film editor!

Actually we’ve been very busy working on our new website and making it different than anything else out there, somewhere people can buy art, learn about the artists, with educational and informative specials like our upcoming interview with Stuart Craig, the production designer for all the Harry Potter movies!  I’ve also been working on our press credentials so we can be in the center of new movie releases, get interviews and expand awareness of all things movie art.

With the sell out of the Mad Hatter limited edition from Alice in Wonderland, i feel the world of film art and the acceptance of it as authentic and worthy art is beginning to happen, and since i was at the beginning of animation art being considered real art, which only really happened about 15 years ago, i think i see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s a love train for production and interpretive movie art.  

Obviously we still love and sell animation art, but we are only willing to represent art we can trace and authenticate from the minute it left the studio, and that’s getting harder to do since a few folks out there are doing unnecessary restoration–we REALLY want to educate our clients what to look for and how to proceed and genuinely believe this will lead to more loyalty by our clients.  It’s worked so far!  

So now the task and labor of love is to build together the informative and fun side of our site– that we hope will excite and inspire film animation and illustration art fans and really just fans of film in general enough to keep seeing movies new and classic, to allow it to enhance and inform our lives in a positive way–with the gallery side, which eventually will have quite a diverse collection of art and a growing collection of artists exclusive to us as well as the artists who have been at the top of their field and collectors already know about.   We always have tons of art that’s not on the site, so call us if you’re looking for something for the holidays that’s special and exciting.  We have been doing a ton of commissions this year and we are proud of the number of amazing artists who are working with us or we are planning to partner with in the near future!  

We are very serious about believing education and information (in the form of our web magazine) will expand our horizons and our loyal clientele.  And we’re having fun!  Speaking of fun, as I am getting my press credentials together i actually got to interview the aforementioned Stuart Craig, 3 TIME OSCAR WINNER for Dangerous Liaisons, The English Patient, and Gandhi who i called in England and spoke to for an hour–and let me tell you i was extremely nervous!  I had one day to prepare and so thank goddess i’d already seen all his movies (except one movie named Saturn something or another..) It all turned out all right, AMAZING in fact! and i’m typing up our interview and i’ll also have a recording of it as a podcast.  

All that did was make me thirsty to do more interviews and educational series pieces so we’re working on some more and on getting more artists involved with it!

Now:  What are holidays like at ArtInsights???

For one thing, as a retail person for the last 23 years, I carry an ipod with me everywhere right now so i don’t have to hear traditional holiday music.  We have more than 1000 holiday songs on our computer and yet we only play them from the 21st to the 24th.  The rest of the time we play what i’ve compiled as on the edge, non-traditional yet lovely songs that give visitors that warm fuzzy feeling.  I’m going to be starting a playlist on December 1st and adding one song a day of songs from that list for those of you who want something different to listen to!  

(because sadly, there’s no “Rage Against The Machine” or “Nine Inch Nails” Christmas album…)

Also, we are open on Sundays and stay open late when there are folks around.  

Why?

Because this is the time when almost everyone who comes in the gallery says “Wow!”  and “This is the coolest place ever!” and lovely things along those lines. I’m not going to go through days where people ask “Is there a REAL art gallery in this center” and not lap up this enthusiastic appreciation like a st. bernard!  

and we also seem to get our very best vintage Disney art at around the last week of November, i maintain this is because some collectors want to get stuff even crazier and more awesome than the stuff they show me (like key set ups? stuff I think is the rarest of the rare!  but go team!)  So i get gorgeous art and my collectors get to see stuff they never see, get a chance to buy stuff they never have normal access to, and so i have to find the perfect homes for them.  

Examples?  A 6 sheet from The Reluctant Dragon in great condition.  that’s 81 x 81 inches.  Or art i’m getting that has an original background by Claude Coats from Lady and the Tramp.  I love this time of year!!

We put together a show of both Star Wars and Harry Potter art because we love the 501st (that’s the group of stormtroopers and Darths who do charity events in costume..) and they support Toys for Tots so we wanted to do a show where we donated a percentage to that–consequently we had our friend and intern Zabrina dress like Princess Leia and marched in the holiday parade with them and they were an amazing hit, as you’d expect…as many adults get giddy as kids around them, and if you can’t find something to be giddy about during the holidays, you’d better hunker down in your hovel with a pup named Max and start planning your midnight attack on Whoville.

and our friends at the HP Alliance have been doing such an amazing job we wanted to support them with the movie coming out so a percentage of profits from that art is going to them.  

The Reston Town Center looks amazing during the holidays and i really don’t think there’s anywhere quite as pretty as shopping centers go–So if you live anywhere near us, come visit during the holidays.  You won’t hear Perry Como or Brenda Lee, but you will have a warm fuzzy experience and i’ll love seeing you, whether you’re old or new to us.  

Happy HOLIDAYS!

Leslie and MIchael

About Us

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LOCATION:
ArtInsights is located in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington D.C.,
close to Dulles International Airport.
The gallery is owned and run by Michael Barry and Leslie Combemale.

 

THE OWNERS:
Michael is an honors graduate of The Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C. and is a musician and composer. He has been a master framer for more than 30 years and has represented animation art since 1979.

Leslie began representing animation art in 1988, and she founded ArtInsights with Michael in 1994. She has a background in art history as well as studying jazz vocals with noted musician Ellis Marsalis.

 

BACKGROUND:
During the gallery’s first year in business, The Walt Disney Company invited ArtInsights to join its Disney Preferred Gallery Advisory Board, an organization comprised of only twelve members worldwide, and won the coveted “Rookie of the Year” award, still on display at the gallery all these years later!

 

OUR PHILOSOPHY:
Our philosophy at ArtInsights is simple:
If we represent animation, film and illustrative art honestly and with integrity, collectors will hear about us, and we will continue to grow. Creating a web magazine (www.artinsightsmagazine.com) that educates and enlightens collectors and fans, is one way we show our deep commitment and love of art and creativity –our desire to expand awareness and acceptance of animation, film and illustration art and the artists who create it inspires us every day.

 

WHAT WE HAVE:
With animation art, our Gallery specializes in original production art, particularly Disney art prior to 1960, but has access to art from all animation studios, including Warner Brothers production art.
We look forward to helping clients, new and seasoned, to cultivate their collection with a well thought-out wish list, so every piece purchased is a welcome and prized addition to their household. Please don’t hesitate to call us today with any questions or requests you may have.

We have delved headfirst into the world of original and limited edition film art, and are adding wonderful new art and artists as we find them.  Of course our heart will always belong to John Alvin, so check out his work on the fansite we created for him at www.johnalvinart.com.  We have exclusive partnerships with some wonderful artists, as increasingly shown on our website.  We create commissions for our clients expressing their unique artistic vision and perspective, celebrating the best and most evocative imagery in film history.

We are proud of our gallery and believe you’ll enjoy working with us and respect our keen eye for great art and dogged pursuit in the acquisition of it for you!

 

Check Out Our Gallery Blog!

 

WHY ARTINSIGHTS:
TOP TEN REASONS TO BUY FROM ARTINSIGHTS

1. We’re honest, straightforward, and enthusiastic about what we do.
2. We’re about education, hence the ACES ArtInsights collectors education series.
3. We’ve been selling animation and film art for 23 years, ArtInsights has been open for 16 years, and were on the art advisory board for Disney.
4. We have lots of special shows with guest artists, many of which are the first in the country or are showing worldwide exclusive art.
5. We do a lot of research on every piece we sell and stand behind it all.
6. We think charity connection is an essential part of success as a small business, and we work
with many charities in and outside the gallery.
7. We are a worldwide exclusive gallery representing the original art of John Alvin, and have exclusive art from many well known artists: Mary Grandpre, Tommy Lee Edwards, DC comic art director Mark Chiarello, Randy Martinez, and many more!
8. We are always finding new art and up and coming artists for our clients–not what’s already been made flavor of the month, but beyond next year’s flavor, –a flavor that’ll taste great for years and years! (like an art equivalent to the everlasting gobstopper in Willie Wonka!)
9. We have had more art commissions turned into limited editions by the Disney fine art program
than any other gallery.
10. We never give up on finding the art for our clients, if it takes a day, a year or 12 years!

I showed the Top Ten List to one of our best clients and she said,”Very good, but you forgot to add
‘We find art that is not to be believed, even for our fussiest clients!!’ ” And, yes – she is my fussiest client (said with love, missy, & you know who you are!).

 

RETURNS:
Strictly speaking, we don’t allow collectors to return art.  However, we want you to be happy with the art you buy from us, so if you get it and it isn’t exactly what we say it is, give us a call.  That, of course, has never happened, but we’d at least like you to know we absolutely stand behind everything we sell!  If the art you buy from us is a gift, we allow returns for credit within 14 days.
All layaway downpayments are non-refundable.  Special orders and commissions are not returnable unless clearly not what was requested, so make sure they want the art if we’re ordering it or having it made especially for them!

 

FOB ORIGIN:

Buyer pays for shipping.

 

HOURS:  
Monday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday 12 to 6 pm
Sunday by appointment or random happenstance.  (usually 12-4 in those cases)
We will come in outside these hours when called upon, and we are of course MIA in the case of the occasional convention, interview, vacation, etc., but we check our emails!  

 

 

Thanks for wondering who we are and why we do what we do!