Frank Lloyd Wright said it best, “The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.”

Believing is the first step to achievement, and then it is all about hard work, focus, integrity, and surrounding yourself with the best people you can find. At Hunter-Wolff Gallery we always look for the best artists to represent and do the best for them to meet their goals and our own business goals. Achieving recognition like “Best of the Springs” is meaningful and humbling.  We thank all the Gazette voters and believers in Hunter-Wolff Gallery for their approval and continued support.  Thank you for reminding us you are always there watching and judging.

Making Customers Happy

Sometimes it only takes a single image to spur a decision. That is exactly what often occurs at Hunter-Wolff Gallery when we publish our monthly newsletters filled with images, or send a image via email to a customer based on his/her interest.  It helps when we know what you like and when you communicate your interests.  Servicing customers based on their interests is a win-win-win.  You get what you like, artists are rewarded for their creativity, and the gallery continues to do what it does best . . . satisfy a special desire for original artwork.

For example, we have been working with Barbara for a number of years and placed numerous paintings and other beautiful artwork in her home. She recently shared that she wanted multiple pieces that could be grouped together but not necessarily by the same artist.  Barbara saw an image of the raku and fiber sculpture by Karen Pierce and Marc Jenesel on the day it arrived in the gallery.  The next day Barbara owned it.  We were fairly certain the piece would meet her request: she wanted unique multi-medium sculpture that highlighted colors she wanted to bring into her space. She was upfront from the start about her budget and what she wanted her space to look like. We then scoped out potential pieces, including a blown-glass platter and several floral paintings for her grouping.  She liked all our recommendations and made her decision.

Sometimes it takes an in-home trial of a piece to get the perfect artwork.  Selecting and investing in artwork takes some decision-making, but it is always helpful to us if we understand your needs, likes and budget.  We want you to have what you like, not what we like, and we want you to enjoy it for a lifetime.  Tell us what you want and we will get busy helping you.

There is a definite buzz on the Avenue.  The 2012 ArtWalk season is about to  start, April 6 at 5pm – 8pm.  Brochures are printed, banners are hung, new artwork has arrived.  And, the weather is perfect for strolling the Avenue to explore 17 galleries and more than a dozen open artist’s studios.

For those who have yet joined us during ArtWalk, put it on your calendar today.  Hunter-Wolff Gallery will have live demonstrations each month.  This month, you will witness Gary Vigen in action creating delicate paintings on stained glass surfaces.  These lovely gems are really landscapes created out of all glass; glass fused to glass for a new twist on wall art.  Stop in and ask questions!

Ann Leago, Sharon Wolff & Marlene Kort, Gallery Representatives to Help You With All Your Art Needs

Hunter-Wolff Gallery is committed to being your first choice for art collecting.  We hand-select each piece of art with a careful eye to details, ensuring top quality and collectability. We select pieces as if they were being placed in our own home.

Winning your approval takes more than quality artwork.  We know you have options all over the world for buying art and jewelry.  That is why we believe you deserve the extra bonus of high customer service and complete satisfaction with your buying experience.  We promise to deliver with a smile and with the same enthusiasm you feel when visiting Hunter-Wolff Gallery.  We strive to make you feel like family when you visit.

Sam Shows How Fine Art Makes Him Smile

What does it feel like to have the best job in the world? I can tell you.  Owning a gallery for the past 7 years has brought much joy and laughter into my life, and often doesn’t feel like work at all.  Nearly every day I meet people who appreciate the talents of fine artists and share their joy with me whether they are buying their very first piece or their 100th piece. It is so exciting to be part of this process.

Sam purchased his first original painting from Hunter-Wolff Gallery and on this day, he is smiling about his second purchase (a beautiful oil painting by Penny Stewart).  He might be smiling too because he made a decision to layaway a third painting that he will pick up next month. Sam serves our country in the USAF and is all about US made and doing his part to support Americans.

Now doesn’t this sound like I have the best job in the world?  Everyday I am surrounded by beautiful art–paintings, pottery, sculpture, blown glass and wonderful, interesting people. There is one downfall, however.  I want to bring it all home with me.

Put a smile on your face today, and start collecting fine art–made here in America!

Cindy has a lot to smile about. She owns beautiful art from Hunter-Wolff Gallery

High customer satisfaction is key to business growth.

We make this our goal every day and watch for the smile on our customer’s face and listen for the compliment from their lips. We do not send surveys to our customers but everyone knows this too is an effect tool to measure customer satisfaction levels.  My yardstick is more personal.  I simply look for repeat sales, favorable comments and smiling faces.  By asking customers for feedback and if they would likely recommend our gallery to friends and family is my most effective method of measuring customer satisfaction. This way, should I learn that a customer is not 100% thrilled, I can address the problem immediately (it rarely happens but a business owner always wants to be prepared).

Receiving public recognition and awards is also an excellent indicator of “getting it right” but don’t forget to ask those who step through your door about their opinion. They are the ones who make a difference to your bottom-line.

Tip: For those repeat customers who keep you very busy, be sure to thank them in a way they least expect – with action that shows you are grateful for their business.

Under the Silver Moon by Clifford T. Bailey

If you have $425,000 you can find a really fabulous John Stobart painting at The Englishman in Naples Florida.  If you have a more modest budget, Hunter-Wolff Gallery can recommend a dozen or so Colorado artists to dress up your home with pieces that will make you proud to own—without all those zeros weighing down your receipt!

We are just as excited about the accomplishments of Penny Stewart, Patience Heyl, Clifford Bailey, John Sherman, Kenneth Shanika, Katherine McNeill, Marlene Kort, Kathryn McMahon …and dozens more. Who wouldn’t want to make a sale that is nearly half a mil?  The reality is few of us live that lifestyle and it doesn’t take mega-bucks to fill your life with beautiful art.  Visit us in person and see the excellent work of a dozen or so regional painters, and tell me if you would have preferred something by John Stobart.   Voted Best of the Best Gallery in Colorado Springs, March 2012, Colorado Springs Style Magazine

Window Treatment, Marlene Kort

We can look inward and outward and examine various aspects of ourselves, but with art we can find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.

Music, dance and visual arts have that affect especially when we take time to open our ears, eyes and heart.

When I look at this 14 x 11 pastel by Marlene Kort, “Window Treatment” I imagine myself visiting a small village in Europe where people are friendly, the streets are narrow, and there is the pervasive scent of flowers and food—there is an abundance of well-cared for flowers overflowing window boxes and planters at the doorway to greet visitors.  It is easy to feel welcomed with that sort of greeting. I like being here.

Where does this painting take you?

Several years ago I met a wonderful philanthropic Rotarian from Colorado.  He isn’t only involved in our community, he is passionate about seeing results for the Butterflies & Friends project  to help the community—an initiative created by The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs to raise awareness and funds to serve children and promote the arts in schools. I was hooked on this project from the first time I met Tony.

If I were an artist, I would likely spend a year of my time creating something spectacular and then lining up the buyer for the artwork so all the kids in Colorado Springs had the funds they need to achieve important goals.

Take a minute and visit http://www.artsandfriends.org/.  If you are an artist, you have about a month to prepare your application.  This is a juried event and the proceeds benefit the development of young children. Funds are used to provide community-building arts programs in schools that are facing major transitions and changes. These children are all our children and need to see that we care. With all of the economic challenges that families are facing, the “butterfly” is an excellent metaphor.  Spread this important information to your artist friends and mark your calendar for the Auction in September at the Cheyenne Resort Hotel.

http://www.artsandfriends.org/