Familiar Faces More than three-quarters of the way into 2021, many of us continue to find that our formerly “normal” routines are shifting in unexpected ways. As our surroundings become recontextualized, we’ve sought comfort — and found inspiration — in the familiar. We’ve reflected on past experiences, reattuned ourselves to rituals, and rediscovered beauty close to home. Our Familiar Faces collection features new work from eight current Area artists. They’ve shared with us some of their recent inspirations, charting the evolution of their practice and revisiting their previous pieces. In turn, we hope that the 14 wallcoverings in this collection will help to recontextualized familiar spaces — and spark ideas to create new ones.
“If not for painting, I’d be drumming,” comments Eric Blum when asked what inspires him. It’s not hard to make connections between the two art forms, especially when it comes to Blum’s mixed-media work: both require intense coordination and a steady hand, but allow ample room for improvisation and the intersection of tones and textures.
Sometimes, Blum seems to be literally drawing his inspiration from drumming, translating it into his visual art: lines of beadlike dots create the feeling of a rhythmic, persistent beat in Nº 656, one of three new pieces Blum brings to the Familiar Faces collection.
Nº 656 EB-11
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Metallic Silver Scrim
Nº 855 EB-13
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Nº 890 EB-14
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
With dyes crafted from foraged and found materials, Emily Donovan conveys environments through concentration and distillation — in both a tangible and metaphorical sense. By necessity, Donovan’s process and pieces have always been in tune with the fluctuation of the seasons and the infinite nuances found in nature.
Whether she’s capturing the sunstruck yellow of a wild tansy or creating more subdued hues from an iron tool bled of its rust, Donovan invites us to be inspired in new ways by our natural surroundings. Flight Patterns and Vessel, Donovan’s two pieces in the Familiar Faces collection, both contain rich earth tones and an array of textures, giving them a calming, grounding effect reminiscent of a walk in an autumnal forest.
Flight Patterns ED-6
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Vessel ED-7
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Long before teaming up with Area, Doug Glovaski was used to creating larger-than-life work. As part of a team working under the direction of New York–based artist Dorothea Rockburne, Glovaski was instrumental to the completion of Rockburne’s large-scale wall paintings in buildings throughout the East Coast in the 1990s, beginning in 1992 with the “Sky Lobby” of the AT&T building in downtown Manhattan.
“Dorothea was very particular about [the process] and would inspect our work on a regular basis,” Glovaski reflects. “My time and experiences at each of these projects would change my perspectives of life in general and eventually inform my own art.” Galaxy, Glovaski’s contribution to the Familiar Faces collection, intersperses small circles and lines that arc gracefully out of frame, juxtaposed against a gridlike form. The movement in Galaxy gives a sense of both freedom and containment, suggesting structure amid fluidity and the possibility of multiple simultaneous perspectives.
Galaxy DG-15
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
“I am often inspired by images of landscapes that are meaningful to my clients,” explains Charlotte Terrell, who has recently spent a great deal of time reflecting on reflections themselves. Commissioned to paint depictions of swampy environments including the Louisiana bayou and the South Carolina low country, Terell found comfort in these scenes of murky mystery. Their soothing, muted hues and interplay of water and lush vegetation greatly influenced Serene Be the Days, one of two new works we’re proud to feature in the Familiar Faces collection.
Terrell also has welcomed a far more energetic muse in the form of Harry, a Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Dear Remembrances CT-5
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Serene Be the Days CT-6
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
“I have recently moved to a new studio in a renovated shoe factory from the early 1900s,” Karen Darling shares when asked about current sources of inspiration. “The whole building has been refurbished yet all the old charm remains, like the wood ceilings and floors, all the original brickwork, and numerous windows letting in plenty of light.”
The change of scenery has brought about new creative processes: “I now have lots of room to work on multiple pieces at once,” she explains. It may be pure coincidence, but On My Mind, Darling’s piece in the Familiar Faces collection, seems to reflect the essence of her new studio’s atmosphere — flooded with warm tones and anchored by a patch of deep red the color of brickwork.
On My Mind KD-5
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
For Karen Margolis, there is no definite source of inspiration; rather, the artist often finds that inspiration and reinterpretation appear in tandem as part of a constant process of learning and exploration. Circular shapes, which Margolis considers to be “a shared language connecting physical to psychological and spiritual,” have always played a central role in Margolis’s paper-based art pieces.
Patience is essential to the construction of intricate works such as Pseudo Panglossian, included in the Familiar Faces collection. Margolis’s relationship to each piece is often reframed throughout the course of her work: “Sometimes I begin a composition with disinterest, or even dislike, but since we are together a great deal of time, I get to know the work and appreciate its special attributes and understand its flaws and awkward parts,” she explains.
Pseudo Panglossian KM-5
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Although Stefan Gevers has been teaching workshops and classes for over a decade, the upsurge in virtual events has enabled him to restructure the way he shares his expertise. “I often get requests from all over the world to run online classes,” he explains, “and I have finally managed to create an online contemporary watercolor tutorial package.”
In addition to his newfound role as a virtual instructor, Gevers has enjoyed numerous recent solo exhibitions. He’s also been creating custommade pendants and illuminated canvases as part of a recent collaboration with lighting design company Satelight. And even without a backlight, his piece Intersect — one of two included in the Familiar Faces collection — seems to be illuminated from within, bringing to mind a vibrant sunset on a clear day.
Intersect SG-6
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Dusk SG-5
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Scrim
Michael Cina has experienced a wave of professional success lately, including an Emmy win as part of the VR team on the documentary Zero Days VR and a Grammy nomination for his design work with the record label Ghostly International. He’s also recently moved to a new studio after an impressive 15 years in his previous studio space.
While Cina continues to push the boundaries of new media with his otherworldly designs, the names of his two new pieces for the Familiar Faces collection, Solstice and Tributaries, hint at inspiration derived not from virtual reality, but the great outdoors.
Solstice MC-11
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Metallic Silver Scrim
Tributaries MC-12
Matte Linen Matte Type II Canvas Type II Grasscloth Type II Metallic Silver Scrim
OUR MATERIALS Matte A lightweight and breathable material made from non-woven fibers and wood pulp (PVC free). It has a natural-looking, paper feel, no texture, a smooth surface, and a very low-gloss matte finish.
Linen A lightweight and breathable material made from non-woven fibers and wood pulp (PVC free). It has a natural-looking, paper feel, with a slight linen-like texture and a very low-gloss matte finish.
Matte TYPE II A true commercial wall covering with a vinyl face and a non-woven polyester pulp backing with a slight sheen. Suitable for any Type II requirements.
Canvas TYPE II A latex-laminated substrate with a poly-cotton woven backing. Its texture is more akin to an artist’s canvas. Canvas is a Type II commercial vinyl wallcovering.
Grasscloth Our Grasscloth Type II substrate achieves the appearance of natural fiber grasscloth with a latex-laminated, poly-cotton fabric woven backing. Grasscloth is a commercial vinyl wallcovering that is classified as a Type II vinyl.
Metallic Silver/Gold Considered specialty substrates, silver and gold metallic add dazzle and dimension to selected murals. These are non-woven wallcoverings with a polyester/vinyl face. They are classified as Type II.
Scrim Scrim is a self-adhesive window film with a woven fabric face made of 100% polyester. It allows light to filter through our printed design for privacy.
Area Environments is a creative studio that curates original work from contemporary artists to produce exclusive wallpapers and large-scale murals. Founded in 2012 out of a shared adoration for fine art, Area’s unique and collaborative approach to creating wallcoverings continues to be fueled by this passion, alongside our obsession with quality and our desire to challenge the link between art and environment. Our participating artists are from all over the world, and we consider them our partners. Their wideranging artistic voices, stories, and talents have allowed us to build consistently compelling collections, and we’re grateful to them for the opportunity. We’re also proud of their individuality; we honor their work by maintaining the integrity of their original pieces, as well as by compensating them with a portion of each sale. Area is committed to selecting artwork that inspires the creative process, delivering unparalleled service, and surprising and delighting all who work with us. We appreciate your interest and we look forward to collaborating with you on your next project. Area has representation throughout the United States and Canada. A list of our knowledgeable sales representatives and showrooms can be found on our website. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or feel free to call us directly.
1 Malcolm Ave. SE // Minneapolis, MN 55414 // 877.372.4142 // 612.315.6260
www.AreaEnvironments.com