DOUGLAS Art Prints® News

The NEW DOUGLAS Art Prints® 2010 Catalog

2009-10-13T08:08:42Z

October 13, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Yesterday, October 12, I announced my intention to harshly edit my catalog of contemporary art prints as well as my wanting to combine the "Main" print catalog with the "Nude Prints" catalog. It is done.

My plan was to have this project done for 2010, by January 1. I wanted to have it done by November 1. As things happen last night I had trouble falling asleep so I sat down and decide to maybe get a piece of this project done. I couldn't stop. Just one more phase and a couple of hours later my catalog revision was complete.

Because of editing and deletions I now have just under 200 contemporary art prints but I am pleased with my new selection. Unlike before where I included things I really wasn't that fond of to appease a broader customer base now the work is all Douglas. I also decided not to worry about offending people with my nude prints by having them in a separate catalog. I am truly even more pleased with the selection now that they are all together.

The DOUGLAS Art Prints® contemporary art prints were always, for years, not much more than a hobby. Something I devoted time to usually when I had a new print to ad and had the time away from my commercial photography. I decided I had to devote some time to better organize and present my contemporary art and my enthusiasm got it completed long before I originally planned.

I take great pride in my contemporary prints knowing my fondness for stark, bold black and white with little detail isn't everyone's "cup of tea". All of my prints are 100% art gallery archival quality. I produce the prints only when ordered and I hand sign each one.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

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Many DOUGLAS Art Prints® Are Set To Vanish

2009-10-12T17:03:27Z

October 12, 2009 Cleveland, Ohio - I will be harshly editing the number of DOUGLAS Art Prints® available between now and January 1, 2010. Where I once wanted to offer as many different pieces to people of different taste, well now I don't.

Anyone that knows my work knows I strongly prefer bold black and white. In an effort to appeal to a wider audience I produced some color prints, often variations of my original black and white prints. Some of them I even kind of liked. Two things have become obvious. First, all of my prints sold have been my black and whites. The other thing is, let me try and find a way to say this, I don't truly like 99% of my color prints and now I don't much give a damn about reaching a wider audience. I think I'll be happier being known for my black and white even if I have fewer customers.

The other thing I have done is to separate my nude prints from the rest of my work. I did this so I wouldn't offend visitors to my web site that might prefer not to see the nudes. It was an option. In reviewing this policy I decided that my nudes are in fact fine art nudes. If someone's offended what will be will be. I want my work all in one catalog.

For years this contemporary art prints thing has been little more than a hobby. Another creative outlet from my commercial photography business. Now, for whatever reason, it will still be very secondary to my commercial photography but the prints will be 100% based on what I like and not to include appealing to a broader market.

I suspect these changes to occur rapidly and much before January 1. Very possible before November 1.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

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the dormer, a new DOUGLAS Art Prints® Contemporary Art Print

2009-10-12T16:21:46Z

October 12, 2009 Cleveland, Ohio - "the dormer" is my newest contemporary art print in my much preferred stark black and white. This print is of a dormer surrounded by a classic tile roof. Almost Hitchcockian.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

This is another example of my finding a subject for one of my attempts at contemporary art while working on a commercial photography assignment. Actually the home itself was surrounded with trees and shrubs almost obscuring it from sight even from the sidewalk but it was this dormer that caught my attention.

One of the reasons I like to remove much of the detail and use stark black and white is because I like to leave much of what one sees in my prints to their imagination. To me it's what you don't see that I like. In this print of the dormer I couldn't help but wonder what the view would be like from that small roof level window.

This print, as are all of our prints, is 100% art gallery archival quality. They will not yellow or fade for over 100 years if displayed properly. The prints are all produced at the time of the order and each print is hand signed and numbered by Douglas.

There are more than 200 original Douglas contemporary art prints to select from.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

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Home Sweet Home - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print NEW VERSION

2009-06-19T22:29:51Z

In the third and final change in my recent additions to my series of prints based on the belief in "There but for..." I have converted my original Home Sweet Home print from the bold colors to this, my trademark stark black and white.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

If you would like to learn more about what was behind this decision to go black and white you can read "The Power of Color to the Imagination of Stark Black & White" that I posted on my commercial photography blog DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. News.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

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Ken from Mars II - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print NEW VERSION

2009-06-18T02:07:53Z

June 17, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - In a second unusual move commercial and fine art photographer Douglas Konkol has replaced an originally released print with a new version. This new "Ken from Mars II" print replaces the original color version again with Douglas' much preferred stark black and white.

The report from the original version…

June 11, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Ken from Mars II, this is part 3 in a series of DOUGLAS Art Prints® based on "There but for the Grace of God go I" After working with the homeless on a photo project for the Salvation Army Douglas, contemporary artist, commercial photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints®, met many of the people we see and ignore every day in large cities across this country. The experience left him wondering if it was the alcohol that led them there or was it being born without the God given tools most of us have and take for granite? That the alcohol is a coping mechanism and one of the only pleasures available.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

In this print I do not see a wino or an alcoholic or a bum. I see the pleasant man I met when I saw him pushing his life's possessions in a shopping cart down a street near downtown Cleveland and stopped and asked if I could do some photographs of him. He was just as pleased as the people in the Fortune 500 company offices are when I show up to take their photos for a newspaper or magazine. He very politely introduced himself, "I'm Ken," he smiled. He offered me some of his beer.

Just like the folks in the Fortune 500 companies he asked me to wait while he changed his shirt. He wanted to look nice for the photos. He was embarrassed because the shirt he had on had stains on the front. "I drool when I sleep and the chewing tobacco stains my shirt," he explained.

Ken and I chatted while I took photos. In a very pleasant conversation Ken explained that he was sent here from Mars to report back about life on this planet. He explained this in exactly the same way someone you meet explains they're from Michigan or Wyoming. If I'd have met him about anywhere else and he said he was from Michigan and not Mars this would have been no different than 1000's of other conversations I have had with about anyone.

There was something else about Ken that impressed me. He was proud of what he had. Exactly like any other American who is pleased by what they have accomplished. The fact that others have bigger homes or more expensive cars doesn't diminish the value of what they have accomplished with the tools God gave them. It seemed clear that Ken was pleased with what he had based on the tools he had to cope in life. In fact living on the streets is something many if not most of us could survive but Ken has.

The other thing that impressed me about Ken was that he didn't ask for money. I offered him a few bucks and he accepted it with a thank you but he didn't ask. While I am sure he knew which church or shelter to be at for meals he didn't depend on begging for money. It was no different than you or I carrying a heavy box and having a neighbor ask if he could help. We could likely get the box where it was going but we appreciate the help. There was an independence to Ken. He appreciated the few bucks when I offered it but somehow I knew he would do fine without it at least in Ken's world living on the streets of Cleveland.

When I look at this print I see a man that is pleased with what he has accomplished with the tools he was given. When I look at this print I realize that "there but for the Grace of God go I."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

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Ken from Mars - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print NEW VERSION

2009-06-17T22:51:17Z

June 17, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - In an unusual move commercial and fine art photographer Douglas Konkol has replaced an originally released print with a new version. This new "Ken from Mars" print replaces the original color version with Douglas' much preferred stark black and white.

The report from the original version…

Ken from Mars, this is part 2 in a series of DOUGLAS Art Prints® based on "There but for the Grace of God go I" After working with the homeless on a photo project for the Salvation Army Douglas, contemporary artist, commercial photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints®, met many of the people we see and ignore every day in large cities across this country. The experience left him wondering if it was the alcohol that led them there or was it being born without the God given tools most of us have and take for granite? That the alcohol is a coping mechanism and one of the only pleasures available.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

When I look at this print I see a man that is pleased with what he has accomplished with the tools he was given. When I look at this print I realize that "there but for the Grace of God go I."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter

sunday afternoon - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print

2009-06-16T13:36:24Z

June 16, 2009 - Taking a break from a bicycle ride on a Sunday afternoon but not the image one might expect. This is a calm image with a bridge along a river but it isn't the usual country landscape. This is an abandon industrial railroad bridge in downtown Cleveland, Ohio along the Cuyahoga River. An unusual place to take a break from a bicycle ride especially with a park setting a few feet away.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

It was this very unusual nature of where this man decided to rest from a bike ride and take in some sun that caught my eye. I couldn't help but wonder why there? I like the fact that one has to stop and look at this print to see the man and his bike. I hope the response is like mine. Why there?

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

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Home Sweet Home - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print

2009-06-11T22:00:59Z

June 11, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - In part 4 of his series based on "There but for the Grace of God go I", Douglas has released his newest print Home Sweet Home. That is if your living under a bridge in Cleveland, Ohio.

"It is my experience working on photography assignments with the Salvation Army and volunteering to help feed the homeless that made me aware that these people we see and ignore in big cities every day are not always or even often the alcoholic losers we might imagine. These often are people who just weren't given the tools to thrive or maybe even cope in this world. There but for… . The ironic part is that most of us couldn't survive in the world of the homeless," Douglas, commercial photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints® and DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. said. "I did this series of prints not to bring attention or sympathy for the plight of the homeless but for the viewer hopefully to be thankful for what he was given and maybe even where he was born. It could easily have been very different."

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

This print, as are all of our prints, is 100% art gallery archival quality. They will not yellow or fade for over 100 years if displayed properly. The prints are all produced at the time of the order and each print is hand signed and numbered by Douglas.

There are more than 200 original Douglas contemporary art prints to select from.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter

Ken from Mars II - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print

2009-06-11T13:30:26Z

June 11, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Ken from Mars, this is part 3 in a series of DOUGLAS Art Prints® based on "There but for the Grace of God go I" After working with the homeless on a photo project for the Salvation Army Douglas, contemporary artist, commercial photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints®, met many of the people we see and ignore every day in large cities across this country. The experience left him wondering if it was the alcohol that led them there or was it being born without the God given tools most of us have and take for granite? That the alcohol is a coping mechanism and one of the only pleasures available.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

When I look at this print I see a man that is pleased with what he has accomplished with the tools he was given. When I look at this print I realize that "there but for the Grace of God go I."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter

Ken from Mars - DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print

2009-05-27T03:09:48Z

May 26, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Ken from Mars, this is part 2 in a series of DOUGLAS Art Prints® based on "There but for the Grace of God go I" After working with the homeless on a photo project for the Salvation Army Douglas, contemporary artist, commercial photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints®, met many of the people we see and ignore every day in large cities across this country. The experience left him wondering if it was the alcohol that led them there or was it being born without the God given tools most of us have and take for granite? That the alcohol is a coping mechanism and one of the only pleasures available.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

When I look at this print I see a man that is pleased with what he has accomplished with the tools he was given. When I look at this print I realize that "there but for the Grace of God go I."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter

There but for the Grace of God go I - Some damn ugly art

2009-04-30T01:03:21Z

April 29, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Sometimes art isn't sexy or pretty. Sometimes it's ugly but maybe then it's meant to make you think. Maybe, just maybe when you do look at it you'll think about how lucky you are to have a wall to hang it on.

In December of 2007 I issued my print "there but for…", a homeless man sleeping on a bench on Public Square in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It's not pretty and it's not meant to be. Some see a bum. "Get a job," some say or think. I see "there but for the grace of God go I." This was intended to be the first in a series of ugly contemporary / modern art prints meant to make you think. Maybe, hopefully make you appreciate that you were given the tools to thrive and not just survive in this world. Something to display on your wall that when you glance at it you remember you could have been born to parents who were homeless. You could have been born without the tools to succeed. If the dice of life would have rolled just a little different that could be you.

Some years back I had the opportunity to do a major photo project for the Salvation Army. I finished that multi day project a different man. I was emotionally drained from seeing the kids born into this world with virtually nothing and even the adults, the parents that for whatever reason didn't have the tools to do anything more than survive let alone raise children. We see the salvation Army on TV during disasters or after a fire in someone's home when they come to help.   These people deal with life's disasters every day. Not just after a hurricane, a tornado, a flood or a fire but every single day. I never knew how much they do until I saw it for myself. I never knew how hard of a job that is until I saw and experienced it for myself.

Seeing what these fine folks at the Salvation Army do I learned it would be easier to deal with the victims of a flood or a fire or even a hurricane. These victims you know or at least believe that with some help they can put their lives back together again. For them, you believe, tomorrow will be better. Then there are the hundreds you deal with that as much as you want to help you know the best you can do is help them to simply live until tomorrow until they're back the next day. ]]>
The sales of my first "there but for…" print kind of proved my fear about the Salvation Army Calendar project. No one has bought this print. This is very much an important project to me so I have 3 new prints I will be announcing in the next couple of days. "there but for… II and III as well as a print I am titling "home sweet home".

A while back I was helping serve lunches to the homeless at a downtown Cleveland Catholic church (they let me help even though I'm a Methodist).   One of the nuns knew and knew of many of the lunch visitors. One she told me of was a woman who has been a school teacher. One day she was gang raped by some of her students. She couldn't handle it emotionally and spent the rest of her life by her own choice homeless. This nun bought this lady a new blouse and she declined it. She said what she had was fine for where she lived and asked the nun to put it on her for her funeral. The nun did.

Two of my new prints are of Fred. Fred is a happy man. His entire existence is in the shopping cart he pushes everywhere he goes. I chatted with Fred while I did some photos and he smiled pleasantly as he explained and watched for my reaction to telling me he was sent here to America from Mars so he could report back. He was embarrassed because he chewed tobacco and when he sleeps he drools and gets stains on his shirt. Fred truly is a happy man and is fun to talk to. He has succeeded with the tools he was provided in life. Fred's not a bum and he doesn't want pity.   Fred reminds me of something I read in Clarence Thomas' book My Grandfather's Son. Justice Thomas' Grandfather told him take what God has given you and make the best of it. Fred and so may others like him have done just that. Relatively speaking, Fred has succeeded.

There but for the Grace of God that could be you or me or Justice Clarence Thomas pushing that shopping cart.

That is why I have 3 new prints based on homeless coming and more to follow.

© 2009 DOUGLAS Art Prints. All rights reserved.

Julie - A DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Nude Contemporary Art Print

2008-12-15T22:56:45Z

December 15, 2008 - Cleveland, Ohio - "Julie" is the first new nude contemporary art print issued by DOUGLAS Art Prints® in months. This print varies from Douglas' usual stark black and white to a color charcoal style.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

"For this print the stark black and white lost some of the feeling," Douglas, commercial photographer, artist and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints® said. "This image had a degree of solitude that I wanted to capture and I finally settled on charcoal. I used a color instead of my usual black and white."

This print, as are all of our prints, is 100% art gallery archival quality. They will not yellow or fade for over 100 years if displayed properly. The prints are all produced at the time of the order and each print is hand signed by Douglas.

There are more than 200 original Douglas contemporary art prints to select from.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Announces a Major Price Reduction

2008-12-15T22:28:46Z

December 15, 2008 - Cleveland Ohio - In a major shift in marketing strategy DOUGLAS Art Prints® eliminated the $180.00 limited edition prints and reduced the price to $29.95. All prints are still art gallery archival quality and each print is still hand signed by Douglas.

"The expensive limited editions failed to become the success we had hoped," Douglas, the owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints® said. "A major change was necessary, especially in the current economy and we made it."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® NEW 3 for 1 Offer Now Until December 14

2008-12-03T13:30:24Z

December 3, 2008 - Cleveland, Ohio - DOUGLAS Art Prints® has reconsidered their 2 for 1 Christmas special offer. The offer has been expanded to 3 for the price of 1. In addition you can customize how you want the 2 free prints. You can give one as a gift with the additional gift of letting them pick 2 more of their own later. Two now and one later. Ship to 3 different addresses. You decide.

"It was suggested to me that I was stupid for trying to limit the number of free prints at Christmas. Every gift of one of my prints was a potential new collector. This was a well duh moment," Douglas, the owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints® said. "I decided to not only expand the offer from 2 for 1 to 3 for the price of 1 but I set up a system to allow one to be shipped immediately to give as a gift with the additional gift of allowing the recipient to select 2 more of their own choice later. We will ship 2 now and one later if requested or we can ship to 3 different addresses. We have also allowed for our letter of authentication to the owner of our print to state that this was a gift from the purchaser."

"I wish I would have thought of this sooner," Douglas continued. "The last thing I want to do is disappoint anyone at Christmas. I decided that because of the additional need for us to keep track of split orders and multiple shipping addresses we would have to end this offer on December 14, to insure things arrive before Christmas."

These prints are all the original work of commercial photographer, artist and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints®, Douglas. The prints are all produced in house by DOUGLAS Art Prints® using all 100% archival gallery quality materials. Douglas requires that these prints be of 100% collectable, investment quality. They are and in fact if properly framed and displayed they will not discolor, fade or deteriorate for over 100 years.

There are more than 200 original Douglas contemporary art prints to select from.

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints®

DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Banana - A DOUGLAS Art Prints® New Contemporary Art Print

2008-11-30T00:36:40Z

November 28, 2008 - Cleveland, Ohio - "banana" is the title of this new limited edition abstract contemporary art print by Douglas and DOUGLAS Art Prints®. In Douglas' stark bold black and white style this newest print adds a "double image" in a bold grey.

The print shown as it would appear in a 22.5 in. X 16.5 in. frame.

Larger View

"I wanted to get back to more basic images and I found a peeled banana an interesting challenge," Douglas, commercial photographer, artist and owner of DOUGLAS Art Prints® said. "I have used the double image in earlier prints and used it again here because I think it ads to the visual interest trying to determine exactly what it is."

DOUGLAS Art Prints® Catalog | DOUGLAS Art Prints® Nude Prints Catalog

DOUGLAS Art Prints® | DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.

Douglas on Twitter