Pascal Tremblay is a graphic designer / illustrator from Montreal. He has been working freelance for the past 11 years doing work for a wide variety of clients.

Pascal’s work has always been an introspective and personal way for him to express himself. He describes his work as a way to “define my emotions and thoughts in a way that when I look at it, I will know exactly how I felt at the moment I created it, but without making it definite for others.” In other words, though he has strong emotion connection with his work, it’s up to the person viewing it to decide what it means to her or him.

Where were you born, where do you live now, any other background info?

I was born in Germany but I pretty much consider myself 100% Canadian since I have lived here all my life almost. My dad was in the army so we moved around a lot and Germany was one of those places. I currently live in Montreal with my fiancee, Elaine. We’ve lived together here for 3 yrs and prior to this we lived in Malaysia for 18 months.

How would you describe your work?

That’s a good question because I never really think about stuff like that. I just like to start creating a piece and see where it leads me. I don’t really have a plan in what I do, I just let my intuition guide me. I think that, as a whole, my work could be described as a series of vague and fleeting expressions of myself. I like to keep the interpretation to the viewer and not pigeon-hole it into what I think it should be saying and, while it’s not a specific goal of mine, I do hope everyone can see a little something different in each piece. Over time I’ve been more and more abstract in what each art piece represents and my use of type has gone in the same direction.. Whereas before I might have put plainly the words I was thinking about, now they’re represented by a specific color or square, or whatever… So in a way I guess my work is a bit like an emotional puzzle to me. I always put a lot of myself into it and if I don’t feel anything intense I really cannot produce the kind of artwork I enjoy the most. That is probably why I can go for months without doing anything, I don’t force it.

What processes and techniques do you use to create your work?

I like to use a technique I coined “create and adjust”. It’s basically a semi-fancy term for “I just do whatever comes to me and then I arrange it all as I go to make it work together”. I really wish I could describe my process better but it’s really just improvisation each time. I don’t have a plan on and the more specific my concept I start with the more difficult it will be for me. If I keep it all flowing and organic it works much better. When it comes to client work I work differently and I can build towards a specific goal with no problems.. however with my personal artwork, it has to come naturally and on the fly.

Are you a full time artist?

No, I do design mostly during the day but I also have other interests that are taking more of my time these days. I do feel the need to take a break from design recently. I’ve been doing this for almost 11 yrs and I need a break. I’d say art-making is the least time-consuming part of my work. Art doesn’t pay the bills unfortunately. It doesn’t pay anything actually and it’s not why I do it anyway.

How did you get started?

I started by dropping out of college and not knowing what to do with myself. Then I discovered Flash websites and it just gripped me. I had never had any interest whatsoever in art before this (although as a kid I would spend hours re-creating country flags with coloring pencils). I just stumbled into this dormant need to express myself, it was something completely new for me and I had finally found something I was passionate about. From there I kind of shifted from Flash to artwork and into print and web.

Any notable accomplishments?

Being able to make a good living off of freelance for 10 yrs is something I am proud of.. I still haven’t received my medal for it, which is very very disappointing.

Where can we find more info and keep up with your work?

Makeshift.ca is my personal portfolio, and while I don’t update it weekly or anything be assured there’s always something new in the works. Most of my work I don’t even post because the bill-paying stuff is rarely ever too exciting or mind blowing.

What artists inspire you?

David Carson is the reason why I am here today doing what I do. Without him I would have never gone the path I chose. I’ve yet to met him. I do have an autographed Raygun magazine which I keep very dearly. It’s pretty much the only design publication I own.

There’s something about good black and white photography that always seems to amaze me. Maybe it’s the simplicity found from stripping out the color. Or the contrasts between dark and light that forces detail to the forefront. Whatever it is, there is something magical about black and white photography. Like seeing the world in a completely different way: simple.

Check out some of my favorite black and white photos on Imagekind below.

Spring has officially arrived. And with spring comes the inspiration for change and newness. Now’s the time to freshen up your interior design. It’s not too hard to have a completely new look and feel with just a few framed art pieces. Artwork has the ability to liven up a space to make your home or office feel like a completely new place!

Below are 5 of the top decorating trends for this spring. Find framed artwork that features natural subjects, colorful and patterned prints, along with images that inspire you to refresh and renew, but most importantly, make you feel comfortable.

Nature

Nature and the outdoors are still very popular decorating trends for spring 2009. With the continued emphasis on being green and going organic, you’re sure to see an emphasis on trends surrounding nature. With artwork, this means bringing the outdoors in. Find artwork that focuses on nature: trees, flowers, rural and natural landscapes. All of these make nature and the outdoors the shining star.

Color

Spring brings more daylight and brighter colors. This means color is back and one of the top trends for interior decorating. Designs are sure to feature high levels of color. Bold uses of the primary and other bright colors are sure to make your interior design really stand out. Shop artwork by color; reds, greens, yellows, blues. Look for colors to brighten up your home or office decor.

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Patterns

Patterns and symmetry can bring balance to distressful situations. That’s why patterns are making a huge impact on the 2009 interior design trends. With bad news seemingly all around, more and more people are looking for familiarity. And, though it will not cure everything, familiarity can help quell the feelings of anxiety. Find artwork on Imagekind that features pleasant patterns and comforting symmetry.

RE-

2009 is shaping up to truly be the year of RE; refresh, redesign, renew. A hot trend that caught fire throughout 2008, the ideas of RE are staying strong in 2009. Refresh your interior design by starting with the walls. Find framed artwork that opens a new world of possibilities and brings both the freshness and newness of Spring indoors. Rearrange the furniture and accent the room with art that’s sure to refresh your space.

Comfort

With more and more people staying home in an effort to weather the econmic climate, they need an interior decor that’s comftorable. Look for ways to showcase your personality with your art. Framed pictures of family, friends, pets and past vacations are all fantastic ways to make your interior both comftorable and personal. Being surrounded by the things you care about most, really helps to remind us of what is most important in life. Frame your own favorite photos at Imagekind.com/create. Or, print them on canvas!

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Have you seen the new artwork page on Imagekind?

We’ve just released a newly updated version of the main artwork page that’s sure to make quite an impact on the overall Imagekind experience. Now it is easier, more intuitive and all around quicker to shop for the framed artwork you love!

Just some of the amazing features:

Single click shopping with shorter purchasing path for those who don’t need all the options!
Better product displays that show frame details right on the page!
Browse links to easily see the previous and next artwork in an artist’s gallery!
Choose your product (print, canvas or greeting card) on the same page!
Quicker load time to improve the overall page performance!
Shop similar art by color, genre, tags and more!

Additionally, we have also made changes to include both our satisfaction guarantee as well as easily displaying the savings you’ll receive when shopping at Imagekind.

We are all excited about these recent updates and think the new artwork page shows off Imagekind’s unique offering; being both an active and thriving artist community site, as well as a high end framed art retailer. We’ve essentially split the page down the middle to successfully incorporate both aspects.

We have several more plans for future improvements and features. Imagekind is dedicated to continue innovating the way you shop, sell and create art. You can stay updated on all of Imagekind’s future improvements by subscribing to our RSS feed, and joining the Imagekind newsletter.

Find all of the improvements in our official announcement to our community.

Now, stop reading and go check out the new page and shop for framed art!

You may not realize it, but Imagekind groups are an amazing way to shop for framed artwork. The Imagekind groups are a place dedicated to showcasing artwork selected by our member community. Each piece included in the groups are hand selected by the artist themselves that directly represent the groups themes.

The Imagekind Groups are a great way to shop for artwork based on your favorite theme. You can shop art from such groups as the Imagekind Illustrators, Cloud Artwork, Digital Art, and hundreds of others!

Below are just a few of the intriguing groups on Imagekind.

Friends of Klimt

For every one who loves the art of Klimt
http://groups.imagekind.com/friendsofklimt

Music

Instruments, sheet music, performers, anything to do with music!
http://groups.imagekind.com/music

Black & White

Some of the most stunning b&w photography on Imagekind
http://groups.imagekind.com/bw

Artists Best Work

One piece from each artist they consider their best
http://groups.imagekind.com/best

Visit the Imagekind Community to shop for art prints from all Imagekind Groups. If you’re an artist selling your artwork on Imagekind, join the community and start adding your art to the groups!

Today is the official first day of fall. Though summer 2008 has come and gone, it’s now time to stop thinking about the past, and start thinking about change. And fall is the season of change.

To help us kick off the fall season, we thought we’d invite Imagekind artist Scott Neste, professional interior designer and owner of Minor Details Design, to share some ideas on how to prepare your home for the inevitable changes that fall brings.

Read on to see 5 Tips for Preparing your Home for Autumn. And remember to visit Imagekind’s Top Decorating Trends for Fall 2008.

Nate

Life is all about change – acknowledging it, embracing it and moving through it with as much grace and openness as possible.  Autumn is certainly one of the most dramatic seasonal changes we experience.  Days start getting shorter, the light is different and there is a sense of slowing down.  There is a sense of nesting, of retreating indoors while still relishing every moment we have to enjoy the “dog days” of summer.  I can’t say I’ve always been completely cognizant of, or intentional about, making the shift but, as I think about some of my routines, I’ve gleaned a few tips that may help you embrace the change this season.

1. Bring the Outdoors In

This is a great practice any time of the year.  Organic things help us feel human, grounded and part of our natural surroundings.  Start by watching farmer’s markets for fall flowers, pods, branches and botanicals that may dry well.  I like to arrange them in organic looking vases.  Try vases made of ceramic, wood or other natural fibers.  Rusted or verdigris metals can also add a great patina to a fall arrangement.

2. Move Some Furniture

Now is a great time to rethink your room arrangements.  Think about the focal points in the room.  If you have a fireplace, consider creating cozy and conversational seating arrangements nearby.  Keep entertaining in mind.  Will you need to make space for extra holiday guests?  Work with your rooms and remember that sometimes the best solution can be editing rather than adding to a room.

3. Create an Artful Focus

For some reason, I’m always drawn to handmade things in the fall and winter months.  I look for the perfect throw for the sofa, comfy pillows for the bedroom and lush textiles for the sitting room.  Take a look at your current possessions.  Do you have a wonderful vase that a child made in elementary school?  A handmade quilt that could be inspiration for the guest room?  A quirky original painting that you purchased at an estate sale?  Now is the time to let these treasures have their season of fame and inspire your surroundings.

4. Make ART!

This time of year is ripe with photo opportunities.  There are turning leaves, branches heavy with pods and berries and awesome sunsets.  Get in the flow and make some art of your own.   Imagekind is a fantastic resource for artists of all ages and experience levels.  Take yourself on a photo journey in your own back yard, upload your favorites and order some framed prints to transform your home.

5. Celebrate Change

Sometimes change is just what we need.  A new perspective, a fresh look or a second opinion can help us remember that good things could be just around the bend.  Fall is a great time to celebrate change so have a ball!  Create some time to have a few close friends over to enjoy a sunset, a leisurely brunch or a great classic movie.  The hectic months of summer are drawing to a close and it’s time to pause and reflect.

Remember, change is inevitable.  Some simple seasonal changes can help you set the stage to embrace it, move through it and allow your home to reflect it.

Read more decorating tips and ideas from Scott Neste by visiting Imagekind.

We have some great news! September is Member Appreciation Month and Imagekind is offering free ground shipping on all pro and platinum member art for the whole month.

Shoppers can easily see which images are eligible for free shipping with the free shipping icon on all the search results and product pages.

Share the news with all those who love your artwork and let them know that for the entire month, they can get free shipping on your art at Imagekind!

If you are not a Pro or Platinum artist, you can upgrade your account to take advantage of this month-long offer. Discover all the benefits of selling your art as a Pro or Platinum artist.

Scott Neste has one of the most captivating artistic styles. His mixed media collages contain a perfect balance of emotional and decorative appeal. Neste’s ability to combine contrasting colors, shapes, styles, shades and mediums into complimentary artistic expressions sets his work apart.

Some works contain upwards of 40 different layers in order to capture the desired effect.

Artwork: Privacy 11

Neste was featured recently on the front page of his local newspaper for his art exhibition, My Little Adventure, displayed in conjunction with the opening of his friends’ coffee shop.

All of the framed art prints displayed for this exhibit were produced by Imagekind, printed straight from his gallery. He also created brochures and flyers to hand out to visitors of the exhibit directing people back to his art prints for sale on Imagekind.

Artwork: Memory Book 5

One of his most stunning collections, Vintage Memories, is a compilation of old and forgotten memories recreated into a contemporary work of art. Using a combination of journal entries dating back to 1909, vintage photographs, corroded paint, fall leaves and other such discarded items, Neste created a powerful statement on the value of remembrance. Exhibit visitors would approach Neste with tears in their eyes as they share how his artwork reminds them of their often forgotten family members of the past.

Read the full story on Scott Neste’s recent feature in his local newspaper, and find out more about his unique artistic style here.

- Nate