BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Jill Caren, owner of Expressions on West Front Street, Keyport, shows off some examples of her work that transform ordinary photographs into works of art. KEYPORT — Commissioning art may sound like something only the very rich can afford.
But not in Keyport.
With the opening of Expressions on West Front Street, one-of-a-kind collage and pop art can be created for as little as $120.
“We take everyday, ordinary photos and create art from them,” said Jill Caren, owner of the shop.
COPYRIGHT EXPRESSIONS Expressions on West Front Street specializes in collages of pets and children. Photographs and quotations are combined to create one collage. By transferring photo images onto canvas, Caren can produce a collage or Andy Warhol-inspired pop-art piece for her clients.
It’s been difficult for Caren to describe her service to others, but once inside her shop, it all becomes apparent.
“What I do is so hard for people to understand,” said Caren. “Once they get in here, they’re amazed at what they can do with their photos. … They say, ‘Oh my God, that’s so cool! I want that.’ ”
COPYRIGHT EXPRESSIONS Parents who enjoy taking photographs of their children may find interest in the photo collages created by Jill Caren at Expressions in Keyport. Part art studio, part retail store, “Expressions” features hand-painted frames, high-end custom-made photo albums and other unique photo accessories.
“Feel that,” said Caren as she held out a velvet-covered photo album. “It’s beautiful.”
On display are some of Caren’s favorite commissioned pieces, including a three-paneled piece that features a father and young daughter on the Keyport waterfront. The piece was created using five separate photographs — four of the father and daughter at different times and places, and one of the Keyport harbor. By transposing the images together, Caren was able to create a picture that appears to have both the father and daughter laughing and playing on the waterfront .
COPYRIGHT EXPRESSIONS The four photos on the left side were incorporated into a collage. “People who love it are the people who can’t ever get their kids all together for a photo,” said Caren.
The hanging art is popular, but Caren’s biggest seller is the memory book. Similar to a high school yearbook, the memory book is cloth- or paper-bound and can include crystal-clear copies of old letters, children’s drawings and family photos.
“It’s great as a gift,” said Caren, who has sample books available at the shop.
“Everything you can possibly do with photos we do here,” said Caren.
A customer can have an image of her child imposed on a pocketbook, diaper bag or wallet. A favorite pet or landscape can be imposed on a money clip, key chain, necktie or jewelry.
Keyport was the perfect choice for her new shop, said Caren’s husband Dan, because it’s a destination and not a drive-by location.
“I’ve been coming to Keyport since I was a kid,” said Dan Caren, who lives with his wife and family in Matawan. “People come here because they want to come here. It’s not like some other towns that you just drive through on the highway.”
Memory books and collage art start at $120, while smaller items, such as jewelry and cosmetic bags, start at $18.
Store hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Monday and Tuesday by appointment. For more information, call Jill Caren at (732) 264-8838.