BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
Graphic artist Renate Shanahan combines her artistic talents with computer technology to create kaleido-graphics. Her artwork is available at her new store, KRE-ANS, in Metuchen. It was a spur of the moment thing when Renate Shanahan decided to open up her own store KRE-ANS (pronounced “crayons”) in Metuchen.
“I was driving down Main Street, and I saw a ‘For Rent’ sign,” said Renate Shanahan, who opened KRE-ANS a few weeks ago. “I thought to myself that the space was a great location for someone to open up a store.”
And the rest is history.
KRE-ANS sells Shanahan’s kaleido-graphics and other artwork she has created.
“I have been a graphic artist all my life, and then digital cameras and computers came along,” said Shanahan. “I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in.”
The images are assisted by the computer technology, but are not generated by a computer program, said Shanahan.
“I played around and formed a kaleidoscope pattern and people were telling me how much they liked the idea,” said Shanahan. “I was thinking maybe someone might want to buy them.”
Shanahan has joined several art societies as her interest in art and graphics has grown.
“I saw an advertisement in the newspaper that the Edison Art Society was taking artwork to put in the Sheraton Hotel lobby in the Raritan Center,” said Shanahan. “The theme was called Phantasmagoria.
“I looked the word up in the dictionary to see if my kaleidoscopes could fit into their theme,” said Shanahan. “It had several definitions and one definition looked like it would.”
The Sheraton Hotel accepted one of her submissions.
“It hung in the lobby for five months,” said Shanahan.
At one of the many fairs Shanahan attended, she started talking to an artist who made jewelry.
“She told me about the Brewster Society in Maryland that was holding an exhibit called ‘Kaleidoscope Reflections,’” she said.
“Even though their exhibit was for actual kaleidoscopes, they took two of my kaleido-graphics,” said Shanahan. “Instead of them giving me back my submissions, they sent me a check. And that was good.”
Shanahan is excited about opening her own store.
“I have been a professional all of my life,” said Shanahan. “And this is the only time I have been enthusiastic about it. I’m having a great time and having fun.”
Shanahan’s kaleido-graphics are all from photographs she has taken. Each kaleidoscopic image is custom-produced with great attention to detail.
“I can also offer custom work that will give a person a one-of-a-kind, professional-quality, personal piece of art,” said Shanahan. “They can give us their favorite photograph, and I can work from there.”
A customer can come for a sitting; location photography is also available, said Shanahan.
“I have my own printers and my largest printer is 13 by 19 feet,” she said. “If someone wants something larger, then we can work something out.”
She plans to sell other items in the future.
“My children will add their creativeness to the store; upcoming will be apparel and jewelry and other items,” said Shanahan. “Without my children and their friends, I wouldn’t have been able to open KRE-ANS so quickly,” she said.
KRE-ANS is located at 325 Main St. in Metuchen. For information, call (732) 803-1825.