Art + Emotion = Authentique

I’ve heard stories of super-human strength...things like a young boy lifting a vehicle off his brother who was trapped, etc. and while I’m sure many of them are true, I’ve never looked into the details all that deeply. However, I do firmly believe in the power of positive thought and that one’s state of mind has a huge impact on outcomes. 

{Canvas with paint and paper by Angie Blom using our "Renew" collection}

As we were developing our main collections to begin 2013, we pondered how to best name them. It can be tempting to describe collections in a generic way, or around a kitchy phrase, but we felt best about sticking with the emotional purpose behind each collection. 

When we took a step back and looked at the chronological list of what we had developed... Renew, Hope, Grace, and Strong, it was clear we were feeling positive and wanted to play our part in continuing to breathe optimism into a great industry. 

{Sneak peek of a layout using our upcoming "Grace" collection}

“Grace”, is perhaps my favorite collection name, especially since it will be released around Mother’s Day. The word emotmizes the effortless sacrifice we truly admire in our mothers and grandmothers. If projects, cards and mini albums aren’t made with an emotional intent in mind, they won’t be as effective. We feel the same way about our collections. While color palettes and designs are critical, we believe the overall purpose of a collection is most important. 

{Sneak peek of our upcoming "Strong" collection} 

When we unveiled Remembrance (an elegant “sympathy” line) and Cherish (a heartfelt grandparents line) at the CHA Winter show a few weeks ago, the response from our retailers was overwhelming. I love artistic sensibility, color and composition, but I think it’s amazing when art and emotion combine. 

{Painted wood block, paper and stickers from the upcoming "Remembrance" collection}

I’d like to share a powerful personal example... this Christmas, my oldest daughter asked me what I might like as a present. I asked her to write me a poem, since she is so gifted as a writer and thinker. I wondered if she took me seriously and left to her own devices, the poem came on a canvas, painted with oil, in a way that eclipsed gift giving...it became an instant treasure. I hope you will make your own treasures with our collections.

Sincerely,

Bret

President, Authentique Paper

Bret and his three children (June 2012)