The most common question an artist is asked is “Where do you get your ideas?” This story shows how a concept in the artist’s head can become a work of art and where it can go from there…

The Creation of Atlantis

Scott Menaul has been a photographer for over 26 years. He has also lived in New England and Clearwater, FL and traveled to the Bahamas and Caribbean. During his photography career he’s had a continued fascination with the sea that you see reflected in much of his abstract artwork. (See Scott’s Clearwater Beach and New England coastline photo galleries here.)

Scott drew from these experiences when he created the abstract artwork “Atlantis” (seen below). The colors evoke thoughts of blue skies, white clouds, sandy beaches and shimmering waves. The shapes suggest a bow of a ship and its billowing sails.

You are free to interpret the art for yourself. Abstract art gives each viewer the chance to see it in their own way. What do you see? Is it a sunken ship seen through the waves? A yacht sailing across open ocean? Underwater ruins of a once great civilization? (E-mail us your interpretation—we love hearing what people see in Scott’s abstract artwork!)

Solving a Design Problem Leads to New Artwork

While at an art show in South Florida, a married couple saw “Atlantis” on display and loved it. But they had a problem: Their modern Florida condo had extremely high ceilings and tall walls, and a single canvas would be dwarfed in that setting. After the show, when Scott was back in Clearwater, the couple e-mailed him and asked what he could do with their space using “Atlantis.” They sent photos so he could see the room.

With the aesthetics of “Atlantis” in mind, Scott set about creating a new piece that could compliment such a large room. Thanks to his use of computer technology, he was able to use the photographs of the room to preview how the art would look on the walls. Using this method he came up with artwork that solved their design problem, entitled “A Day in Manhattan” (seen below).

Custom Abstract Art as an Interior Design Tool

The evolution of the artwork doesn’t stop there. Scott was called in to work with interior designer Robert Henry on that master bedroom in the the Boys and Girls Club Designer Show House of Sarasota, FL. (Read about the event here.)

Robert had already chosen the colors and fabrics for the bedroom but hadn’t yet found art that worked for his décor. He saw “A Day in Manhattan” and envisioned the top two panels as a horizontal piece. Scott took this direction, and using samples of color swatches and fabric samples from the room, he created the next stage in the evolution, “Morning Inspiration” (seen here.)

Always Evolving

The fractured look of “Atlantis” lends the piece well to being shown as a triptych (split into three panels). The wider format also makes it a good choice for putting above large furniture like couches and beds. Here is the piece as “Atlantis Triptych.”

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