Local Gallery Putting the Art into Graphic Arts

The beauty of art is that it can come in many forms, like paintings or sculptures, music or photography. 

In fact, popular theory goes: If a piece of work incites emotion and stimulates thought and conversation, it should be considered art, no matter what materials are used to create it.

But occasionally when people see the pieces designed by accomplished photographer and artist Scott Menaul, owner of , they are taken aback when they learn how his works were created.

“When people see Scott’s work for the first time, especially collectors and fine art lovers, they are surprised to learn that the pieces are produced digitally,” says Jerri Menaul, Scott’s wife and the gallery marketing director.

“They tend to get turned off by the fact that they were created on a computer,” she says.

But no matter how they were crafted, there is no denying that Scott Menaul’s works evoke a wide range of emotions, from awe to joy, as any great piece of art should. 

“My mom did oil painting, and my father was an engineer," Menaul says. "I’ve been very successful melding those two worlds together.” 

Much of Menaul’s background is in technical fields. Armed with an engineering degree from Syracuse, he worked for a couple of tech companies in Massachusetts before getting into marketing. 

Eventually, he combined his love of photography with his analytical mind to create digital abstract art, born of his extensive knowledge of 3-D graphic design programs and the ability to imagine intricate and unique patterns, often to jaw-dropping effect.

“We were accused of starting a new genre in art because nobody had ever done anything like this before,” Jerri Menaul says. “We are just starting to become more accepted now.”

Part of that acceptance comes from the fact that all of Scott Menaul’s work is customizable.

Love his award-winning piece Atlantis but can’t fit it in your living room? No problem. The Menauls can divide it up into sections so it can be placed almost anywhere.

Maybe you’re a fan of his Aqua Rings, but the colors don’t match your décor. Menaul can easily alter the color scheme of his works to complement any interior. 

“We’ve even started reproducing prints on Tyvek, which can be applied with wallpaper paste. It’s great if you want to do a full wall mural,” Jerri Menaul says.

The Menauls have also branched out to include other photography services in their business, including individual Photoshop classes and a website that helps you create custom works for your home or office. 

They are hosting a special event this Friday, the I Love Clearwater Art Show and Sale, produced in conjunction with the city of Clearwater and featuring works by more than 70 local artists. 

“I love living in Clearwater, and I thought it would be interesting for artists to be a part of something like this,” Jerri Menaul says. “We wanted to do something for all media, including clay, jewelry and photography.” 

No matter how well the other aspects of the business fare, or how many people fail to appreciate his unique brand of art, like most artists, Scott Menaul is satisfied doing something he loves to do.

“I like making people happy," he says. "You start with nothing, and you make something beautiful. That's the most rewarding experience there is."

Menaul Art Gallery

Address: 1750 N. Hercules Ave.

Phone: 727-726-7411

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Appointments available during off hours.