The most valuable visual sign for any business instantly communicates what that company offers while also being aesthetically pleasing. It also should make you and your customers “feel at home.” A nice logo is, of course, the most common type of branding, and for some business owners, their signage is their logo or photos of their product. But there are others who want to make a more personal statement. They want their office décor to reflect not only what their business is all about but also to express their own persona. Mary Grace Thoennes is a Financial Advisor for Wells Fargo Advisors, and her office is in the Wells Fargo Advisors suites at Southlake Town Square. Because Mary Grace works one on one with each client to design investment strategies, it is important that her office provide a comfortable atmosphere yet also convey the authority of one who understands finance and economics.
28
MAR 2014
southlake ARTS
When I first visited her new office, it had a wonderful, cozy feeling. But I felt something was missing; it was the lack of art on the walls. Mary Grace, by nature, is also an art connoisseur, so our conversation soon turned to original fine art, as opposed to inexpensive prints. She spoke of her desire to own original artwork that would be specifically designed to reflect her business, her profession. We decided to meet in my studio to see some of my existing paintings and other artwork. One piece that I had entitled “Wheat Prosperity” caught her eye with its golden colors and the playful movement of wheat blowing in the wind. We determined that this piece would be a good anchor for her office. Drawing on her keen instincts, Mary Grace suggested a companion painting depicting small segments of U.S. currency: a tapestry of snippets of various bills. She decided right then and there to commission me to create that vision on canvas.