Every re-developing community should hope to have someone like artist Luke Wein.
Part artist, part neighborhood innovator, his love for creation is challenged only by his support for the surrounding community. A proponent of everything from Waukesha's Downtown Art Walk to specialized gallery nights to area charity events, Wein not only finds inspiration in Lake Country's environment but aims to spur the artistic growth in Lake Country.
"I hadn't been to Waukesha in years but I came back to find coffee shops, galleries and cafes. There is so much historic charm to the architecture in the area and things are constantly redeveloping. I've never looked at it as competition with other art galleries, rather I want to work together for this art community to grow," Wein says.
His work ranges from imaginative nature photography to fantastical children's illustrations, opting not to select one sole medium but finding himself in the larger realm of true artistry where the imaginative and fantastical blend self-identity.
Trained in illustration at Denver's Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Wein returned home to Wisconsin, where he's successfully added a talent for professional entrepreneurialism to an art driven education.
"I started in graphic design but I realized the computer couldn't be my main medium. The illustration part was really strong and so I switched to illustration," Wein says.
When Wein returned to Wisconsin, he briefly owned a gallery in the historic Downtown Delafield community. After a short time, he traded working in his own gallery for a position in the fine arts division of the former Imagine That printing and art studio in Delafield.
"The gallery wasn't necessarily successful in terms of dollars but it was me returning to Wisconsin as an artist who is professionally trained and it introduced me to the artist community in the area," Wein says.
A result of what Wein humbly refers to as aspirations to do more than simply his job, he purchased the studio's fine arts division and went out on his own.
In short, under his own ambition and guise, Wein effectively turned dreams of being an artist into a viable self-run career.
"At Imagine That, they saw me more as an entrepreneur and someone who wasn't there just to do the job but to make things grow and make things better. The fine arts portion was sold to me as an opportunity to make it grow and develop," Wein says.
Located in downtown Waukesha, Wein's studio, Beyond Studio and Publishing, provides giclee printing services, a form of high quality printing that permits acrylic, pastel, oil painting, photography and digital productions to be reproduced in a number of formats.
"We print at a much higher resolution and color concentration than a litho printer. Using pigmented inks, which are longer lasting and safer for the environment, pieces are intended to last 100 years as fine art. By printing on canvas, the reproduction is as close to the original as possible," Wein says.
Serving as both Wein's personal studio as well as his business storefront, Beyond Studio and Publishing reflects Wein's blend of professional production and welcoming hospitality. In his shop, a farm-like screen door, works by local artists and a comfortable sitting area meet highly sophisticated printing equipment, advanced computer capabilities and incredibly experienced skill.
"There are lots of galleries opening in the neighborhood. The Almont Gallery and The Potter Shop are the stable, steady galleries but there are several smaller galleries trying different things. It's with them that I come in and teach them about reproductions and selling art that way," Wein says.
Perhaps by happenstance or perhaps a matter of design, Wein's work recently took an athletic turn.
Finding a niche in the conditioning sports market, Wein contributed the annual design for the Trek 100 last year and accepted solicitation to create a piece for this year's event as well. Likewise, his work is the centerpiece for this year's collaboration between the Ironman and Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC) as well as Waukesha's Carl Zach Cycling Classic.
"I'm doing a lot of sports printing. You find stuff that people are passionate about; that's why the Ironman piece is such a strong piece," Wein says.
His technique is complex to say the least. Bridging pragmatic photography and illusory oil painting, Wein's work aptly blends the physical realities of endurance sport with the idealistic emotion resulting from athletic pain, determination and self-belief.
Wein's other recent works include a photographic nature series temporarily shown at the Waukesha County Visitors Bureau. Utilizing Lake Country living and an on-water kayak perspective, Wein's nature photography captures the untouched wildlife just miles west of Milwaukee.
"The entire series was taken from the water. I was able to get angles and perspectives you couldn't get from a boat by using a kayak. The exhibit really looked at the simplicity and minimalism in nature," Wein says.
Chronologically moving from graphic design to illustration to oil painting to photography, Wein's artistic identity is not easily categorized. Able to move between mediums and finding limitation in solely one single focus, Wein's portfolio represents the work of an artist focused not on a particular medium or particular style but on continuously developing his idea of creation.
"Everyone worries about choosing art as a career path. But I print for artists who do it every day and so I know it can be done. Waukesha is really starting to embrace this community," Wein says.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.
After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.
Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.
