“Covering sports the past three decades, I've seen some of the greatest athletes raise the level of their games. I've witnessed them bring something extra to the table on the world's biggest stages. It's the mark of a winner. The concept also applies to other fields. It applies to artist Ara Hagopian. Hagopian continues to take his work to greater and even more impressive levels. Case in point is his new line of photo greeting cards. His cards are unlike anything you’ve yet to pick up in a store. Using his terrific eye, he's taken captivating photos of areas in the northeast ( His cover photo puts you in the middle of a scene. Then, after you’ve admired that shot, you're treated to a surprise when you open the card. Hagopian, of course, doesn't just throw in any shot. His gatefold photo is truly a unique feature, as it spreads over to the inside left and right panels, with a blank space left for your own personal note. One example has a shot of a tattered wall on Of course there's still room to write on the card. All in all, it's a treat for the recipient and just another example of this artist taking it to another level.” “Ara's work, The Way Home, continues to delight us. Its many dimensions keep us finding new things each time we look at it. Everyone who has seen the piece has come up with their own unique perspective of where it takes them. Each one of his pieces has its own journey that they will take you on.” —John H., Wakefield, Massachusetts “Ara is such a respectful gentleman and extremely talented artist! It was a pleasure working with him.” —Candy Liu, Owner, The Java Room, “I met Ara at a “I am an admirer of all types of artwork and Ara’s pieces are among my ultimate favorites. I really enjoy studying each of his artworks and then reviewing the essay to really understand the meaning behind seemingly every stroke of his work. This experience is like being immersed in a novel and you can’t put the book down because you want to find out what is going to happen next. He truly has passion for his art and writing and is able to articulate his work so all can admire the true meaning behind every piece.” —Sharon T., “Simply impeccable work. The artist takes great pride, and is dedicated to deliver very special and unique pictures which I have found, in a real sense, contribute to making our house a home. We have several styles of Ara's art that I and my wife are very pleased with." —John Z., Massachusetts —Melynda G., Massachusetts “Thank you for your gift of vision and passion! I love the pieces I have in my home!” —Jody I., “Ara: Innovative, interesting and intellectual. Ara works extremely well with people and makes them feel as if they are family. He is interested in you as a person and can envision what you would be looking for in terms of his art. He is very passionate about his work and can tell you the story of what drove him to create the piece in question and what his intentions were when creating it. I always look forward to see what new and exciting pieces he is turning out throughout the year!” —Ellen M., Massachusetts “Soothing to the eye and my soul.” —Paul C., —Jen S., “You have brightened up our lives!” —Margot and Bill P., —Renee D., “Great work. Keep it coming!” —John H., “Ara, you are much more than a pen-and-ink artist – you are a storyteller. You are a storyteller who leads me on a visual and emotional journey within the corners of your canvas, and I thank you for allowing me to travel through time and to relive life’s sacred moments. This is a rare gift that I know would not be possible if it was not for the careful detail that you weave into your work. Even an artwork that is simple to the eye, such as one of my favorites Embrace, has intense depth. Every color you chose, every shape you formed, and every white space you reserved on the page – they all had a specific purpose that ultimately evoked feelings of love, peace, security, and passion. It’s amazing! With each design that you release, my admiration for you as an artist and a storyteller grows, and I become ever more humbled and inspired by your extraordinary talents. I am so happy to be the proud owner of your prints A Bouquet for Sailor and Two Families, as well as multiple greeting cards. Each print was delivered perfectly framed and matted – there was not even a single spec of dust underneath the glass! Thank you again, and I am looking forward to seeing where your imagination takes me next!” —Kayla S., “You bring something out in me that is usually dormant. Hearing you describe your work is exciting and insightful. Thrilling, thought-provoking, peaceful... thanks for sharing this part of you.” —Paul M, “Ara’s vivid artwork is as composed and purposeful as it is whimsical and open to interpretation. He masterfully weaves his passion for art, history, and written word into intelligent design that somehow elicits the imagination of each viewer. My favorite aspect of his work is realizing the story behind each piece and comparing it to my own – so much intrigue and entertainment from something that simply looks so pretty hanging on my wall!” —Christina N., “This is a show of brilliance! Sensitive, great design, unique—BRAVO ARA!” —Roger S., “I have been following Ara's artwork for several years and continue to be amazed and delighted with where his imagination takes him. My early favorites were Those Left Behind, The Way Home, and Cayleen (which I own). They speak to me deeply, and offer a sense of hopefulness in new and inspiring ways. My new favorite is his recent work, Wisdom, which captures the elegance of humanity. I also enjoy the rich and dazzling colors that spring from his canvases, inviting the viewer to jump into his world—a world full of imagination and at times a child-like wonder. There seems to be an ongoing dialogue in his work between this innocence and outside influences. I am happy to see that the innocence playfully wins out." —Dr. Pat Blumenthal, psychologist, Portland, Oregon “Ara, I remember seeing your drawings when you were in high school and being impressed with the detail you put into them. I'm glad you stayed with your art so that the world can enjoy the level of sophistication you have achieved and watch your evolution. Crisling has such depth, almost like origami folds, but more. I love your placement of colors to achieve that. It seems to float and I can picture a little kid holding a string attached to it as he flies it on a windy day. It also reminds me of a tadpole swimming to the surface. The way you wove the colors into this shape simply fascinates me. I own The Breakwater, Just when I think I've seen all your combinations and stories in art, you go and create new ones that are completely different from the ones before it. I like the emotional story that each picture shares. The one that intrigues me most from your July 2010 set is Embrace. I like the negative space in the center and that it's the same color as the background. It has a yin and yang look. It seems to move and change as I look at it. The center part feels loved and peaceful and it could be a human or a pet. Or our spirit. At first I saw it as an embryo being loved by the mother. I feel loved and hugged when I look at it. There's an opening at the top of the "hugged one" which indicates growth opportunities. If the center was closed in, it would feel stifled, trapped. This one was most powerful for me. Being loved with the freedom to grow. For those of us who "get it", it's extraordinary. I like the way you view the world. There's no one else who could create these artworks from thinking about leaves.”
The back cover photo is usually a thought-provoking scene that adds context to the cover shot, and serves as the finishing touch on what can be perceived as a story told in three fine photographs.
—Diane P.,
“We own three of Ara's beautiful freehand artworks, and often receive positive comments about the works which are displayed in our main living area. Not only does Ara do fine work, he is a pleasure to do business with. He was very accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure that we were happy with our selections.”
“Ara’s artistic portfolio ranges in scope from unexpectedly detailed to simpler prints showcasing harmonious splashes of color contained in graceful curves. The contrast between some of his more technical pieces and his nature-inspired pieces highlights his ever-evolving talent. It’s quite apparent that Ara is meticulous and methodical in his work-style whether it be the careful selection of just the right shade of grey, tweaking the curve of a line or balancing the composition of a piece. Ara’s dedication to his craft is remarkable and inspirational and I eagerly await the unveiling of his next installment of artwork.”
“Ara's artwork is of the highest quality. Though he uses different influences and instruments to create his work, it is predominately abstract. His use of colors and shapes lends an interesting and unique edge. I am particularly fond of his bold colors and shape contrasts—I was immediately struck by his Carnegie Warlock drawing. The mystery and intrigue surrounding this drawing made it hard for me to keep my eyes away. Among the most interesting aspects of his artwork are the stories that each hold. Each work carries a meaning making it more special and multi-dimensional. Ara's writing and visual art are both beautiful and thought-provoking. His spirit shows through his work.”
