Some of the most frequently asked questions are listed below. If you have any other question, please contact us and we will do our best to get you an answer as quick as the wind!
When there are so many existing choices for wall art, why choose numsi?
Do you care greatly about good looks and functionality co-existing in everything that you bring into your house? So do we. In fact, it's a compulsion. Do you love handmade goods but find yourself seeking absolute perfection? Us too. Do you find yourself obsessively searching for the perfect thing over and over, rejecting so many reasonable possibilities on the way because they are Just Not Perfect? Snap! We hear you, loud and clear. When we couldn't find artwork we absolutely loved for our baby daughter's bedroom, we didn't just design some, we started a new business.
We didn't want fluffy and we didn't want cutesy. We didn't necessarily want anything that was even particularly "baby"- the artwork had to work for the whole family, for a long, long time. We wanted modular, distinctive and unique contemporary wall art for modern people. We weren't satisfied with mass-produced artwork on generic-looking canvas stretchers. We wanted something warm, something inviting, something fabulous. Something which was somehow more than just an artwork, something that became an object embodying both art and design. We wanted a format which easily lends itself to arranging a collection of artwork together, knowing that all your choices will look phenomenal together, no matter how they are arranged.
If you are looking for heirloom-quality artwork which features crisp design and beautiful display options, numsi is the right choice for you. Our wall art- which can also be shelf art- is guaranteed to be a conversation-starter. One panel looks amazing, a selection looks even better. All of our artwork is produced in limited edition or one-off custom print runs, so you will not have the same artwork on your walls as your neighbor. Everything we make is designed, created, assembled and packaged right here in our studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with exceptional care and attention to detail. We care about what we do, and we want you to be exceptionally happy with the choices you make. All of our work is created with a mindfulness towards responsible use of resources with a view to sustainability, and we are also proud members of 1% for the Planet.
What do you mean by limited edition and custom wall art?
Here at numsi we produce two types of artwork- limited edition and custom. Our non-text based designs are produced in numbered editions of 250- this means that after 250 prints have been created in each size, that design will be retired. Our Text Works series are created in numbered limited edition runs of 75. Once 75 prints have been created in each colorway, that design will no longer be produced. Custom artwork is created in limited runs of one. Each panel has a sticker on the back which displays the number in the edition of that particular panel. If you have a special lucky number that you would like for your edition, please email us regarding availability.
How is each piece of art made?
Here at numsi we call what we do mixed-media artwork, or rather “Wall Art”, by which we simply mean that it is art which can be hung on the wall. Each piece of art starts with a photograph, taken by myself somewhere around the Twin Cities region, which I then draw on digitally, or a design created directly by myself. Each image is printed onto the highest quality canvas with archival quality pigment inks, which have been tested to last for over 75 years. The canvas is mounted to a museum quality art panel with a 2" deep birch plywood cradle or support. Even within a print run, each of the pieces of numsi wall art are unique- they are assembled by hand, by a real person in a real studio onto panels made from real wood. so there are inevitably small differences between panels.Your new wall art arrives well-packaged, gift-wrapped if required, and ready to hang on your wall. Due to the deep cradle, the works can also be displayed on a shelf or other horizontal surface.
Do you use real canvas or a canvas-like printer paper?
The canvas that we print on is an actual textured, woven ground which has been surface-treated to accept ink from a digital source. Because of this, there may be some slight bumps in the picture surface, which is completely normal and characteristic of the material. We precisely mount the canvas on art panels rather than gallery-wrapping the canvas for a crisper edge and a cleaner aesthetic. The panels have the added bonus of turning the work of art into both a 2 dimensional painting and a 3-dimensional object which can either be placed on a table or hung on the wall.
What exactly is a “museum quality art panel”?
The art panels we use are hardboards coated with a smooth absorbent clay ground comparable to the clay gesso grounds used during the Renaissance. Archival, lightfast, and acid free, the panel is cradled by 2" birch plywood strips that are attached flush with the back edge of each panel. The panel is sourced from an environmentally responsible company where it is produced with no chemicals (VOC) that emit harmful gases, like formaldehyde, or any others that can contribute to global warming, such as methane. The panels are made here in the USA.
I have a lovely frame to fill, do you also offer just prints?
We also offer a print-only option for those instances where you wish to frame the artwork with your own choice of frame. The images are printed on archival watercolor fine art stock using archival pigment inks. There are a choice of three sizes, so that you can find the one that best fits the frame you have in mind. Only 75 editions of each image will ever be produced in each size; each print is signed and numbered. The artwork is packaged in a clear, acid-free protective sleeve with a 100% recycled acid-free backing board. Prints are mailed ready for you to frame as you see fit. The largest size is mailed in a wide tube, the two smaller sizes are mailed in bend-proof mailers.
How do the custom images work?
All too often personalized items are too cutesy or too preppy or they are just wrong for your design sensibility. Here at numsi, we make name or word art which focuses exclusively on a strong simple typeface depicted in an appealing modern color scheme. To order a custom image, choose your preferred size and choose your color scheme. In the text box provided on the checkout page, please write down the text exactly as you would like it to appear on your image. Bear in mind that the longer the name, the smaller the text will be. As each image is created to order, no two will be alike. Before printing, a proof will be emailed to you for your approval. Upon receipt of the approval, we here at numsi will go ahead and create your personalized art work. The delicious result will be mailed to you within 5 business days of receiving your approval. If you would like to hold an order form in your hand, you can download a PDF of our order form here, and print it out on your own printer.We also create custom message grids; something quietly minimal and less than obvious to proclaim either a message or a name. Our custom alphabet grids feature 26 rows and 26 columns of letters in alphabetical order. You supply a custom message (up to 26 characters in length, including spaces) and we will highlight the appropriate letters in the grid. You will have an entirely original work with an understated message creating it’s own pattern within the canvas. Due to the process involved in making a message grid, we are currently operating on a two week turnaround time.
Do you make anything else?
We have introduced a line of greetings cards printed with our archival quality pigment ink onto 100% cotton rag fine art paper made here in the USA. Essentially, the cards are mini art prints which can be framed or sent, or both. They come with matching cream envelopes, and are sold individually or in sets of five. Many of the numsi designs have been produced as super lovely 1 1/4" buttons and magnets, and also as fabulous pocket mirrors. New items are always in the works so check back often!
Do you offer a design service for other things?
Here at numsi we believe all things are possible. Drop us an email with your request and we will get back to you straight away.
