A Journey of Faith
By Anne Marie Paul
Issue Il 2009
When Dr.Luis Varela and his wife, Alicia,embarked on a search for an artist to paint large scale murals in their new home, they had no idea of the journey they had begun. Know- ing they wanted a mural of an archangel inspired by Psalm 34 at their front door to protect and bless their home and all who entered it, they interviewed many artists. Their quest was completed when their interior designer, Michelle McManus of By Design Interiors, introduced them to Jamie and Jeremy Wells of Imago Dei. According to Dr. and Mrs.Varela, “The artistic knowledge, as well as the faith of the artists, was a deciding factor in selecting Jamie and Jeremy. They seemed to understand us and were able to draw out the inspiration in our thoughts.”
“From the beginning, the Varelas wanted to give thanks to God for the many blessings they have received over the years and to dedicate their new home in recognition of this fact. They had a vision of large scale art that would inspire awe and faith in those who viewed it.” (D. Comstock, Brushstrokes, 2009) The owners gave their feedback at every turn as the art evolved. A true partnership developed as the homeowners and artists from Imago Dei found themselves on the same page throughout the evolution of the works. The 20-foot archangel that greets you at the front entrance to theVarela home was only the beginning of their journey of faith. As the homeowners and artists worked together, the project soon evolved to include a trompe l’oeil mural in the dome towering 60 feet over the foyer as well as a massive living room ceiling mural. read more
Imago Dei founders & fine artists Jamie & Jeremy Wells recently featured in the profile section of LUXE Life
LUXE | Vol. 7 Issue 3
When Jamie and Jeremy Wells met while painting in a field in Tennessee, as part of a public art project, they had no way of knowing where the path before the would lead. Namely: a marriage, a daughter and a thriving partnership that is redefining the perception of decorative painting. Through their Houston- and Austin-based company, Imago Dei, the Wells treat every installation as an opportunity to showcase their profound love of fine art. read more
Imago Dei's was proud to collaborate with Jane Page Design on this award winning lake front home
Texas Home & Living | August 2009
Recipient of the ASID Award for best Vacation Home in 2009, Imago Dei was proud to collaborate with Jane Page Design Firm on this stunning lake home. To view the article that featured this home click here
An Interview with Jeremy Wells
Houston Design Resources Vol 14 Issue 1
Wielding a palette derived from nature, Jeremy Wells, founder and contributing artist of Imago Dei, is creating innovative mixed media works. The world that Jeremy references in his art is not just the inspiration of creation itself, but also the inventions of man, the process of creativity and the interaction and juxtaposition of these elements.
He has developed an innovative process of... read more.
An Interview with Jeremy Wells
LUXE Vol. 2 Issue 4 p. 211
Suitable for every room in the house, interesting and intricate faux finishes create a certain mystique. One of the more popular faux treatments, labor-intensive Venetian plaster adds interest to a space through color, texture and sheen... read more
Imago Dei's was proud to collaborate with Keron Weathered & Bayou Bend Homes Riverstone Showcase Home
Fort Bend Lifestyles & Homes | April 2009
It's little wonder that Riverstone in Fort Bend County was recently named one of Hiouston's top ten selling communities. Just take a look at these custom gems, the ultimate in lakeside living. read more
By MARY VUONG Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Jan. 16, 2009, 2:03PM
Pam Pierce finds it in a collection of religious art. As an interior designer, Pierce works with color and pattern. When it’s time to head home, she wants a place that’s neutral and tranquil.
She began collecting religious art after her husband gave her a santo, a statue of a saint, which she found had a calming effect.
Pierce is among a growing number of homeowners who are incorporating spiritual objects and images into their décor to bring a warm and soothing quality to their lives... Read more
Houston Chronicle
November 2008 | Page D1
www.chron.com/gloss
Congratulations to our friends Diane Alexander, ASID and Shundra Harris for their winning designs! We were proud to collaborate with Dianne in the creation of the Quintych featured in the photo here. read more
Copperfield couple thrives on art
By CARISSA D. LAMKAHOUAN CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Jan. 13, 2009
Copperfield couple thrives on art | Cy-Fair News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
Angels are meant to inspire and awe. Louis and Alice Varela’s angels, depicted in murals that adorn their home’s ceiling and doorway, are no exception. “Seeing people’s faces and reactions when they see it is fantastic,” said Alice of her specially commissioned images. “There’s something so beautiful in the art that it moves people and makes them feel that they are somewhere else.”
To achieve their artistic vision for their home, Varela and her husband Louis called on artists Jeremy and Jaime Wells, founders of Imago Dei. The husband-and-wife team, who live in Copperfield, have been working together since they married in 2002. read more
Why does art move us in ways that nothing else can?
BY JEREMY & JAMIE WELLS
On a recent trip to study the Italian landscape for our paintings, my wife and I traveled for three weeks taking thousands of photos and meeting many different local artists. During our time in Italy, we experienced the delicate tastes and illustrious light that bathes that land with ethereal colors. We made our way from Rome, exploring every tiny village road connecting Umbria to Tuscany, finally arriving in Florence. This city is a treasure chest of art and architecture. It is truly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. In Florence
(and every other town) we immediately sought out the great art we had traveled so far to see. The locals we met along the way had as much character as the land in which they lived. They were warm and generous, always pointing us in the right direction to see whatever beautiful art that particular town had hidden within its ancient walls.
We saw one awe-inspiring piece after another—exquisite Trompe L’oiel (some even tricked our eyes!), ancient Frescos, infamous paintings, and infamous artist’s work we had never seen. To say it was inspiring does not begin to capture what was happening in our minds and hearts.
Our arrival in Rome was, at best, frantic. We participated in a circus act of chasing, catching, and changing planes only to arrive and be told that our luggage was still in America. read more
"The Fine Art of Murals | A Guide to Commissioning Contemporary Murals"
By Jeremy Wells
Chances are that you have noticed the incorporation of murals into the overall design theme of homes is increasing in popularity. From walls to ceilings to niches, more and more homeowners are seeking the escape, serenity, and sense of place that a mural can bring to any home. For the last few decades we have seen a resurgent interest in the private mural, possibly spurred on by the government sponsorship of public murals since the 1930s. The prevalent movement in the style of private murals seems to consist mostly of romanticized landscapes with an emphasis on subtle antiquity. It is not surprising considering our urban surroundings. Whether it is a diversion from the cool and architecturally austere interiors of post-war modernity or the need to escape from our stressful and overscheduled lives, there has been a definite revival of the domestic mural over the last forty years – one that has not been observed since the fourteenth century’s proliferation of great murals. Perhaps you or someone you know is currently considering commissioning a mural but has no idea where to begin. This article should shed some light on this often mysterious process as well as offer some valuable information and guidelines.
read more
p. 240 The Guild Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art 22
An office’s all-important space sets the tone for the business, shaping the outlook of all who enter. Houston’s Nikko Cosmetic Surgery Center offered designer Diane Alexander an opportunity to compose an interior for a state-of-the-art clinic grounded in an ancient philosophy. “Our client was Japanese and asked us to develop a blend of earth-centered Zen design with contemporary overtones,” Alexander explains. Together with Jamie and Jeremy Wells and their creative team at Imago Dei, Alexander developed a concept based on five elements; water, fire, earth, metal and forest. Spanning a twenty foot wall, five mixed-media panels explore and interpret each of the elements. Jeremy Wells recalls, “One of the things we looked for was abstract images of each of those elements. We then combined multiple imagery to create each unified piece.”
Playing further with the concept, the artists then incorporated each of the actual elements as an art medium... read more
Featured in "The Artful Home | Using Art & Craft to Create Living Spaces You'll Love" by Toni Sikes
February 2007 | Page 1A & 4A
Jeremy and Jamie Wells didn’t have a clear concept in mind when Chevron Corp. asked the husband and wife team to submit a design for artwork to be displayed in a company office building.
A stroll through the atrium lobby venue of the Bellaire building gave the co-owners of creative arts firm Imago Dei LLC inspiration on a grand scale.
Covering two walls 120 feet wide and six stories tall would require Texas-sized art.
They put the finishing touches this week on the display at 4800 Fournace Place, featuring abstract larger-than-life paintings based on photos of various Texas landscapes taken by the couple while on vacations.
The final design includes 18 mural paintings, each 10 feet by 14 feet, grouped in six triptych patterns of three paintings.
read more
Follow us!