Art for lease

COEUR d'ALENE - The owners of Coeur d'Alene Galleries think they have a way to make every office look like a million bucks.

Or at least thousands. Buddy and Shawny Le, owners of the gallery at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, have started a new service they call Coeur d'Alene Galleries Commercial, offering art leasing for businesses.

"We thought it would be another product for us to offer," Buddy said. "We are already in some businesses. We can furnish a business or office with high-quality artwork at an affordable price."

Coeur d'Alene Galleries offers a range of original artwork, prints and sculptures from a wide variety of artists.

"They are all nationally recognized artists," Buddy said, including Charlie Russell, Frederick Remington, Ace Powell, Martin Grelle and sporting artist Brett Smith. The works of local wildlife artist Joe Kronenberg and the native American art by the late Stephen Lyman are also available.

The gallery works with art dealers Greenwich Workshop and Somerset House, which provide prints, and also stocks a selection of fine art originals.

"We have access to not just the art in the gallery, but hundreds of other artists," Buddy said.

Leasing costs are based on 5 percent of retail value per month, so that $140,000 Charlie Russell original can hang on the wall of any office for only $7,000 per month. But of course that's not the idea. What most will want is the opportunity to decorate with fine art reproductions. Prices on artwork at the gallery start around $1,000.

"They don't have to shell out a large sum of money," Buddy said. And, because it is a business expense, it is tax deductible, he added.

The minimum monthly lease is $50, with a three- to five-year term. Each situation will be treated differently, but typically an annual rotation of the art. There is no additional start-up cost.

The service begins with a visit to the business by Shawny, who will head the commercial division. She will provide a proposed selection of art, which can be themed to suit. Golf, western, sporting and wildlife are the genres of art available.

"We will help create a cohesive environment," Buddy said.

The gallery was started by Bob Drummond 24 years ago, when The Resort opened, and has been in the first suite of the shops inside the lobby since.

The couple bought the gallery four years ago, after working in sales for several years in California. But both were raised in North Idaho. When the owners, friends of the couple, put it up for sale they jumped at the chance.

"We were excited at the opportunity to move home," Buddy said. "We grew up here, and both had a sales and marketing background. It was just a matter of learning the product."

Coeur d'Alene Galleries is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 667-7732