The cottage was lovely. All it needed was the right painting to make it perfect.
The cottage owner, Catherine, started her search on the Cloud Gallery’s innovative website, where she was able to narrow her search by size, colour, style, and collection. After finding a few paintings that she liked, she made plans to stop at the gallery in downtown Orillia on her way to the cottage.“Catherine came in with a clear understanding of her personal preferences, and a vision for her space,” says Mark Fletcher, who co-owns the gallery with his son, Blake.
“We then spent time answering her questions – including ways she could maximize the impact of the piece,” says Blake.
The duo take pride in offering clients a customized buying experience, beginning with their superb website and personal in-gallery services. They offer fast delivery province-wide, and in many cases Blake or Mark themselves will deliver and install the paintings. In Catherine’s case, they delivered two paintings she fell in love with, including a 4- by 8-foot statement piece that looks perfect above her sofa.
“We want to ensure our clients love every aspect of the experience, as well as being thrilled by the artwork,” says Blake.
The gallery itself is stunning – 10,000 square feet of space in a heritage building in the heart of Orillia. There, visitors can browse a constantly rotating display of over 100 paintings, selected from 30 different artists that Blake and Mark have selected.
“We have hundreds more paintings on our website, of course, and we change the paintings on display in the gallery every few weeks,” says Mark.
The artists represent an array of styles, ranging from realism to impressionism, geometric abstraction, and more. But all of them represent Ontario’s natural beauty.
“We have curated a collection that captures the diverse spirit of Ontario. Our paintings evoke memories of summer camp, trips to Algonquin Park, and warm days on the dock,” says Blake.
“We’re very deliberate in how we select who we work with. We have selected Ontario’s best artists who celebrate the beauty around us,” says Mark.
With three gallery spaces over two floors, the gallery is a destination in its own right, drawing visitors from across cottage country and beyond. It is located on the main street in Orillia’s charming and historic downtown, just five minutes off Highway 11.
“There’s lots of parking, a lovely downtown to stroll through, and some of the area’s best restaurants,” says Mark. “It’s a perfect summer experience.”
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
