Photo by Chris Sutton/OUTLOOK Karen Hackett (right), a La Caņada Flintridge resident and co-owner of Tirage Art Gallery, with local artist Paulette Lee.

More Community... >Barkley Center Fall Fiesta is Oct. 1 >Tirage Gallery Offers High-Quality Art >Sport ChaletÕs Ski Shop To Reopen > Heads Up!

When it comes to art, local resident Karen Hackett and Kevin Casey have 20 years of expertise to offer their customers at Tirage Art Gallery in Pasadena. The owners have over 4,000 pieces of art and sculpture in the gallery; they have original art pieces representing California Planar to the American Impressionist schools, pastel, oils, watercolors and etching and engravings created by hand by contemporary European masters.

"We represent over 75 nationally known artists, many from California," said Hackett, a La Caņada Flintridge resident since 1976. "A good piece of art is something permanent in one's life. It may represent a different time in one's life, a place a person has previously been and should compliment the environment. We are here to help you, whether you're a first-time buyer, which can be an intimidating time, to many of our long-time collector clients. Since art is personal, people need to do a little homework to define their taste and budget. An easy way is to look at our website. Then we can help them from there."

While Hackett has lived in LCF for three decades, Casey is a former resident. From 1994 through 1999, they had the gallery in La Caņada Flintridge before moving it to Pasadena because they needed more space.

"Both of our tastes are eclectic in our homes," said Hackett. "I am clueless how many pieces I have in my home. It is everywhere. I have Russian icons, as well as paintings from USSR and Mexico. I have them in the kitchen as well as the bathroom. It is okay to hang art anywhere. We wouldn't represent an artist unless we are willing to hang the work in our own homes."

The works of James Crandall and Richard Humphrey are the artists currently on exhibit at Tirage. Their exhibition runs through Oct. 8.

The Quartette II exhibition opens on Oct. 22, featuring four female artists: Paulette Lee, Susan Morgan, C. M. Cooper and Cecilia Miquez. Lee is a local artist, residing in Sparr Heights.

For the last 20 years, Tirage has provided the art for the Pasadena and Hancock Park Showcase Houses.

Working with the studios to provide art for various movie sets, as well as set design, is another art venue of Tirage. Their pieces have appeared in "Under Classman," "Thomas Crown Affair," "L.A. Confidential," "Nurse Betty," "Mad About You," "Wedding Planner," "What Women Want," "Dr. Doolittle" and countless other movies.

Tirage offers a wide selection of artists, one-of-a-kind pieces and fine customer service to its local, national and international clients, including residents of England, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

"We encourage customers to look on our website, www.tirageart.com, which gives dimensions and prices, as well as a bio on the artists," Hackett added. "We average 4,000 hits on the site each month."