About Us

Hi, We're Mark and Mary! Here's a little bit of information about Mary the artist, Mark the savvy businessman and our little shop.

Mary Hramiec Hoffman was always drawing as a child growing up in the beautiful Petoskey and Harbor Springs resort area surrounding Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay. Encouraged by her artistically inclined parents, her drawing ability took on a life of it's own. She was enrolled in children's art classes at North Central Michigan College and the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey at a young age.

Mary continued to develop her talent and obtained her degrees in fine art from St. Thomas Aquinas College and Kendall College of Art and Design. After graduating she held the position of creative director at an advertising agency. In addition to the beauty of the Petoskey and Harbor Springs area, her inspirations emanate from memories reflecting experiences and sights from traveling the United States with her family of ten- 2 parents, 8 kids plus the family dog in one of America's first motor homes - her father expertly fashioned from a new GM delivery truck.

Charity has always been an important issue to Mary and Mark. A portion of all proceeds go towards local and national charity programs.

Mary is known for the delicate sensitivity portrayed in her oil scenes of northern Michigan. Her paintings reflect an appreciation of the fauvist and impressionist movements- she creates a pulsating vibrancy on the surface of her canvases. Behind the spontaneous brushwork and loosely applied colors in her paintings there is control that brings the elements into a structured whole. A series that has an impressive following is her "Happy" collection. These paintings commonly have polka dot skies and whimsical elements in them.

Mary  still resides in the same scenic resort area in which she grew up, with her husband and business partner Mark Hoffman and their four children.               

Mark was raised on the same beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, in Petoskey. He received his degree from Michigan State University, with a major of finance. Mark upholds the business end of the company, so you'll frequently communicate with him to allow Mary time to paint. In addition to managing the gallery, Mark has developed the line of giclee canvas reproductions, overseeing production and orders. He has also designed and manufactured a unique frame that is found nowhere but at Hramiec Hoffman in Harbor Springs. The white frame has wooden relief polka dots scattered around the perimeter and succinctly compliments many of the images Mary paints.

Hramiec Hoffman is currently considering commission work in addition to the offerings at the gallery.

Please call Mark and Mary at 231-526-1011.

Charity

Charity has always been an important issue to Mary and Mark. A portion of all proceeds goes towards charity programs.

Many Little Traverse Bay Area and national organizations including the following, benefit from Mark and Mary's generosity:


The V Cancer Foundation
The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
Hospice of Northern Michigan 
Crooked Tree Arts Center
American Heart Association
American Cancer Society
Harbor Springs Area Historical Society
The Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
Community Programs for Quality Child Care
Emmet County Child Abuse Council
Charlevoix-Emmet Hockey Association
Association for Harbor Arts
Holy Childhoold Community Daycare & Preschool
St. Francis Xavier School in Petoskey
The Little Traverse Conservancy
The Dr. Kinne Foundation
Grosse Pointe Academy
Autism Autoimmunity Project
The Community House
The Trimper Children Benefit
Charlevoix Area Hospital Benefit
Sports Club for KidsSports Watch for Kids
Harbor Springs Kiwanis Club 
Shay Elementary Carnival 
Jeff Bodzick Memorial Scholarship Program
The Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan
The Manna Food Project
HATS Humane Animal Treatment Society
The Women's Resource Center
Mackinac Arts Council
Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra
Harbor Springs Public Schools Band Program
Petoskey Public Schools Band Program