The Studio: Art on Main

Some friends of ours recently opened an art studio in Downtown Collinsville called "The Studio: Art on Main". It's a 1,000-square-foot space which has a lobby area, a long room for gallery events and classes, and a back room storage area.

Here's the work in progress fixing up the studio which was a photo studio and a beauty salon in it's former life...

And here's the after of the lobby area...

And the Art Gallery...

My painting - a canvas of Africa. Imagine that?!

My measly contribution of helping fix up the Studio was the credenza I found at a great price at an antique consignment shop in Claremore. Here's the before...

And here's the after...

I recently joined it's "Art Community for Christ" - a ministry of artists that get together and share their artistic gifts for Christ. I've thought about joining for a while now since I love to paint but I don't consider myself a "real" artist like those in the Community. I took the plunge anyway and am really loving it. It's really stretching me out of my comfort zone but I suppose that's a good thing...

Here's pics from our "Welcome Night"/Open House...

And these were taken at an event we participated in called "Taste of Collinsville"...

 Our girls have looooved taking their Homeschool Art class taught by my friend, Shawnda...

Abby, age 10

Mackenzie, age 12

Here's some of Abby's art...

And here's some of Mackenzie's art...

You can read more about the Studio in an article that was just published a few days ago here. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it is used for God's glory - such a neat addition to Downtown Collinsville!