Studio's goals include uniting art community

FLORENCE — With a newly spruced-up exterior featuring green shutters and a pottery fountain, Lynda English Studio Gallery and Art Supplies in Florence has kicked off 2010 with many changes, the addition of new art classes and a positive outlook on uniting the art community in Florence.

AT A GLANCE

Name: Lynda English Studio Gallery and Art Supplies
Established: 1997
Address: 403 Second Loop Road, Florence
Owners: Lynda English and Jackie Wukela
Employees: Three
Specialty: Original artwork and classes in many mediums for all ages
Web site: www.lyndaenglishstudio.net

The biggest change to come to the gallery this year is the rearrangement of the gallery’s useable space. By rearranging the former offices, moving the art supply sales to the front of the gallery and installing accordion doors, the workable studio space doubled in size, allowing for twice as many classes to be taught at the gallery.

A new tile floor also was installed, making cleanup of paints and clay easier.

In doubling the classroom size, owners Lynda English and Jackie Wukela, along with their two part-time instructors, are able to teach at the same time. Because of the increase in space, the galley can offer many new classes, including a pottery class, for the first time.

“We knocked down the wall and installed two doors so we could have two classes going on at the same time,” English said.

The economy has been a challenge for the gallery, but by seeing the challenge as an opportunity, the gallery has been able to create programs for students and offer them different options.

The most creative option for students is the new four-hour classes, mainly offered Saturdays for $35. Some of the class topics include batik, watercolor and oil painting. Week-long sessions also will be offered to children in the summer using a variety of different mediums.

“Our biggest draw is the classes,” English said. “We have kids’ classes … (in) watercolor, drawing and painting.”

Another popular option at the gallery is open studio classes, where people can work on their own projects and the instructor moves around the room offering assistance.

In a partnership with the Florence Arts Guild, the studio space is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. free of charge for anyone in the community. This community involvement is one of the things English said is most proud of.

“We offer them a place that they can come,” she said. “We talk to them about their art supplies, and that’s one of the things they can’t get (elsewhere).”

The rearrangement of the space has allowed for the gallery to offer more work from local and South Carolina-based artists. Artwork for sale ranges from oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings, pottery and jewelry. The gallery has even begun to bring in some antique and one-of-kind pieces of furniture.

Between the new exterior design and the arrangement of space, the gallery has seen an increase in customers and visitors.

“The more networking we can do in the community, the more arts become a part of the community,” English said. “We want the art community to be built up.”