Our Studio in the New Year
We can all agree that 2020 was a bad year. I’ve even heard people use 2020 as the new curse word. LOL! It was that bad. My condolences go out to all of humanity because I know you are feeling just what I am feeling. Concerned, frustrated, sad…to say the least. Being that it is a new year, we are all filled with some apprehensive hope that 2021 will be better. We’re still hoping.
Covid has interrupted all of our lives in one way or another. Small businesses were hit hard and For the Love of Art Studio, was no exception. We have only been the new owners of the studio since the spring of 2019 and so only having been a year in, we suffered a devastating loss. At the one year mark it came time for our lease renewal on the studio building and it was smack dab in the middle of the government shut downs on all non-essential businesses. Things had already started to come to a screeching halt in the couple of weeks prior and so we knew that we had to make a hard choice. We decided that it wasn’t wise to renew another year at our location since we weren’t even allowed to have anyone come through the doors and we didn’t know how long that would last. In hindsight it was a good decision because things only got worse.
So what did we do? We adapted. We got creative. Pun intended. We decided to take all of our paint classes virtual over Zoom and Facebook Live which is what many teachers, employers and families have done to continue their work and relationships. We packed up the whole studio and moved it to a storage unit in hopes of better days which now serves as my packing site for Paint Kits that we sell on our site for locals and soon anyone in the US.
We have also accommodated Private Parties virtually or in-person at parks, backyards, churches, schools, etc… And now just recently we have started to meet again for paint events at some of Charleston area’s local favorites such as:
Palmetto Brewing Company on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in Charleston
Dashi Restaurant on the First Saturday of the Month in North Charleston
Holy City Brewing on the 3rd Monday of the Month in North Charleston’s Park Circle
Estuary Beans & Barley in Johns Island for the first time on February 11th for a Valentine’s Day edition paint event!
Everyone is handling this pandemic differently. Some of you aren’t leaving your home at all, some just for necessities and some are starting to get back out there when it makes sense. We are social beings. You might be an introvert like me, but even introverts need people. Isolation is not good for the soul. So, if you are feeling stir crazy and looking for things to do, think about joining one of our virtual classes, hosting your own paint event or signing up to attend an event near you.
At all of our events we ask that guests please wear their mask when not actively eating/drinking, respect social distancing with others that you are not in attendance with, and please use good hand washing practices and/or sanitizer. Also, we have either switched to disposable supplies or assure you that everything you touch for the class has been sanitized prior to your use. If classes are cancelled due to covid we are providing full refunds.
Thank you for supporting small businesses during this time. We hope that you will support ours with your continued business. If you have any questions or want to inquire about a private event, please contact us via our website or call us at 843-974-4472. We look forward to seeing you at the easel really soon!
xoxo
Amy