Little Rock's Vantage Points

February 24 - March 2, 2014

By Becca Bona

In an attempt to get outside of my boring “things to do” list in Little Rock, I decided to take a turn at my painting skills. 

As teacher and artist Amber Gonzalez told me and the 20 or so others in the class, “Each painting we create will look different.” We dipped our brushes in paint and tried to replicate the red poppies hanging at the far wall.

Truth be told, each painting did look different, but each was beautiful in its own way. Once we finished and everyone took a step back to view the final product, a sense of accomplishment filled the air, all thanks to Spirited Art. 

The process was fairly simple: as an interested patron I visited the Spirited Art website, signed up for a class, and paid online. 

The cost of the class includes canvas, paints, and instructions to replicate the painting of the night, which could be anything from Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” to a football-themed razorback.

The fun bonus, I discovered, is that when you show up you’re allowed to BYOW (bring your own wine). Technically, beer and wine is suitable as long as you’re over 21. 

As the class got going, Coldplay was egging me on to paint more “Yellow” in the background, which paired perfectly with my Pinot Grigio and determination to produce a reasonable work of art. 

My grandmother and sister, the two guinea pigs I took along with me, were not disappointed, and frankly neither was I. I had an absolute blast, and my poppy painting is currently perched in my kitchen. 

Owner and recent Little Rock transplant, Natalie Ramsey can’t complain about the success of her store. Three years ago this coming August, she opened the doors to Little Rock. As a part of a franchise based in Huntsville, Ala., Ramsey strives to keep the studio from appearing commercial.

The space, which exhibits finished paintings adorning nearly every available wall space, feels cozy, and makes the perfect backdrop for artsy relaxation.

“For me it’s art therapy,” Ramsey said, in explanation of the classes. 

The broad range of classes have something for everyone – there’s date night, paint your pet night – owners bring in pictures of their pets to paint, and even an open-studio slot when seasoned painters can come in and paint with less step-by-step instruction. 

The studio also makes a perfect birthday party activity, for children and adults a like. 

Ramsey said, “The hardest part is getting people in here because they’re scared to paint … (but) I think there’s a real sense of accomplishment, because it’s something that you get to bring home. Even if you think you’re a terrible artist, you look at it and think, ‘I can’t believe I did that.’”

The store location at 5612 R Street in the Heights was ideal to Ramsey when she first moved here because of its central location. The operation also fits the neighborhood and “brings in a different sort of business that isn’t just retail sales.”

Ramsey loves Little Rock’s small-town feel coupled big city perks – especially in terms of the art scene. 

“There’s a lot of history here, and I think there’s a big art scene here – it’s underground and diverse, but I think it’s up-and-coming,” she said.

Luckily, for those who like me, are not sure which end of the paint brush to dip the paint in, there’s Spirited Art. Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed. 

Visit the organization’s website for more information: http://www.myspiritedart.com/little-rock/.