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Carol Costopoulos (right), owner of The Artist's Haven, talks to a Moab shopper, Robin Straub Monday in the arts supply store.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — It didn’t take long for people to find The Artist’s Haven, 527 Bogart Lane, a new arts supply store that opened up where Art Depot used to be.
In fact, Robin Straub of Moab, Utah, came into the store before it even opened.
“I was so excited. The door was open, and I came in and talked to the owners” to find out what they were going to carry, Straub said. “I used to come to Art Depot.”
There has not been a locally owned arts supply store since Art Depot closed about five years ago, said Artist’s Haven owner Carol Costopoulos.
Costopoulos, who used to be a stay-at-home mom, came up with the idea to open an arts supply store because she was having a difficult time finding supplies she wanted as a decorative painter. She and her husband, Marcus, opened the store Sept. 15.
Business has been good.
“The demand is amazing,” Costopoulos said. “I have people who walk in every day who say, ‘Thank you for opening a real art supply store.’”
Costopoulos’ two employees — Kenton Seth and Julie Cates — graduated from Mesa State College with art degrees. So they know something about the products they’re selling, she said. Both Seth and Cates plan to do product demonstrations showing how to work in the various mediums.
Ever since the Art Depot days, a small group of people have gathered Wednesday afternoons to do artwork together. Now they meet at The Artist’s Haven, where they rent a room at the store for $1 an hour per person.
“It’s a place to do art with your friends,” Costopoulos said.
Various artists teach classes at the shop.
Costopoulos is taking registrations now for wood cut, figure drawing and painting classes taught by Ryan Sheldon. A date has not yet been scheduled for the classes.
Watercolorist Sandy King is finishing up her second six-week watercolor class. Her next class is planned for March.
King’s striking watercolor paintings of cacti and flowers have hung in several local galleries.
An oil painting class is taught Thursday afternoons, and a bead weaving class will start the second Saturday in December.
Costopoulos said she has a list of teachers who have approached her about teaching art at the shop.
“It’s been fun. I’ve met so many neat people,” Costopoulos said.
There are more than 5,000 items in the store, including brushes, paints, mediums, canvases and clay.
And there’s kids stuff like coloring books, finger paints, origami kits and scratch-art. There’s also various how-to books, as well as moon sand — sand that can be sculpted and baked to hold its shape, and then heated and melted to use again.
“I’m getting new products in all the time,” Costopoulos said. “When people come in and request items, I’m probably going to get it.”
On Dec. 16, from 7-9 p.m., there will be a book signing by local artist Bev Lee, who just published a book of her pastel paintings, “Painting Children, Secrets to Capturing Childhood Memories.”
The Artist’s Haven is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and later when evening classes are in session.
Costopoulos plans a grand opening at a later date.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
In fact, Robin Straub of Moab, Utah, came into the store before it even opened.
“I was so excited. The door was open, and I came in and talked to the owners” to find out what they were going to carry, Straub said. “I used to come to Art Depot.”
There has not been a locally owned arts supply store since Art Depot closed about five years ago, said Artist’s Haven owner Carol Costopoulos.
Costopoulos, who used to be a stay-at-home mom, came up with the idea to open an arts supply store because she was having a difficult time finding supplies she wanted as a decorative painter. She and her husband, Marcus, opened the store Sept. 15.
Business has been good.
“The demand is amazing,” Costopoulos said. “I have people who walk in every day who say, ‘Thank you for opening a real art supply store.’”
Costopoulos’ two employees — Kenton Seth and Julie Cates — graduated from Mesa State College with art degrees. So they know something about the products they’re selling, she said. Both Seth and Cates plan to do product demonstrations showing how to work in the various mediums.
Ever since the Art Depot days, a small group of people have gathered Wednesday afternoons to do artwork together. Now they meet at The Artist’s Haven, where they rent a room at the store for $1 an hour per person.
“It’s a place to do art with your friends,” Costopoulos said.
Various artists teach classes at the shop.
Costopoulos is taking registrations now for wood cut, figure drawing and painting classes taught by Ryan Sheldon. A date has not yet been scheduled for the classes.
Watercolorist Sandy King is finishing up her second six-week watercolor class. Her next class is planned for March.
King’s striking watercolor paintings of cacti and flowers have hung in several local galleries.
An oil painting class is taught Thursday afternoons, and a bead weaving class will start the second Saturday in December.
Costopoulos said she has a list of teachers who have approached her about teaching art at the shop.
“It’s been fun. I’ve met so many neat people,” Costopoulos said.
There are more than 5,000 items in the store, including brushes, paints, mediums, canvases and clay.
And there’s kids stuff like coloring books, finger paints, origami kits and scratch-art. There’s also various how-to books, as well as moon sand — sand that can be sculpted and baked to hold its shape, and then heated and melted to use again.
“I’m getting new products in all the time,” Costopoulos said. “When people come in and request items, I’m probably going to get it.”
On Dec. 16, from 7-9 p.m., there will be a book signing by local artist Bev Lee, who just published a book of her pastel paintings, “Painting Children, Secrets to Capturing Childhood Memories.”
The Artist’s Haven is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and later when evening classes are in session.
Costopoulos plans a grand opening at a later date.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
