Searcy,Ark.,(LP) — On the first Friday of every month Searcy’s art businesses will stay open two hours longer to allow more time to browse their masterpieces. The places that will be participating are: Make.do, AJ’s Art Studio, Glass From The Past, Think Idea Studio, Fran’s Art and Frame, The Artistry, Searcy Art Gallery, Gallery 803, Midnight Oil, Steven’s Art Galleries in Harding, and the Glenn Pollard Studio.  Some of their art will be discounted, from forty to sixty percent off the original price.  

I spoke to Audra Jones, owner of AJ’s Art Studio in downtown Searcy, about her art studio and her opinion on Friday Art

Nights. She states, “We are hoping it is here to stay and will be something that Searcy residents become very familiar with! I’m  excited about meeting new people and sharing more of what I love!”

Jones first opened her studio six years ago, because she wanted to share her art supplies and teach people to be better artists. She regularly has art parties and classes for kids four years and older. She helps them with subject matter, color choice, and inspiration.

As for Jones herself, she loves to paint watercolors of pets for people. She has been doing this for twenty years, ever since she graduated for college.  She will be selling those and her prints and notecards for Friday art nights. Her daughter, Gracen Jones, sophmore at SHS, will be selling acrylics on canvas and wood for twenty percent off. Gracen is in art class at school and she enjoys going to her mother’s art studio to help with art classes and parties, and to work on her own projects. She participates in Friday art nights, because “it’s nice to see people in town who actually enjoy art and it’s a good time to paint and work on different projects,” states Gracen Jones.

At Friday art nights, Jones wants “people to see what we do- Krafty Kids Creative art classes, private sessions with kids and adults, art parties, and pet portraits- watercolor and acrylics.  We will also offer specials on art parties that are booked during 1FAN for Nov & Dec- $15 each, regularly $20 each- make fun holiday parties.  And a pet portrait special- 8×10 framed and matted for $150, which makes a great Christmas gift!”