Housing 16 professional artists within four studios and teaching 60 classes a week, Doug and Donna Swinton's shop, Swinton’s Art, is a full-service art store and studio that has been serving Calgary artists since 1994. “Doug is an artist, and after we had our first baby, we started tossing around the idea of opening an art studio,” Donna says. “A lot of his friends wanted to teach and Doug wanted to be able to create art and make a living at the same time.”
Doug had been working for another art supply store when he and Donna started talking about opening their own place. “We were going to buy the store I worked in,” he says. “But after approaching the bank and receiving their approval of our business plan, the owner decided not to sell.”
That would have been the end had the bank not encouraged Doug and Donna to open their own store. “Really, everyone and the bank was telling us we should do it,” Doug says. “I think Donna and I were the only ones who didn’t believe in us initially.”
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With its slogan “Everything Art,” Swinton’s provides artists of all levels with quality, affordable materials. The shop carries paint supplies, drawing utensils, projectors and lightboxes, sculpting tools and printmaking materials, as well as fabric paints, calligraphy sets and airbrushing kits – sales are frequent. They even sell frames for your finished pieces. Browse for creative goodies, and sign up for a seasonal art workshop or weekly class.
View this Smart ListSwinton’s Art carries supplies from canvas and brushes to paints, paper and frames as well as offering classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced artists. Their facility features four studio spaces, classes, workshops as well as technique demonstrations. Monthly four-course sessions allow students to choose from a range of class times as well as mediums – drawing, acrylic, watercolour and oil paint as well as drawing. Can’t pick a medium? Try a Saturday afternoon sampler class. Workshops are available for advanced students, and learners of all levels are welcome at Tuesday-evening drop-in figure-drawing sessions.
View this Smart List