LINCOLNTON -- Artists and art lovers from across Lincoln County are anxiously awaiting the grand opening of Lincolnton’s first art gallery.
Called Personal Artist Studio and Gallery, owner Laurie Bostian isn’t even open yet and has already sold a couple of paintings displayed in the front windows of her gallery which is located at 105 East Main Street in the old Avon location.
The opening next Wednesday is the realization of Bostian’s dream of owning her own gallery.
Photo: Laurie Bostian, owner of Personal Artist Studio and Gallery, looks over one of her paintings. Bostian’s gallery opens Wednesday, Aug. 1, in downtown Lincolnton.
“I’ve wanted to own my own gallery since I was at East Gaston High School,” said Bostian, adding she originally studied to be a teacher once she graduated from high school and went to college.
She ended up teaching for four years but never gave up the dream of owning her own gallery.
Even after giving birth to sons Jackson, now 9, and Judge, now 6 and being a stay-at-home mom, Bostian said she still had visions of a gallery.
Then the dream started turning into reality, thanks to a night-time drive around the court square in downtown Lincolnton.
“I saw this space about one month ago,” said Bostian. “The sign in the window jumped out at me. I’ve heard that Lincolnton doesn’t have anything like (the gallery).”
According to Bostian, the response she’s gotten from people about the new gallery shows that Lincolnton embraces the arts.
“I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a gallery here already,” said Bostian.
Bostian’s love for art started even before her high school days. In fact, Bostian started selling portraits that she made in school at age nine.
“When I was 10, my mom signed me up in adult art classes,” said Bostian. “I knew then I was destined to do faces.”
Bostian, now 35, said she once sold her portraits online. However, she missed the day to day interaction with people. That’s when she started searching for a location for her new gallery.
Bostian said she’s branched out from just doing portraits to doing still life paintings that include paintings of fruit.
One of Bostian’s popular paintings involves pomegranates, which were picked up by the Chroma Inc., makers of professional paints, for an advertising campaign on Interactive Acrylics.
“The pomegranates are so bright and interesting,” said Bostian. “I bought one last year and split it open on my kitchen counter. It was so bright.”
According to Bostian, the key to success in her work – including her new gallery – boils down to one word; personality.
“Finding personality in a still life is fun,” said Bostian. “If the still life doesn’t have some kind of personality, then I can’t do it.”
Besides portraits, Bostian said she likes to paintings of candid pictures because “you can see the person, not a façade.”
Bostian said plans are to open her gallery Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. “Hours will vary according to activities,” said Bostian, adding she plans to add classes and workshops to the mix. “We’ll be closed on Sundays and Mondays.”
Bostian said she also hopes to attract home school groups to her gallery.
For more information on Personal Artist Studio and Gallery, call (704) 773-3088 or visit the Web site www.personalartist.com
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