Art By Yourself Can Be Fun For All

The paintbrushes are the first clue. Kids are going to love this place.

Behind the brushes are rows of bright paints - 60 colors in all. Down in front are pre-made ceramic pieces pulsating with possibility.

This is Art By Yourself, a unique husband-and-wife ceramic studio in downtown Spokane.

Andrew and Hannah Baucom fashioned their business after an emerging trend called the alternative studio, which began in New York City several years ago. The idea is to provide a comfortable place where customers of every ability can create personalized art. And make a day of it. Some alternative studios have added wine bars; others provide espresso. When the idea hit the West Coast, Andrew Baucom ventured a studio in his hometown.

“My passion is to see the arts flourish in Spokane and have everyone in the community involved,” says Andrew. “Our emphasis is to keep it open to all ages while more or less orienting ourselves toward children and parents.”

Andrew believes useful household objects, like plates and mugs, make wonderful art because they endure. “Every-day objects become significant when they have been personalized,” he says.

The Baucom’s studio serves the spontaneous artist. No class is required and no skills are necessary. Drop in any time, choose a ceramic piece, pick your paints and begin. Take 10 minutes or take two hours. The studio supplies design aids, such as stencils and photos. For added flair, there are paint sponges, pottery pens and more than 20 types of brushes.

After the piece has been painted, it is glazed and fired. (All the ceramic ware is dishwasher safe and the paints are lead free). Three to five days later, the customer can pick up the finished creation. Prices vary from $2 to $35.

Display tables at Art By Yourself are covered with individual masterpieces: frames, trinket boxes, kitchen tiles, tea pots, serving platters, napkin rings…

Customers have painted birth announcements on commemorative plates. Some have created tiles with a baby’s handprints and footprints.

Hannah Baucom enjoys the customers’ reactions when they pick up their work. “The fact they are painting on something functional they will be able to use gives them satisfaction in creating something that has real value,” she says.

Andrew acknowledges he is not the only ceramics studio in town. He has friends at the Spokane Art School who offer a variety of classes in ceramics and pottery.

But for spur-of-the-moment artistic whims, Art By Yourself offers a family activity in a class by itself.

“I think families enjoy this because we are giving them tools they are familiar with (paints and brushes) and allowing them to express themselves with a medium they do not get a chance to work with very often,” Andrew says.

“It’s different than painting on paper,” says Hannah. “This is something that will last.”

Adds Andrew, “These are the types of things parents and grandparents hold onto.”

Art By Yourself is at 122 S. Monroe, half a block north of the Spaghetti Factory. Studio hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 6. (Closed Mondays).

Birthday party packages are available for $8 to $10. For information, call 838-8993.

, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.