Art in the eye of the beholder: Free art shop in North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER — Any artist — or budding creative’s parent — knows how expensive art supplies can get.

Materials are also not readily available.

So Julie Faro set out to ensure artists of any age and any financial background are able to participate in art and allow their creativity to flow.

“I just think it’s important for all of the kids to have access to all of the things and try out different materials,” Faro said. “I knew when I was a kid it was a big deal going to the art store and picking out a few things.”

Faro owns Julie’s Art School, at 5 Hodges St. Last summer she and her work partner, Michelle Roy, became inspired by the little free libraries across the area and decided to create something similar, but this time for art.

The free art shop was originally a greenhouse, Faro said. The blue-painted house was adorned with a water proof roof, and now the shelter sits outside of Julie’s Art School for anyone in the community — young and old.

“I just think it’s great that anybody who might want to paint or do anything creative and artistic has the ability to do so,” Roy said. “We’re always supportive of anybody who wants to do anything creative.”

The free art shop neighbors are encouraged to “look inside to find some creativity.” Artists can take supplies and leave some for others.

On Friday, the free art shop was filled with masks and other sketches on canvas for artists to color or paint in. There were also brushes, crayons, colored pencils, little fun-shaped erasers, and a few art kits for painting wood or clay sculptures.

“It’s generally mostly empty because people take stuff out of it,” Faro said. “Generally when it’s filled up, within a week it’s taken.”

Faro said she regularly adds to the shop as well. She said extras from classes go into the shop, and if Faro sees a deal at the art store, she might grab a few pieces to put in the free art shop.

“It came about because when we did a clean out of the studio, we had all of this extra stuff,” Faro said. “We figured we could have a little free shop for all of the extra stuff.”

Faro’s art career started early. She was in a since-closed art class called Tasha’s Art, in North Andover, with Roy. The two now are able to share their talents, similarly to how Ms. Tasha used to with them.

“Growing up I thought this was the coolest job in the world,” Faro said.

In 2012, Faro opened Julie’s Art School. It was originally located on Main Street, and right after opening, the school saw about a dozen students enrolled in a class.

Now the studio has grown to its location on Hodges Street and offers classes for both adults and children. Artwork by students, as well as Faro and Roy, decorates the school, with paintings ranging from a lighthouse to a mountainous landscape and even a few glass pieces.

Spring classes begin on March 1. Faro also offers private lessons, including canvas painting, slime creation and sharpie tie dye.

Julie’s Art School does have resources for students from low-income families to participate in some classes, but the space can be limiting. This is why Faro said the little art shop can be so beneficial. Faro and Roy said they “just want to help out the students.”

“We try to give our classes to a few kids who can’t afford our classes every session,” Faro said, “but there’s only a couple of spaces for that, so this is an additional resource.”

Follow Monica on Twitter at @MonicaSager3

Follow Monica on Twitter at @MonicaSager3