Painting the town

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Out with the old and in with the new means to leave old things or ideas behind and start fresh with new things or ideas.
Local Color wasn’t old but when owners Sherry Quinn and Tara Collins decided to close the doors on their business due to the busyness of life, five ladies took up the mantle to keep Cass County colorful.
Martha Ward, Sheryl Pattillo, Teresa Moore, Suzanne Hobbs and Sharon Thomason made a joint effort to keep the studio open and Local Creation was born.
Pattillo taught classes with a group of ladies who met for a year at Local Color on Thursdays.
“Sherry and Tara wanted to close the doors but a group of us got together and decided we would still like to meet so we bought them out and Local Creation was formed,” Ward said.
Local Creation would like to expand and offer community children’s summer art camps for all ages, adult painting groups, mommy & me classes, girls night out, host a luncheon Bible study in the fall, reserve night and evening classes by appointment, and also start up a B.Y.O.B. (or B.Y.O.W. in this case in which adult visitors bring a bottle of wine with them to class.
“We want people to come in and try their hand at what could turn into a hobby, and keep the kids occupied with something that could unlock their potential instead of wasting it all on video games,” Ward remarked.
Aside from classes Local Creation offers field trips for small groups such as Gifted and Talented programs, offers a place to host a bridal or baby shower, offers a place to hold birthday parties and encourages even grandparents to bring in their grandchildren for a visit.
Local Creation also wants to expand from just painting by offering mixed media, glass art, scrapbooking, mosaics, acrylic and watercolor art, drawing classes, sewing and batik classes.
As you enter the studio the front portion of the store is a collection of art and materials which are local artist creations’ from fashionable names you may recognize like Rae Hammonds, Sheryl Pattillo, Holly Anson, Rebecca Narramore and Brittanie Lowery.
Local Creation charges a small fee to have what may be called a booth but what is sold goes directly to the artist themselves.
“We are a labor of love,” Ward said.
“We’re not here to make a living, we’re here to give the community an outlet into something they may not know they’re good at until they try it.”
The ladies also plan on giving where they can such as holding a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the HunterBrave Foundation.
“We fully support our community but we also need our community to support us so we can keep our doors open,” Ward admitted.
Although they may not keep proceeds made, bills and other needs such as materials are needed to keep the dream going.
Every month Carole Berry drops by and teaches a class. In July she will teach a watercolor class.
You can visit and like the Local Creation Facebook page which keeps you informed on what is coming up, and check out their Instagram page AtlantaLocal Creation.
Local creation is located at 104 W. Hiram Street in Atlanta. For more information, call 903-650-6750.