Art studio caters to everyone
By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter
Adelle Ellis Photo
Live Free studios was opened earlier this spring in the Village of Standard by local artist Chelsey Tellier and her partner Ryan Orr. As a unique business to the village, their in-home studio offers weekly art and pottery classes, kid’s classes, summer camps, private art parties, private or group lessons, open studio nights and photography services both on location and at their home studio.
“I have always thought it would be really great to run a studio,” said Tellier. “My partner Ryan and I decided that we wanted to create a kind of lifestyle that merged our lives with our artistic practice so that art was no longer something we had to make time for, but something that we just do every day,” she said. She added art does not have to be just painting and photography, but can also include cooking a nice meal together or growing a beautiful garden.
Tellier, from Standard, is the daughter of an artist. She reminisced about making paintings on the floor of her mother’s studio, while also falling in love with art at the age of six at summer art camps. She started formal training through a bachelor of fine arts degree at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) in Calgary where she completed three years before moving to Montreal and then to Halifax to complete her sculpture degree at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in 2010. As a “jack of all trades” she has continued her practice since then, along with working in the theatre industry painting sets for several shows in Calgary and painting the odd house or doing other odd jobs to fund her art habit.
Orr, originally from Hanna, is a professional photographer who specializes in on-location artistic portrait photography with an interest in natural settings, does wedding and portrait photography, and completes professional studio work at the couple’s fully set-up in-home studio.
Although the pair both work other day jobs, the dream is to one day do art full time and to share their love for creativity with others on a regular basis.
Currently, their studio doesn’t have any set open hours, although they host a paint night every Wednesday night and beginner’s pottery sessions every Friday evening for those aged 12 and up.
Along with their weekly classes, the studio also takes bookings for private planned paint nights, private lessons, group lessons and open studio nights, and will be organizing some summer day camps for kids under 12 along with weekly kid’s classes when school starts in the fall.
“So far, this studio has been so well received by the community, I am thrilled with the response we’ve been getting,” said Tellier, who added they have many return students week after week for painting or pottery classes.
Tellier hopes that along with the new school year in the fall, they will be able to keep constant art classes running for kids and to get more involved with the Wheatland Crossing school and schools in Strathmore, along with hosting some fundraising events.
Other business expansion plans include on-location paint nights or art classes, summer markets and plans to expand studio space next year. Tellier said this would allow for a more functional space that can accommodate larger groups, including better lighting, nicer tables, shelving and storage, and expansion of supplies for classes.
A grand opening party for Live Free Art and Photography Studios will be held on Aug. 24 at the studio in Standard, including feature entertainment by the country bluegrass band Bryson Waind and the Citizens’ Band, free hot dogs, an art sale and studio tours.
For more information, contact Live Free Art and Photography Studios livefree.artstudios@gmail.com or 403-808-8154. They can also be contacted on Facebook at Live Free Art Studios.
“(Art) really is bringing people together; people who haven’t seen each other in a long time and people who have never met before. It’s a fantastic social event where you just get to be inspired and create and have fun,” said Tellier. “We are just wanting to bring some creative vibes to the community and give everyone a chance to come check out what we’ve made.”