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Show notes: On this episode I do an interview with Casey and Melissa Smith, the owners of the shop “Casey’s Art Box“. The art supplies & studio store is located out in Germantown, TN and combines retail space, gallery wall space, community gathering space, and Casey’s art studio space.
The dynamic duo are both former educators and have been together since the 1993 Cooper Young Festival. They’ve been married for almost 30 years. Casey Smith was born in Memphis and raised in Germantown. He has been creating art his whole life. His early years began at Ronnie Grisanti & Sons restaurant where he shared his love of murals. He spent 20 years teaching art to kindergarteners through high school seniors. Now Casey is ready to share his works and hopes to encourage other artists to go after their passion. Melissa Smith moved to Germantown at the beginning of her high school career at GHS. Not one to be far from her family, she attended Memphis State, but ended up graduating from the University of Memphis! While there she met and married Casey, being his number one visual art & music fan and (most importantly) best friend. After 27 years in elementary technology education, she is ready to encourage others to unleash their creative energies.
The shop is open Mon-Sat, but are always standing by for any Sunday or after hours art emergencies that might arise! When you stop by be sure to ask about their customer loyalty program. I bought a few paint pens to try out.
I also fill you in on some Mid-South Cartoonists Association news, including our upcoming art shows, zine deadline and monthly dinner gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza (April 1st), the MSCA Con Cards, and the Rogue’s Gallery moving to Lootz Collectibles in Atoka for Free Comic Book Day.
Plus I share some info on Comic Geek Speak‘s 20th anniversary celebration up in Reading, PA and recent Diamond acquisition by Alliance Entertainment.
This week I dropped off a couple of my paintings for upcoming auctions/sales at Playhouse on the Square (“King Arthur/Spamalot”) and Germantown Community Theatre (“Annie & Sandy”). Both were done in acrylics on canvas and for previous art shows at GCT. Proceeds to benefit the two theaters. I’ll have new art to benefit my wallet at both theaters this year.
Thanks to Casey and Melissa for talking toons and techniques with me.
I hope this episode inspires you to check out their art store and create some art of your own!
“Stay Tooned!”
Lin