Kirksville's newest business, Dave's Studio, provides an opportunity for veteran
painters to save money and inspiration for budding artists.
Owner Dave Carter, a lifelong artist, said he and his wife Sally set up shop in
downtown Kirksville two weeks ago as a way to make a living in the art business. They
also offer the city something it doesn't have –– a convenient way to buy art
supplies.
"This shop really came out of necessity," Carter said. "We've always thought
Kirksville needed something like this. There are no supplies, or not a very good
selection of supplies, in the area."
Carter said he started his business because artists in Kirksville, including Truman
students, had to settle for whatever Truman State University Bookstore had to offer.
It was an expensive way to purchase supplies, with a limited selection, Carter said.
What students couldn't find there, they had to order online or drive as far as
Columbia to find.
Junior painting major Megan Moore said she knows firsthand how difficult it is to find
supplies. This semester she spent up to $250 on painting supplies. Moore said Dave's
Studio could offer an alternative.
"Now that [the] store's there I probably will get a lot of my stuff there, especially
for painting because it's based towards painting and drawing," she said.
The prices at Dave's Studio are approximately the same as Truman State University
Bookstore and Dave's Studio has many items artists can't get in Kirksville like
easels, oil paints and certain paint colors.
Moore said the store also offered to order supplies she needed for class that she
couldn't find locally.
"I would recommend going and looking because I went in and found a lot of cool stuff,"
Moore said. "And actually his prices are pretty good. I actually wish that I hadn't
looked in the bookstore last week."
Judy Neuwig, director of the Kirksville Arts Association, said Truman students aren't
the only ones excited about an art supply store in Kirksville. She said the local art
community already is excited about the prospect of a new art shop.
"He's a business man, he's also the artist, so he knows what the needs are," she said.
"He knows what he can offer the community. He knows, maybe, what the community wants
and that will evolve over time."
Dave's Studio also offers art classes. The classes range from an introductory course
to learn basic art skills to more focused classes in painting or drawing. Carter said
he wants to make the classes fun for all age groups.
"I'm not a very hard task master," Carter said. "I work with children a lot –– we
have a lot in common. We love to eat, we have the same silly sense of humor. I like to
bring that to the adult classes, too."
Carter's shop also will sell some of his paintings and offer commercial work, like
signs and posters, which Carter said will be his largest source of revenue.
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