FAIRHAVEN — With the art scene in Greater New Bedford flourishing, the one piece missing is a place to purchase art supplies, said Tena Collyer. That's why she opened Art Loft, a shop dedicated to helping artists in the SouthCoast.

"People are so excited, especially artists and actually even non artists that have come in so far,” said Collyer, who recently opened Art Loft at 7 Water Street. 

"I love art supplies, but there's not a good place, there’s such a black hole for art supplies here."

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Collyer said the loft has three components: selling art supplies, teaching art lessons to adults and children and selling local artwork.

“I literally just love the atmosphere and people just come in and enjoy everything — and look at the artwork on the walls, too," she said. "It's a nice vibe in here."

What's inside Fairhaven's new Art Loft?

The shop's gallery features about 30 local artists' work already. The store offers a wide range of supplies, with a focus on oil painting as well as top quality watercolor and acrylic products.

There’s also an array of exclusive products such as Rosemary and Company, featuring handmade brushes from England and Trekell, which is of comparable quality. Collyer said she is one of only three other stores in the United States to sell the product.

"To an artist, art supplies are like an addiction,” she said. “But I also want to be there to help all levels of artists, and give advice or be there to bounce ideas off with them.”

Aa for classes, its second floor will offer workshops such as watercolor, calligraphy, oil painting and drawing.

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“The whole upstairs is going to be a full classroom; I'm going to bring in local artists to teach different mediums,” she added. “Kids to adults, technical art classes, fun art classes, pretty much everything," Collyer said, adding the classes are set to start in mid-to late-June.

There will also be themed nights such as a Watercolor and Wine night, as well as an Acrylic Paint Night for adults. Collyer said she hopes to provide a fun nightlife atmosphere for the town, which she said has been lacking since the pandemic.

One business closes, another opens

Born in Rochester, Collyer moved to Fairhaven in 2001. She first worked as a kitchen designer and paint specialist at Mahoney’s Building Supply Inc, before she and her sister successfully owned Kitchen and Bath Details in Mattapoisett.

Open for 18 years, she said the business was going strong until they were forced to shut it down due to the COVID pandemic and eventually they went out of business.

Collyer said the pandemic was what ultimately led her back to her artistic roots. She has a degree in fine arts and graphics from UMass Dartmouth and during the pandemic she started painting again, rejuvenating her love for the arts.

"I was trying to heal myself psychologically from the loss of the business,” she said.

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As she got more involved in art, Collyer said she started taking lessons and teaching others. This eventually led to her decision to open up a store of art supplies for local artists. When the perfect building fell into their lap, she knew it was meant to be.

"I said if the perfect building falls in my lap, I'll know that I was meant to do it,” she said. “And then this place became available… it was something about the vibe, the atmosphere, I knew it was perfect.”

Collyer said she is aiming to create a boutique-style atmosphere with “England meets New England” vibes.

“I want to create a place where people can be inspired by art,” she said.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Art Loft opens in Fairhaven, selling materials and teaching art class