Originally from South Carolina, The Starving Artist has occupied two different Clarksburg venues during the last five years. By the time August rolls around, the art studio - with its Bohemian feel and classic teal, apple green and fuchsia color scheme - will be located along Bridgeport’s Main Street.

 

“We like to keep things fresh and we reinvent ourselves every once in a while,” said Bill Leaseburg, who owns the studio with his wife Amanda. “We felt it was time to evolve and try the next step.”

 

The Starving Artist will bring its popular art classes and unique retail boutique - now called the Starving Artist Sanctuary - to its new home. Currently owned by Mark and Judy Bonamico, the building is the former Bridgeport Baptist Church which was thereafter occupied by Petroleum Development Corporation and most recently, Bloom’s Florist.

 

When Bloom’s moved out, one of the studio’s resident artists and lifelong city resident Jenny Starkey Reed shared the news with the Leaseburgs.

 

“We were talking about relocating Fabulous Lulu’s (the retail store) and when Jenny told us she knew of a place that was available, we went and looked at it,” Bill said. “It was such a wonderful space and was big enough to move everything into, so instead of just doing it halfway, we decided to go all out and pull the cord.”

Leaving the current location – situate at the corner of Clarksburg’s Main and Fourth Streets – is a little sad.

 

“We have a really wonderful landlord who has been nothing but gracious and accommodating to us,” he said.

 

But the Leaseburgs believe their new venue will help their business to grow. Along the Main Street corridor, it is easily accessible, comes complete with plenty of on-site parking and is situate close to locally-owned shops and boutiques. 

 

The studio will continue to offer the group art classes for which they have become known.

 

“We’ll have our breakfast club, paint therapy, mommy and me, kids’ paint and paint your pet classes,” Bill said. “And we’ve been offering some new classes lately, like painting on actual old windows, umbrellas and slates. We try to keep things new and exciting.”

 

Another new service is “artist for an hour.”

 

“These are unscheduled visits,” Bill said. “You can come in any time during the day and we’ll have a little area set up where you can choose from a little gallery of paintings and within an hour, someone will help you create that painting.”

 

The Leaseburgs anticipate that option to be popular with those who prefer impromptu and/or one-on-one art lessons.

 

The back portion of the lower floor and the second floor will be utilized for classrooms. The remainder of the space – which will be referred to as the Sanctuary – will feature an all-inclusive shopping experience. The eclectic art and embellishments - from custom-painted chairs and sleds to repurposed antiques, quilts and framed artwork – will include the work of a plethora of artisans.

“We are creating a destination. We want to have a communal area for many different types of artists who work with different mediums – those working with clothes, stained glass, jewelry, soaps and things like that,” Bill said. “We’re really creating an art community.”

 

On board is “Feathered” vintage clothing, “The Pretty Pickle,” a Tamarack artisan specializing in jewelry and cell phone cases; “Dirty Hippie Creations,” Amy Reinhart’s stained glass; Julie Lane’s refurbished shabby chic furniture; Suzan Morgan’s textiles; David Morrison’s clay sculpting, Frannie George Shaw’s multi-media work and even piano lessons by Rayme Tullen.

 

Vicki Angotti – owner of Vittoria & Banks – will be located on the second floor and will have jewelry products available for purchase.

 

The Leaseburgs also plan to feature more of their own work.

 

“We’re going to start promoting ourselves individually as artists,” Leaseburg said. “We had kind of gotten away from that. More of our own work will be on display.”

 

The new location will feature the same Starving Artist atmosphere.

“Our colors will transfer with us, buy we’re going to try to have more of an art bazaar feel to it,” Bill said. “We want it to flow throughout the whole building.”

 

Opening day is Aug. 1 with an open house – complete with live jazz by the Jenny Wilson Trio – will be held Aug. 3.

Since establishing The Starving Artist in 2009, it’s been quite a ride, Bill said. At first, the studio was located in the upper floor of The Flower Shop on Clarksburg’s Main Street.

 

“That was simply a gallery and a retail exhibition for our artwork,” he said.

 

From there, the studio relocated to Pike Street, just across from Minard’s Spaghetti Inn and thereafter to Clarksburg’s Main Street in the former Friedlander’s storefront. The group art classes continued to become more and more popular.

“At first, the classes were secondary and they kind of exploded,” Bill said. “People really, really showed interest so we had to grow to make room for that.”

 

The Leaseburgs said they feel very fortunate.

 

“We really do. We’re in an area where people are so excited about art – whether they want to create it just for relaxation or actually learn to paint on their own,” Bill said. “There’s been a huge response from this area and as has always been true, West Virginians are a folksy people who are very creative.” 

 

Stay up to date, including upcoming classes to be offered at the new Bridgeport location, HERE. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are  the new Starving Artist Studio on Main Street, Bridgeport; Fabulous Lulu's; Bill Leaseburg teaching a group paint class; Jenny and daughter Kaylee Reed; Amanda and Bill Leaseburg.