Help Keep Our Portland Community Art Studio Open
Donation protected
During the COVID 19 public health crisis, appropriate social distancing has made it difficult to continue offering art classes in a safe and stress-free environment. Government funding has not been kind to small businesses and we are afraid that our studio may be lost. We are hoping to raise at least enough funds to help cover the rent on the studio space. Any funds raised that exceed the amount necessary to cover the rent will be used to help subsidize all the various needs of the studio moving forward in an uncertain future.
The Studio is located in the SW Portland neighborhood of Hillsdale. Approximately 500 sq ft in size, Bellamy Art Studios offers a safe and open space for students of any and every ability, age, and background to express themselves freely via the medium of art. Because of current social distancing guidelines, the full capacity of twelve or so students has been reduced significantly. The studio relies directly on class fees to maintain and upkeep its day to day operations specifically paying the lease on the space.
As students, we all learn from each other. There is one person though who keeps the studio afloat, who pays the rent and who keeps us all coming back for more. She offers encouragement, dedication, inspiration, and expertise in all that she does.
About our teacher:
Heather Bellamy is a long time resident of SW Portland. She has no idea that this GoFundMe has been set up on her behalf. I would be surprised if she would ever ask for this type of assistance. She has been teaching art, (or perhaps more accurately sharing her know-how) for many years and is a supportive and valued member of the Portland arts community.
As well as offering classes in drawing and painting, sculpture, glass fusing, and linoleum printing, Heather is always adding to her repertoire and if she herself cannot actually teach a discipline, she will point you in the right direction to find your chosen medium. Heather is a lover of music and dance and constantly strives for self-discovery via both lively conversation and quiet meditation. Family is of the utmost importance to her and both of her teenage children are firmly entrenched in their own artistic exploits.
A Bit About Me:
My name is Matthew Pettle. Heather and I were introduced by a mutual friend in 2012. By trade, I have always labored manually. I attempt to write. Professionally, I have been a bricklayer, a gardener, a bicycle messenger, a cake froster, and a light control technician. I had dabbled in art and scribbled and doodled throughout my school years without any particular direction or desire or encouragement to further the pursuit. It wasn’t until I moved to Portland in my early forties that I had any idea that it might become something that I would enjoy so much.
For my wife’s fortieth birthday she organized a Pet Portrait Painting Party at The Loaded Brush, here in Portland. Once we had all completed our pieces, two people pulled me aside to ask if I had ever painted before. Both fine art majors, they expressed their surprise when I replied that no, I had not.
Not long thereafter my seventy-five-year-old mother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Very soon after this disturbing revelation, I happened to be “chatting” with Heather at a party about how much I had enjoyed my loaded brush experience and how I would really love to find a regular place to paint, which was when she first invited me to her studio class.
Within less than a year after my first class, my mother died. She was sanguine, ready to go. I was devastated. In the three months that I spent “across the pond” organizing her estate, the thing I missed most (apart from my home and family here in Portland), was experiencing and creating art at Bellamy Art Studio . During COVID 19 and all of this uncertainty, the thing I miss most is the art studio.
Art is a Community
The community and friendship and love that I have been fortunate enough to find via the studio is absolutely irreplaceable. The idea of this tiny little studio possibly going out of business because the rent might not be able to be met is, quite simply, unfathomable.
I am certain that many many people will, in the coming months, be feeling a great sense of loss and emotional heartache in one way or another. I am also certain that if they so choose to engage in it, art possesses all the qualities to help fill the void in much the same way that it did for me during and since my greatest loss.
I have learned so much about myself and my fellow students, our strengths and weaknesses, because of art. I have also learned so much about color and light, perspective, space, form, texture and dimension, and depth, all in a truly supportive, nurturing, forgiving, safe, peaceful, and playful environment. I would be lost without it.
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE ARTS IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE. HELP SAVE OUR SW PORTLAND ART STUDIO.
THANK YOU!
The Students of Bellamy Art Studio
Studio Instagram Bellamy Art Studio Website
The Studio is located in the SW Portland neighborhood of Hillsdale. Approximately 500 sq ft in size, Bellamy Art Studios offers a safe and open space for students of any and every ability, age, and background to express themselves freely via the medium of art. Because of current social distancing guidelines, the full capacity of twelve or so students has been reduced significantly. The studio relies directly on class fees to maintain and upkeep its day to day operations specifically paying the lease on the space.
As students, we all learn from each other. There is one person though who keeps the studio afloat, who pays the rent and who keeps us all coming back for more. She offers encouragement, dedication, inspiration, and expertise in all that she does.
About our teacher:
Heather Bellamy is a long time resident of SW Portland. She has no idea that this GoFundMe has been set up on her behalf. I would be surprised if she would ever ask for this type of assistance. She has been teaching art, (or perhaps more accurately sharing her know-how) for many years and is a supportive and valued member of the Portland arts community.
As well as offering classes in drawing and painting, sculpture, glass fusing, and linoleum printing, Heather is always adding to her repertoire and if she herself cannot actually teach a discipline, she will point you in the right direction to find your chosen medium. Heather is a lover of music and dance and constantly strives for self-discovery via both lively conversation and quiet meditation. Family is of the utmost importance to her and both of her teenage children are firmly entrenched in their own artistic exploits.
A Bit About Me:
My name is Matthew Pettle. Heather and I were introduced by a mutual friend in 2012. By trade, I have always labored manually. I attempt to write. Professionally, I have been a bricklayer, a gardener, a bicycle messenger, a cake froster, and a light control technician. I had dabbled in art and scribbled and doodled throughout my school years without any particular direction or desire or encouragement to further the pursuit. It wasn’t until I moved to Portland in my early forties that I had any idea that it might become something that I would enjoy so much.
For my wife’s fortieth birthday she organized a Pet Portrait Painting Party at The Loaded Brush, here in Portland. Once we had all completed our pieces, two people pulled me aside to ask if I had ever painted before. Both fine art majors, they expressed their surprise when I replied that no, I had not.
Not long thereafter my seventy-five-year-old mother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Very soon after this disturbing revelation, I happened to be “chatting” with Heather at a party about how much I had enjoyed my loaded brush experience and how I would really love to find a regular place to paint, which was when she first invited me to her studio class.
Within less than a year after my first class, my mother died. She was sanguine, ready to go. I was devastated. In the three months that I spent “across the pond” organizing her estate, the thing I missed most (apart from my home and family here in Portland), was experiencing and creating art at Bellamy Art Studio . During COVID 19 and all of this uncertainty, the thing I miss most is the art studio.
Art is a Community
The community and friendship and love that I have been fortunate enough to find via the studio is absolutely irreplaceable. The idea of this tiny little studio possibly going out of business because the rent might not be able to be met is, quite simply, unfathomable.
I am certain that many many people will, in the coming months, be feeling a great sense of loss and emotional heartache in one way or another. I am also certain that if they so choose to engage in it, art possesses all the qualities to help fill the void in much the same way that it did for me during and since my greatest loss.
I have learned so much about myself and my fellow students, our strengths and weaknesses, because of art. I have also learned so much about color and light, perspective, space, form, texture and dimension, and depth, all in a truly supportive, nurturing, forgiving, safe, peaceful, and playful environment. I would be lost without it.
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE ARTS IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE. HELP SAVE OUR SW PORTLAND ART STUDIO.
THANK YOU!
The Students of Bellamy Art Studio
Studio Instagram Bellamy Art Studio Website
Organizer
Matt Pettle
Organizer
Portland, OR