Art store, studio, offers boundless creativity

It took a handful of harrowing life events for Brandy Parsons to decide on opening a storefront of her own in Washington. A broken leg two years ago led her to start teaching art lessons from home, which led others to see her creations, and frequently ask to buy them. The encouragement prompted more openness with the paintings, until eventually, she found herself in business selling them.

At first, Parsons was hesitant to share that side of her life. She said her art was deeply personal, and not all of it was meant for the world to see, whether it had a market or not.

“From a very young child, art was my escape when things were not good,” she said. “I always held my art very personal to me … I didn’t want to have to explain why my art looked the way it did, what I was doing, because it wasn’t always good times when I went and created that art piece.”

With enough encouragement, she took the leap, but not without careful considerations.

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Parsons was adamant about finding her own space, not sharing a studio with others. She wanted no restraints about how her style might synergize with others, and wanted the freedom to teach art lessons her way, to a wide variety of age groups. She sought a different energy from the storefront featuring her in Keota, and an artistic focus not available at co-owned boutiques around town.

Part art gallery, part supply store, part studio, part teaching space, GunnySac Designs is now her perfect creative space.

“I didn’t want it to look like another store that existed in Iowa,” she said. “I wanted the color. People don’t always understand that color’s for everyone, it’s not just for kids, we all need color in our lives, color is what makes us happy … that was my biggest thing.”

GunnySac offers art lessons for adults and kids. Parsons said she hoped the studio helped people learn valuable skills, but also enjoy themselves, and exercise their creativity.

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“Every person that walked in the door has said, ‘We needed this,’” she said. “I think the way I teach these classes is educational, but we have fun doing it. If we’re not having fun, I don’t want to do it.”

There have been some hurdles along the way.

Parsons said the business didn’t turn out exactly like she’d expected, initially planning to focus more on the retail side, before her classes proved wildly popular.

The artist has also struggled to set aside time for her own art; the paintings she makes for herself, rather than the rest of the world. She said she was trying to get better about that, but noted that the expression often came from the same place.

“My mind does not ever shut off at all, I am constantly creating,” she said. “I could literally be walking down the street and the red brick could catch my eye and instantly make me think of some type of creation.”

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In terms of goals, Parsons said she had a few specific ideas for GunnySac. She hopes to get more artists involved in the gallery, and expand her class options more for adults and older kids. She also aims to someday offer what she calls “fun office supplies.”

But largely, unlike her art itself, Parsons said the business’ future would be driven by the wants of the world around it.

“I think the business goes wherever the public leads it,” she said. “I want to stay true to who I am, but I also know I have to listen to my customers. So where my customers want to take it is where it ends up going. If it ends up being that I need to have classes all the time, that’s where it’ll go. But the retail side, it’s growing, (and) I am watching and learning what the public wants.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com