Studio A Offers Art and More

Tarrytown boasts its fair share of art galleries, and in December yet another opened its doors on Main Street.  Nestled in an airy, open space with large copper-framed windows next to the fire department is Studio A, the newest chance for locals to eye some great art. 

Studio A sets itself apart though by offering art classes that are not only reasonably priced, but highly flexible and personalized.

Owner Athena Bing He found the space when she moved from Long Island City to Dobb's Ferry, where her son attends high school.  But the commute to her studio there, where she worked on commissioned portraits, soon took its toll.  She decided to combine everything together – her commissioned work, her personal art, teaching, and her new location – and set up Studio A in Tarrytown. 

Bing He's approach to teaching is very student-based.  She plans to teach kids and teenagers more of the foundations of art, while letting them express themselves, but focusing the adult classes mostly toward the students' interests.

She prefers that potential students come in to register in person and bring some art with them so that she can assess what they're interests are and skill level is, but also for their own sake. 

"They have to like to be here," said Bing He.  "I want to see their work and see what I can do for them," she said. "[We] both have to be comfortable about it."

Bing He wants to keep class sizes small and personal.  While there are set class times right now, she is open to discussing flexible scheduling.  She also can make arrangements for special groups, for example, if a family wants to take art lessons together.  Registration is also flexible.  Student's can sign up for a month at a time, at any time during the year.  And, she won't just be teaching portraiture.  She plans to teach various styles to really let the students be creative.  Students will even get to see their work hung in the gallery.

Currently hanging in front of the gallery is her own work, some portraits, landscapes, and her 18 by 18 project, which she describes as a "diary."  In the project, she paints whatever inspires her every day, from the people she meets to the things she sees.

"I feel like every day you're feeling so different and fresh," she said. "And that moment is so wonderful.  So like people write in their diary, I paint in my diary." 

The middle section of the gallery holds the art of Jieping Liu.  The artists work is in watercolor and ink, many of them depicting Tarrytown's Main Street.  The back of the gallery is her personal studio. 

Bing He hopes to make Studio A into a place where residents can come and enjoy themselves.  She hopes to have yoga in the backyard in the spring, and says she'd like to hear from anyone interested in using her space artistically. 

Feeling that a gallery is more than just a space to shop, she isn't worried about being one more art gallery in Tarrytown. 

"It's a small town, but we have four galleries. And each one compliments each other in a positive way, doing different things," she said. "People really appreciate art around here."

For more information on classes, commissioned art, or showing at Studio A, call 914-412-2955 or email studioagallery@gmail.com