Local artist and art supply store owner, Nicky Macqueen, is on a mission to inspire and encourage the next generation of artists here in the Colour City. Whether you are a working professional, enthusiastic amateur or taking up art for the first time, at The Little Art Nook you will find everything you need to bring your vision to life.

The Little Art Nook first opened in Orange in April last year, but has since found a new home in the Orange Arcade. It all came about because Nicky was having difficulty sourcing the quality art supplies she needed for her own work.

“It was very difficult as an artist myself to find the supplies I wanted, so I thought I'd bring them to Orange,” Nicky said.

Raised in Orange, Nicky graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from what was then known as the College of Fine Arts (COFA), Sydney in 2007. She then left our shores to explore the world and exhibited her art in New York, London, Barcelona and Paris.

As an artist who works with printing and mixed media, it was those supplies in particular, Nicky was having trouble finding locally, but The Little Art Nook caters for all artists no matter what their preferred medium.

“Printmaking stuff was hard to find, and just a good range of like paints,” Nicky said. “So here you’ll find quality acrylic paints, oils, watercolours, all the papers… We also stock a lot of vinyl products for crafters that have cutting machines like the Cricuts. Beads for jewellery making. We've got a bit of everything, really and if people are looking for particular things, I can try and source it for them.”

The Little Art Nook also has a wide range of children’s craft supplies, with lots of pom-poms, feathers, pipe-cleaners and the like, as well as activity and painting packs.

For those, young or old, who are wanting to grow their artistic talents, Nicky runs weekly art classes throughout the school term.

“On Monday afternoons it’s the five to eight-year-olds and then Tuesday it’s nine to 12-year-olds, and we do holiday classes as well in school holidays,” Nicky said.

“We do a range of things, a range of mediums from acrylic paint to watercolours, oils, pastels, mixed media and drawing as well. I try to teach a range across the term so that they're learning new techniques and tips.”

On Thursday nights, Nicky also teaches a hand-building pottery class for adults and is also available for one-on-one instruction, group classes, or Saturday party bookings — just give her a call!

For information visit www.thelittleartnook.com.au or drop by the store located in The Orange Arcade, 142 Summer Street, Orange.