>> ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Reginald Stanley grew up in Baldwin County and opened Sketchbook Studio to support the local art movement. He wanted to offer a studio space to the public that could be built upon to offer workshops, custom requests and eventually host a gallery.
“I wanted to offer my community something creative to be able to come to during their leisure time,” said Stanley. “I noticed a lot of other town communities have a lot of artists and I know we have many around here, so I wanted a communal space that everyone could visit and have something to do.”
Stanley has been working on his ideal studio since 2011. Originally he focused solely on his goals, the design, and how he could impact the community. With many setbacks due to financial reasons, finding a location and the pandemic, he waited to open until January of 2022.
“After my many setbacks, I finally decided to just go for it one last time,” said Stanley.
“Business has been going well since I did. I’m getting business from here to Tennessee.”
The studio offers services including custom art requests, illustrations, graphic design and paint parties. Through these services, Stanley has traveled around the country to paint cafeterias, create portraits and fulfill custom orders.
“It feels good to travel and take my art to all of these different locations,” said Stanley. “And it means a lot to be a local artist and be able to have creations in so many different states and right here at home.”
Stanley expressed when creating art, he typically lets the art speak to him over seeking inspiration. He prefers to grab a canvas and just work from the ‘gut feeling’ rather than sketching everything out.
“I go to a canvas and just let it come out through me,” said Stanley. “Everyone has a different art style and art is never meant to be perfect. As an artist I am never satisfied because what I’m creating can never be perfect but I can appreciate how it speaks to me and through me.”
Currently, Stanley is working on a project in collaboration with Milledgeville Main Street to redesign the Milledgeville letters that are displayed downtown.
“I am creating a background throughout the letters inspired by landmarks throughout Milledgeville,” said Stanley. “The letters will be revealed during the November First Friday event. I’m just getting started on the brain storming and arrangement.”
Stanley took on the project looking for a challenge. Despite expressing some stress over the reveal, he is excited to work on something so large and important to the community.
“It means a lot to me to be able to give back to the community in this way and have my art displayed downtown,” said Stanley. “Like I said earlier, art is never perfect so it worries me about what people may think when the letters are revealed but I am putting everything into this challenge.”
Stanley hopes to continue working on large projects, offer more workshops in the future and eventually expand to be able to host a gallery as well. Sketchbook Studio is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about its services, visit https:// sketchbook-studio.com/.