Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Jones
Hi Jenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a native of Newnan and Coweta County and a graduate of Newnan High School. I am a member of the Unity Baptist Church of Newnan, and the Newnan Coweta Art Association. After working for Newnan Utilities for 26 years as the Utility Billing Manager I retired in 2009. My two daughters, Aimee and Sarah, and grandchildren Jones, Lilly, Alana, Lucy, and Gracie are also Newnan Natives.
Needing a hobby in 1996, I began stenciling and doing wall murals in my own home. My mother, a craft painter, invited me to visit a craft painting class and also to an oil painting class in 1997 with Marge Groth and Jean Westbrook. My desire to paint grew and I began to buy woodwork, windows, glass objects, and any other materials using glass paint and acrylics. My favorite subjects to paint are landscapes, the ocean, and buildings, especially lighthouses. I love to use lots of color. Painting is very relaxing to me and I encourage others to paint. With much encouragement from my family, friends, and my students I plan to continue my love of painting for many years to come.
After retiring, I opened a much-needed Local Artist Gallery in 2011. The Gallery is Corner Arts Gallery, Studio, & Gift Shop, in beautiful downtown Newnan, Georgia. Corner Arts is located at 30 South Court Square. We offer many different types of art work created by over 35 local artists and now local author books. There are also classes and workshops scheduled for each day of the week, Monday thru Saturday, for ages 3 to Adult. We are closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. I am teaching classes in oils and acrylics which I took after Jean Westbrook stepped down from teaching.
In 2013 I began taking Pottery Classes with Andrea Boswell and I love hand building and creating. My current creations are pieces that hang, such as Fairy Doors and Hearts, Fairy Houses and more. I teach Paint your own Ceramics now as well at my gallery.
I hosted the Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival around the Newnan Square in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024. I have been a part of the NHS Class of 1977 Reunion Committee, Newnan Coweta Art Association Board, Main Street Newnan, and the Southern Hands Artist Tour 2017.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have lived in Newnan all my life. The Gallery is a local Art Gallery, Gift Shop and Art Studio where we teach Classes.
The biggest problem is that I would say 85% of our Customers are from out of town. I have locals to come in and say “how long you been here” or “I didn’t know y’all were here”. We will begin our 14th year!
I advertise on facebook and Instagram, the local Newspaper, I send a Newsletter out Monthly as well and we have a website. We also hand out class listings to all customers and cards with our QR code on them.
Another struggle is the economy, which I’m sure every one is at this time.
Our Main street Newnan is great to continue the events to help keep us busy.
I have always felt that God has me at this Location and doing the work I do for a reason, so I keep trusting in Him.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Acrylic and Oil Painter and a Hand Building Potter as well. I am an impressionistic detailed artist. I paint it like I see it. My favorite medium is Oil. It is very relaxing to me. My favorite part of Corner Arts Gallery is teaching painting classes to adults. It’s very gratifying to Encourage others to enjoy themselves and feel good about what they are doing. My favorite Subjects are Landscapes of the Ocean and Buildings.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
When I retired after 26 years I needed something to do. I was looking for somewhere to only teach classes. The risk was opening Corner Arts Gallery, a brick and mortar building in downtown Newnan Georgia, offering a space for Local Artists to consign their work and a place to teach an array of classes. I’ve been open 13 years and will begin 14 years in April.
I work more now because of the 24/7 business owner, but it’s so much more gratifying than a 8-5 job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cornerartsgallery.net
- Instagram: cornerartsgallery
- Facebook: cornerartsgallery
- Other: google
