Although she was inspired by Alaska\u2019s darkness, when Jennifer Jabbour returned home to the Roaring Fork Valley the former English teacher traded in Edgar Allan Poe for painting and kombucha.<\/p>\n
Located in the heart of downtown Glenwood Springs at 823 Grand Ave. Suite 120, Jabbour\u2019s recently opened Create! Art & Essence offers what she describes as effervescent art classes for all ages and abilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to bring creativity into people\u2019s lives and into their daily routines, whether it\u2019s the kids or the adults,\u201d Jabbour said of the colorful inspiration she hopes the new arts business will bring to the Glenwood Springs community.<\/p>\n
For the kids<\/p>\n
For children, Create! Art & Essence offers a variety of classes, including \u201cColor Wheel Kids,\u201d \u201cTi-DE-B\u2019AM Tweens,\u201d \u201cMommy Time, Preschool,\u201d and \u201cKids Canvas Club.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Color Wheel Kids classes on Wednesdays allow home-schooled and early release students the opportunity to create paintings inspired by cultures from various regions spanning the globe.<\/p>\n
Whether their school mascot goes by Titan, Demon, Bear or Ram, at Create! Art & Essence\u2019s TI-DE-B\u2019AM Tweens class on Thursdays, 10- to 14-year-olds socialize with kids from different schools in an art workshop setting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids really love soft pastels because they pop, but at the same time they are forgiving,\u201d Jabbour said of just one of the many art mediums offered to the young artists.<\/p>\n
Also on Thursdays, the Mommy Time, Preschool class provides hands-on arts and crafts projects for younger children, as well. On Friday, and designed for Garfield Re-2 families in particular, the Kids Canvas Club teaches classic painting techniques to students who are out of school that day due to the district four-day school week.<\/p>\n
For the adults<\/p>\n
The numerous kids\u2019 classes, however, do not paint the full picture of what Create! Art & Essence offers. From \u201cDate Night,\u201d to \u201cPaint & \u2019Bucha,\u201d the new Grand Avenue art hub brings couples and friends together over canvases. There\u2019s also Elevated Elixirs Kombucha on Friday and Saturdays, as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really special when people can come together, learn, participate, and create something,\u201d Jabbour said.<\/p>\n
Or Bring the family<\/p>\n
At its core, Create! Art & Essence prevails as a small family business, Jabbour said. Her mother, Linda Jabbour, serves as the studio\u2019s art director.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also helps parents who feel like they don\u2019t do art, but they still want their kids to experience art,\u201d Linda Jabbour said.<\/p>\n
The mother and daughter duo, in particular, share a passion for Sunday\u2019s Fandom On Canvas class, which invites families to illustrate anything from a beloved superhero to their favorite Colorado landscape.<\/p>\n
Create! Art & Essence also provides a creative space for private parties, whether birthday or corporate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing I always write on everything is effervescent art for all ages,\u201d Jennifer Jabbour said of how she visualizes and describes Create! Art & Essence. <\/p>\n
\u201cEffervescent art is my word for everything, but it captures us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Like Pablo Picasso\u2019s famous quote, \u201cArt washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,\u201d Linda Jabbour said she hopes Create! Art & Essence in turn offers a creative world, rid of the ordinary but rather full of life.<\/p>\n
mabennett@postindependent.com<\/p>\n