Stress free art comes to Lakewood Ranch

Each time Angela Devine opens the kiln at A&S Painting Studio, she holds her breath.

“It’s like Christmas morning,” Devine said of looking at the pottery inside. “You can’t tell how it’s going to look when you paint it. I love the transformation — that’s the fun of it.”

With the help of Store Manager Kim Williams, Devine in December opened the new pottery, wood and canvas painting studio at 4124 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. It is in the same plaza as Skyline Chili.

Devine said that she’s always enjoyed painting pottery, but what she loves more is providing a place where people can come to free their minds from the stresses of daily life and simply have fun. Painting pottery, wood or canvas provides that outlet.

“You don’t have to be an artist to be here,” Devine said. “It’s about picking out colors. Everything is step by step. It’s people’s zen, their outlet.”

A&S offers pottery, canvas and wood painting. Guests choose their base piece, select the colors and begin.

There are workshops and parties, but guests can simply walk in to start creating their masterpieces. Pottery can take up to one week to get back because it must be fired in the kiln, but everything else goes home the same day.

Pottery prices start at $12, and canvas art starts at $10. Wood starts at $28 and goes up depending on the size and shape of the base chosen by the customer, but there are smaller wooden shapes available starting at only $5.

Devine was born and raised in New York and moved nine years ago to Florida with her family — husband Scott and daughters

Alexandra, 14, and Samantha, 11. They’ve lived in Lakewood Ranch for six years.

Devine spent more than 20 years in the medical sales industry and worked even while undergoing treatment for breast cancer seven years ago in Tampa. Last summer, pain under her armpit confirmed what she feared: Her breast cancer was back. She underwent radiation in September 2018 and traveled after treatments to visit her customers. She decided it was time for a change.

“I felt like I hadn’t had an opportunity to live life like a true survivor should,” she said.

Devine and her best friend, Bernadette Blauvelt, had talked about opening a paint studio together before. Blauvelt already owned one, called B Creative, in Tampa.

And the more Devine thought about it, the more she wanted to do it. With the support of her husband, she began planning the future A&S Painting Studio, named for their daughters.

Devine said opening a business has been exhausting but fun, and she has loved every minute.