Park Avenue Studio Opens in Port Townsend, Bringing Art Supplies to Local Artists (at Last)

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Mike and Suzie Croy have opened Park Avenue Studio, an art supply shop in Port Townsend. Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz   [/caption]

Art news by Diane Urbani de la Paz

In this space, the writing is on the wall:

THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR ART NOW MORE THAN EVER.

Below those words — painted by the owners of the place — are tubes of color, panels, palettes, scratchboard and linocut supplies, canvases and brushes. Suddenly, there’s a full-on art supply store again in Port Townsend.

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A painted message adorns the wall of the Park Avenue Studio art supply store. Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz   [/caption]

“We’re both artists, and we got tired of waiting for deliveries,” said Mike Croy, co-owner with his wife, Suzie Croy, of Park Avenue Studio, the newly opened shop behind Goodwill. At 800 W. Park Ave., Suite 3.

The store keeps odd hours, much like many of the artists it’s designed to serve. Park Avenue Studio is open noon to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays as well as by appointment. If this were a restaurant, the art supply store would be the front of the house and the Croys’ large studio space would be the back, where they make things.

“Most of the time we’re in the back, working,” said Mike, “so if anybody needs anything,” they can make an appointment at https://parkavenuestudio.com. Updates are also on the shop’s Instagram page.

Suzie is primarily a fiber artist who upcycles clothing, reincarnating it as visual art.

“I’ve been obsessed with art since I was a kid: every craft, every medium. I just want to learn,” she said.

Mike paints skateboards and murals, designs T-shirts and hats, and creates compact, abstract paintings of ocean surf. They’re available in the art supply shop alongside the materials he uses.

Oh, and Mike built all of this, Suzie said, holding out her hands to the store.

The Croys, both 43 and together 19 years now, met in the Orlando, Fla., area. They realized they both loathed the heat there. When the couple found Port Townsend, it felt exactly right, with its coolness and, well, its coolness when it comes to the number of artists here.

“We’re really focusing on the local community,” said Mike, adding that Park Avenue Studio is not about e-commerce and selling goods on its website. In a way that’s ironic, since Suzie and Mike are remote workers in the information technology field.

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Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz  [/caption]

At the store, “there has been a surprising amount of foot traffic,” Mike said. People out walking their dogs discover the place, as do visitors to the nearby Aurora Loop Gallery.

“We want to be open for the Art Walks,” on the first Saturday evening of each month, Mike said.

“We want to build a community with the people here,” rather than chasing online sellers, added Suzie. She describes herself as the analytical one — “I work in data a lot” — while allowing herself to be excited, “really excited” about this venture.

When Mike was asked whether he felt any trepidation about the current climate for new small businesses, he smiled.

“I’ve always taken the approach of if something scares me, I kind of lean into it,” he said. After a period of time looking for the right place to locate, this spot became available, so they leaned, and leapt.

Coexistence is key. Park Avenue Studio is not here to step on other businesses, Mike emphasized. If a customer wants Montana brand spray paints, for example, and Mike knows Henery Hardware has them, he’ll refer them to that store. For people seeking a particular brand of watercolors that he knows are sold at Art Toolkit, he’ll send them to that shop in downtown Port Townsend.

“It’s about building that community,” Mike said.

Park Avenue Studio is recognizable by the painted deer in the window, beside the store hours and the words “or by appointment.” Those appointments don’t necessarily have to be far in advance, since Suzie and Mike are on site for much of the week.

“If you have an art emergency,” quipped Suzie,  “just let us know.”