Local Love: Eye Candy Art Studio

Our next Local Love Feature is Eye Candy Studio in Downtown Duluth at 3127 Main Street, owned by Ashley Towers. Eye Candy Art Studio is your go to for all things art classes. They offer a wide variety of classes for birthday parties, bridal parties, art camps, canvas classes and corporate parties. There are events for adults and kids, and they even offer Homeschool Art Classes. Check out their event calendar for more details and schedules on what they have coming up!

Explore Gwinnett continues to make an effort to promote local minority-owned, LGBTQ and woman-owned businesses. To support this initiative we are writing blogs focusing on owners and telling their stories. Click here to read more Local Love stories.  

Ashley opened the studio in 2009 looking for a career that felt fulfilling. As a single mom she felt that if she was spending time away from the two most important people in her life, she wanted to be doing something that brought joy to herself and others. Owning her own business gave her the flexibility to include her kids in the studio and be apart of the joy it brings to people. 

Ashley's biggest struggle was balancing being a mom first and a successful business owner and leader second. Before anything her kids comes first, but she realized her livelihood that provided for her family was dependent upon her business doing well. 

She always tells her children that you have to have drive and a desire to be happy, then all of your efforts will fall into place and direct where you belong in life. Chasing your dreams takes hard work and sacrifice. Just make sure you're not sacrificing your reasons for doing what you do. 

The best part for Ashley is getting to meet so many amazing people, she has made the best friends through her customers and employees. Eye Candy Art Studio has been the first job for many people and she has had the joy of watching them blossom in the environment her studio offers. The hardest part for her is not being able to mentally step away from the studio at times. Thankfully, she has great staff in place who can take care of the studio when she is away. 

Her goals for the studio have always been the same, to provide a memorable place for friends and family to gather and have a great time together while also providing an encouraging and fulfilling place for her team to come each day. 

Be sure to visit Eye Candy Art Studio next time you are in the area! Do you know of any other minority or women-owned businesses? Comment below, we would love to feature them.