Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Art Mart & Academy—Making It Easy To Be An Artist in the High Country

Story by Sam Calhoun

“The biggest feedback we get is, ‘Thanks for the help,’” said John Bond, owner of Art Mart and Academy, 188 Boone Heights Drive. “In this day and age, the one-on-one attention is not as prevalent as it once was.”

In addition to Art Mart and Academy carrying “everything you possibly need to create art,” said Bond, Art Mart employees specialize in individual attention to each customer.

“[Customers to Art Mart and Academy] get all the time they need for us to act as a librarian in our store,” said Bond. “And we give the same attention to customers as we do to our [Art Academy] students. It’s great to forge relationships with our customers and students.”

Bond knows firsthand just how important it is to have a friend at an art store. The organization, selection and intense customer service people find at Art Mart and Academy are a direct result of the lack of organization, direction, selection and customer service that Bond encountered as an art student.

An artist from the time he was in third grade, Bond—who grew up in Philadelphia—studied art at Villanova and then at ASU. After graduating from ASU, he headed to Colorado State University to attain a graduate degree in fine art.

“At Colorado State, I realized the need for one-on-one attention,” said Bond.

When he received his first art supply list in college, Bond said, “It was all Greek to me. I had done art all my life and I didn’t even know where to start. It was a daunting experience to walk into an art supply store.”

For that reason, Art Mart and Academy is filled with “the widest breadth of materials” of any art store in the region, according to Bond, and customer service is a primary focus.

“Since I went to school here, I know what materials the students need and I help make it affordable, help make sense of their supply lists,” said Bond, who returned to Boone in 1999 after teaching art in public schools in Pennsylvania. “I picked up the Boone-rang effect and came back.”

Bond bought Art Mart and Academy—a business that is now more than 35 years old—in 2000. Last year, Bond took over the space beside his business and expanded his art studio class offerings. Previously, Bond taught classes in his store, but for many years had hoped to find more space to house the academy part of his business.

“I just love the interaction with the students,” said Bond. “We always find new ways to approach art. I’m encouraged by it; it’s wonderful.”

In addition to his business, Bond’s primary focus these days is on his classes for adults, teenagers and children. Twelve students currently take Bond’s adult class that is held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; six teenagers currently take Bond’s Teen Seminar that is held on Monday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.; and 31 children, from ages 6 to 11, take Bond’s children’s Art 1 class that is held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All three classes are currently accepting new students. Adult classes cost $25 for a two-hour session, Teen Seminar classes cost $80 for a five-week session and Art 1 classes cost $75 for a five-week session. Adults who take Bond’s classes can rent the studio after class ends for $5 per hour. Bond also offers a $10 life drawing class for adults every Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The life drawing classes feature a live model and are free from any instruction.

A Thomas Curruthers quote that hangs above Bond’s desk sums up his approach to classes: “A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”

In all his classes, Bond specializes in individual teaching.

“My biggest thing is that art is individual,” said Bond. “The students choose their own path; I just give directions. I think of myself as the navigator—they’re the one driving. My teaching style is different than a seminar style. I try to give them the knowledge to develop their own techniques. My students turn into their own artists; they are not disciples.”

In Art 1, Bond teaches the children the principles and elements of art every day. Then, he poses a problem about creating an image on a canvas and discusses solutions with the children.

“Then we let them create from there,” said Bond. “We work on real canvases, use real brushes, and we do 3-D too, such as clay and modular sculptures.”

When kids in the Art 1 class mature, they are ready for Bond’s Teen Seminar class that features more advanced forms of art study. In addition, Bond cares enough for his teenage students that he is constantly taking them on tours of art schools and studios and giving them literature on collegiate art programs.

A wide variety of adult professional artists shop his store and take his classes, but many first-time artists also take his classes. His method of teaching works for both. Next week, Bond is taking his adult art class to a local professional artist’s studio to see how it all works and to exchange ideas.

“John gives top-notch service and has the friendliest attitude,” said a Boone-based professional artist who was shopping in the store. “He’s got great customer service and carries great canvases.”

Bond makes many special orders for local artists and helps many ASU art students get set up for classes. He employs three students and admits that it is hard to watch ASU art students graduate every year.

“It’s sad,” said Bond. “You form a relationship with them. When they leave, it’s one less friend in the store, one less person to discuss art with.”

With the store and classes keeping Bond busy, you may wonder if he ever gets a chance to focus on his own art.

“[I give my art] as much time as I want to give it,” said Bond. “As long as I’m not lazy, I get to it quite a bit.”

Bond is currently working on what he calls “remembered landscapes,” or “abstract landscapes that evoke memories for me and are somewhat timeless.” Bond’s work has been displayed at the Jones House Community Center, the Nth° Gallery and Studios and in his own studio. At the moment, no exhibit of Bond’s work is on the horizon, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not working or planning to leave.

“If I could do this for the rest of my life, I’d be happy,” said Bond.

Art Mart & Academy is located at 188 Boone Heights Drive in Boone. The store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. While ASU is in session, the store is also open from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 828-264-3135.