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Studio offers creative outlet

Located at 111 Downtown Plaza in Fairmont, Little Bird Creative Space is an art studio owned by Jessica Sovell, who opens the space for art classes, workshops and private art parties.

About a year and half ago, Sovell was exploring an abstract fluid painting process. While it created beautiful results, she also found it to be therapeutic and stress-free. In December 2016, Sovell contacted Ramona Harper, branch manager of Fairmont MRCI, to ask if MRCI clients would like to participate in these art sessions.

Sovell then began leading art sessions for groups of people from MRCI. As the sessions proved to be beneficial, Harper started looking for ways to fund the sessions. MRCI was able to get a grant from the Schmeeckle Foundation. Its clients now come as a group twice per month.

As soon as Sovell saw the positive impact the sessions had, she reached out to REM and did some sessions with individuals from there as well. REM clients pay for their sessions with their own funds.

Dawn Eller initially attended some of these sessions, then asked Sovell if she could come on a regular basis to pursue her passion for art. Dawn now comes to the studio each week in order to work one on one with Sovell.

Dawn has been interested in art for as long as she can remember, though she has been working with Sovell for about six months. Dawn’s favorite thing to paint are sceneries. In addition to painting, Dawn creates sketches and sculptures.

Dawn wants the general public to know that people with disabilities are just average people, but they have difficulties doing things that other people easily do. While Dawn has limited mobility, she is able to paint beautiful, original pieces using patience and passion.

Sovell believes there are many others in the area who would benefit from a community arts program for people with disabilities.

“I am hoping that other like-minded people in our community would join me in figuring out how individual artists with disabilities can cultivate their artistic pursuits in a studio atmosphere,” she said.

Sovell is working with several other adults with disabilities who are not affiliated with MRCI, so their art sessions are not covered by grants.

“These people could benefit from some type of scholarship funds to pay for their artistic pursuits, thus enhancing their quality of life,” Sovell said.

As she points out, several art studios in Ohio, including Passion Works and Soaring Arts Studio, have successful art studios for people with disabilities.

“I would like to duplicate that here in Fairmont,” Sovell said.

Ultimately, she would love to see other talented individuals such as Dawn pursue art as a means of expressing themselves. Sovell reported the sessions have proven to benefit people with disabilities both socially and therapeutically.

Anyone interested in contacting Sovell can do so at jsovell@frontiernet.net, or send a Facebook message by looking her up at Little Bird Creative Space.

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