K.A. Artist Shop owner Kristen McCarthy stands behind the cash register of the K.A. Artist shop, located at 127N. Jackson St. in Downtown Athens, on Sept. 3. Before founding the store in 2014, McCarthy worked as the Front-of-House Manager at DePalma’s Italian Cafe downtown location, a position that helped build her multitasking skills and prepared her for her current role. “(As a front-of-house-manager), I helped out in all the different positions, making sure everything ran smoothly, which was a perfect job to lead into being a business owner because you have to wear so many different hats,” McCarthy said. “As a waitress-turned-manager, I’m very used to seeing what needs to be done and hopping on it.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
K.A. Artist Shop owner Kristen McCarthy shares her experience founding and owning a creative business in Downtown Athens for over 10 years.
Beat Editor Izzy Hammock: Could you tell me about the origins of K.A. Artist Shop?
K.A. Artist Shop owner Kristen McCarthy: (Before I founded the store in 2014), I was running an Etsy shop. Specifically, I was working with a lot of brides who were getting married and wanted different styles of invitations, (so) I was sewing paper and making invitations, but primarily people would send me their shoes and I would select lace and layer it on the shoe. I was doing that for a couple years and it was going well, and I was looking for a studio space so I could expand the business a little bit more and have a place to keep all my stuff. I didn’t envision anything other than just a little shoebox studio space where I would work, but I found this space on the second floor (of 127 N. Jackson St. in) Downtown (Athens), and it wasn’t all that much more expensive than the single-room places elsewhere. I called the number on the sign on the door and I came up here and just absolutely fell in love with the space. That was the moment my business plan immediately changed. I realized there was so much more room (and that) I could rent out spaces and have other artists work here. I could bring up my photo equipment, because I’d been taking all my own photographs at home, and start taking photographs for other artists (as well). I could show my paintings, but even more so, I could show other people’s paintings, and have a little gallery space. I also figured, “I’m gonna have a lot of art supplies. It’d be a shame to not be open to the public if I’m downtown.” (I’d) never set out to be an art supply store owner, but I fell in love with the space and it happened. Now, I’m so glad I did. I really feel like I found my calling.
IH: What was the time frame between you discovering the space and then opening the store in November of 2014?
KM: It was six months, and I’m glad we had (that time. Firstly,) because opening the store was a surprise to me, so it’s not like I had this fully fleshed-out business plan already decided. It really took a lot of thinking (over) what the space could hold, what would be best where, and just figuring it out as we went. Also, there was a lot of work to be done on the interior of the space. We had to strengthen some of the floors and (we did) a lot of beautification. The walls and the floors were kind of gross, so we prettied them up (and) hung a lot of lights. It was (also) very dark so we had to do some electrical work.
IH: You wrote on Sept. 28, 2024, in the 10th Anniversary post on your website, that once you got the space it became a community effort to run the shop. Who helped you?
KM: Before I started the shop, my job was managing the front of house at (DePalma’s Italian Cafe), just one block away (from K.A. Artist Shop). Several of my friends (and) employees from DePalma’s came over to the artist shop with me and helped me in the (general) planning process, the setup process and the early days of running the shop, and I credit them with so many of the great ideas that live on to this day. Then, when it was time to open the doors in November of 2014, I hung a sign on our door saying, “Hiring: Looking for studio assistants,” and I hired several (University of Georgia) art students to come and help talk about the art supplies and run the registry.
An infographic shows the services and resources available at K.A. Artist Shop, located at 127 N. Jackson St. in Downtown Athens. K.A. Artist Shop owner Kristen McCarthy founded the store in 2014 and has provided services in the Athens community since. “I’ve taken away (from my job) that the services are integral to running the (K.A. Artist Shop). I don’t think we would have made it just selling art supplies,” McCarthy said. “You really have to diversify and make the space a place that people want to be.” Graphic by Izzy Hammock
IH: How has that community continued to help you through the years?
KM: The community was a huge part of how the shop has turned out. This was a dream I never knew I had. I didn’t plan for it, so I did a lot of listening and asking people what they needed. A lot of the products we sell are because people specifically asked for them, and a lot of the services and classes we offer (are) the same. I didn’t even think of doing art classes until a customer (asked about it). Then things just evolved. When I felt like we had gotten our classes down, it was time to add summer camps. Now that we’ve gotten teen summer camps down, it’s time to add adult art camps. I’m just always listening to what people want and (trying) to provide it. The struggle is always not to go too far outside the realm, but if it’s under the visual art umbrella, I try to say yes and listen to my customers. There’s (also) always people who have been helpful around the shop in different ways. People who have come to camp and (helped the shop) feel like family, as cheesy as that is.
IH: Is there anything you would change about how you made and have run the shop?
KM: If I had to do it all again, I could certainly do it a lot more efficiently. I’ve made many, many, many mistakes along the way that I’ve had to live (from) and learn about, so I would love to have that time over. I didn’t go to business school, (and) I didn’t come into this (lifestyle) with a plan, so a lot of things have been a learning process. I try to say yes to everyone, but as an art supply store, we get a lot of odd requests, so it’s always learning and figuring out things that will help people. Specifically, I do a lot of printing for artists, so I had to learn the ins and outs of fine art, archival printing, photography and digital design along the way. I (also) struggle a lot with brand identity because, as an artist, I have so many colors, fonts and other graphic elements that I love. It’s hard to narrow them down. Simplifying is a challenge. Over the past 10 or 11 years of being open, (I’ve) slowly (honed) in on a cohesive brand identity, but I’m not even there yet, so that’s a fun challenge that keeps me occupied when I’m not doing anything more important.
IH: Out of all of these services that you provide, can you explain to me which one is your favorite and why?
KM: I love them all for different reasons. (I like) classes and camps for the people and (the) learning in general. I’m a lifelong learner, so I really enjoy both taking and teaching classes. Having people in the (shop) is so enriching, so I probably put (classes) on my top slot because of the people. Printing, I (also) absolutely love to do. There was a big learning curve at first. I had to figure out a lot of things, but now that I’ve figured them all out, it’s something that I can do and do well easily, which is rare as a business owner. Like, when somebody asks me to do graphic design projects, I have to start with a blank slate and build from scratch. (However), when a print job comes in, I’m like, “Oh, I know what to do,” and I do it and it’s wonderful. I really enjoy the process of printing (and how) I’ve got (it) on lock.
Kristen McCarthy hangs a tube of paint on a shelf at the K.A. Artist Shop, located at 127 N. Jackson St. in Downtown Athens. McCarthy founded the K.A. Artist Shop in 2014, and expanded the space in 2020. “As the store grew and we brought in more products, things were getting crowded with the services happening in the same rooms as the retail. There were times when I was taking photographs of people’s artwork (in the same room) people were shopping for canvases. We just outgrew the space,” McCarthy said. “When the section (above 279 E. Broad St.) opened up in 2020, I decided to jump on it.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
IH: What’s something about running the shop that you don’t enjoy doing?
KM: One thing that’s hard about being a business owner is constantly making decisions, and sometimes I get decision fatigue. I have thought (about how) it would be easier if I just went down and got a job at ‘XYZ’ employer and went in, did my job and (didn’t) think about my job when I got home. Whereas, with running my own business, it’s on my mind 24/7. At any time of any day, you could ask me, “What do you need to do?” and I could name for you 100 to 500 things. That can be hard, but I’m the personality type who wouldn’t have it any other way. I like to keep busy, I like to jump around from different skill sets and I like to always be learning. Having a lot on my plate works for me, but sometimes I just want someone to tell me what to do.
IH: How do you stay motivated to continue providing these goods and services for the Athens community?
KM: I’m lucky that I have found my calling. If I wanted to maximize revenue, I would not run an art supply store. It’s not the kind of thing to go into if you’re in it for the money. Clearly, it’s not just about a paycheck for me. It really feels like my life’s work, and making sure that Athens always has a creative hub so that artists of all (kinds) can get help motivates me a lot more than I realize. I get up every day and do as much as I can to build the artist shop into a bigger and better place. I just want to keep the vibrant community going, (and) with all of the changes in the world it’s a lot harder for creatives to keep going sometimes, so I want to be a place that helps in any way I can.
At any time of any day, you could ask me, “What do you need to do?” and I could name for you 100 to 500 things. That can be hard, but I’m the personality type who wouldn’t have it any other way.
IH: What do you envision as the future of K.A. Artist Shop?
KM: A lot of people ask me if I want to have more stores, and I’ve thought about it, but right now the answer is no. I am invested in the Athens community, and I really want this space to be as good as it can be. Those are my goals: To keep growing, not necessarily in size or locations, but in efficiency, so we can do more with the resources we already have. Some of my more concrete plans for the upcoming year (include) bringing on a bunch of new artists in our online gallery (which should happen) thanks to Christina Littleton, my shop manager, who has curated the art show that’s up currently; the third annual (Together We Dazzle Gallery Show, which) benefits folks with (Ehlers-Danos Syndrome). After that show comes down in October, I will be curating and hanging a show of prints that I have printed for folks over the past 10 years. It’s going to be a retrospective of artwork we’ve printed in-house, and I’m going to pick all my favorites and hang them on the walls so that people can buy local art for holiday gifts. I’m excited about that, (also), adult art (camps).
