Art Junkie hoping to assist with Australia bushfire relief

A local art studio in Newton by the name of Art Junkie makes sure to encourage creativity in its students but to also encourage making yourself a part of something bigger than you are and this time around they are supporting the Australia bushfire relief efforts.

Art Junkie is owned by Sommer Kibbee and she has been helping people be creative for the past seven years. While the studio has moved around since its inception the purpose behind it has always remained the same.

“Our studio motto is to use your creativity to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Kibbee said.

Throughout the years, Kibbee and Art Junkie have supported many purposes around Iowa and abroad whether that be through selling art for Jasper County Conservation or paintings for animals in Africa but it is also a place for everyone to truly be creative. Art Junkie has open houses where 20 percent of the proceeds goes to selected charities throughout the year.

“We get the best work out of the kids when they are doing it for a purpose,” Kibbee said.

It is no secret that Art Junkie does a lot of charitable work for organizations in and around Iowa including fundraising for the Blank Park Zoo. How they came to the conclusion of supporting Australia was unique all in its own.

“One of the parents brought to my attention that one of our students has relatives living in Australia and with all this charity we do we should do something for Australia,” Kibbee said.

The idea came down to letting students craft valentines art that in turn will be sold anywhere from $5-$20, but people can pay more if they would like, and the proceeds will go directly to supporting the Australian bushfires by donating the proceeds to Australia’s 2020 Bushfire Relief Campaigns.

“It raises awareness with the kids too ... If animals are involved they are in. They are out to save anything,” Kibbee said.

Parents of children also had nothing but good things to say about not only this project but the many charitable events Art Junkie does. Keri Van Zante said her daughter Mia has been a student there for years and appreciates what Kibbee instills in the students.

“I am really appreciative of Sommer always giving kids the opportunity, like she always says, to be a part of something bigger than what they are,” Van Zante said.

The hopes for Kibbee is that there is at least 35-40 of these little art projects for people to purchase. They will be available for purchase until they are all gone. This project allows for kids to help those in need thousands miles away and instills a sense of being apart of something larger.

“I think there is no greater gift in my life than to be able to influence these Art Junkies every single week ... If my students leave here never knowing how to paint, not remembering one technique I taught them. If they remember to have an open heart and an open mind that’s all I wish for,” Kibbee said.

If you would like to purchase on of these Valentines art you can go online to the where they will be listed with numbers corresponding to the art. You can also check the Art Junkie Facebook page for more information.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com