By Aimee Woodley
Who doesn’t love a good paint night? Wine, friends, bright colors… did I mention wine?
Glenys Mee, the owner of Starry Night Art Studio, had a love for art at an early age. She vividly remembers attending an art camp when she was eight. After working hard on a specific oil painting, Glenys still felt it wasn’t her best work. Despite all that, her parents still have that oil painting on their living room wall. Glenys enjoyed learning about art, as well. It turns out I’m not the only person who enjoyed watching Bob Ross. Thinking back to that oil painting masterpiece in her parents’ living room, Glenys appreciated his lessons about “happy accidents,” applying his teachings to everyday life as well. His positive outlook on life reminds her that things can be fixed and that nature isn’t perfect.
After coming to Alaska in 1987, Glenys covered all ends of the art arena. She taught art classes at the Alaska Fine Arts Academy for three years. While there, she also painted sets for their theatre classes and helped out with numerous camps. Eventually, Glenys moved on to teaching art classes. She started at Palette in Anchorage and eventually formed Starry Night Art Studio.
While Glenys loves working with restaurants to offer paint and sip classes around Anchorage, there is only so much you can do in a restaurant. Two and a half years ago, Glenys started up the merchandise side of Starry Night, but she needed more physical space for her screen-printed products like t-shirts and tote bags.
Just recently, Starry Night Art Studio merged with Palette.
At her new space in the Turnagain Arts Building in Spenard, Glenys can now easily display and sell her paintings, conduct art classes, and has the space she needs to create her screen-printed products.
Glenys’s business is ever-growing and multi-faceted. Having lived in Eagle River for thirty-two years, she is currently seeking out new and exciting spaces in Eagle River to hold even more paint and sip nights. All kinds of groups are welcome! Home school groups, Girl Scouts and other scouting programs can work on their art badges or other creative projects. Corporate groups can have team bonding time, and she’s even worked with hockey teams! Glenys offers fundraisers for these types of groups and so many more. After all, we all need a night out to let our creativity run wild!
Author’s note: Apologies to our August Spotlight, Rachel Alexander. She earned her massage certification in 2008, and worked as a therapist at the Hotel Captain Cook until 2017. It was at that point she decided to open her own business here in Eagle River. She has been working with the wonderful crew at Vibe Salon & Day Spa for the last two and a half years and loving it!
