A new art education facility is set to bring comprehensive art training to young students in western Henrico County. Artist Alley, founded by local artist Eunice Li, will open next month at 1316 Gaskins Road in the Gayton Crossing shopping center, offering structured art classes for children and teenagers aged 7 through 18.

Li, who originally comes from Hong Kong, has been immersed in the art world since childhood. She began training with watercolors as a toddler in an academic studio designed for young artists. After relocating to the United States during her teenage years, Li transitioned to working with oil paints, and her passion for art continued to flourish throughout her artistic journey.

Before establishing her own studio, Li spent five years working as an art instructor at the Center for Creative Arts in Glen Allen. She then began teaching art classes from her home but eventually realized she needed a larger space to accommodate her growing student base. This led her to select the 1,200-square-foot location in Gayton Crossing for her new venture.

The new facility has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate different age groups and teaching methods. The storefront will feature an office area and a comfortable sitting space, along with a larger studio that can be divided into two separate classroom spaces using a curtain system. Li explained that younger children will work at tables, while older students will use easels for their projects. The studio will also offer some adult classes in addition to its youth-focused programming.

Originally, Li had planned to open Artist Alley in September, but permitting delays have pushed the opening to October. Renovations are currently ongoing at the location. Li's decision to choose the Gayton Crossing space was based on several factors, including the advantage of being located in a busy shopping center and the benefit of being situated next to KidStrong, a children's gym facility.

Artist Alley will provide instruction across multiple artistic mediums, including acrylics, clay, collages, design, oil painting, printing, and watercolors. The curriculum is structured around four age-based programs: Mini Masters for 7- and 8-year-olds, Young Artists for ages 9-11, Intermediate Techniques for 12-14-year-olds, and Art Portfolio classes for students aged 15-18.

Each program level focuses on age-appropriate skills and techniques. Mini Masters classes introduce students to fundamental concepts such as basic shapes, form, and color theory. Young Artists classes emphasize the development of subject matter understanding, composition skills, and attention to design details. The Intermediate Techniques program concentrates on developing various artistic techniques and skills using different painting mediums. Art Portfolio classes are designed to help students build a comprehensive body of work that can be used for college applications, particularly for students planning to pursue art majors.

Li has structured her programs as semester-long courses that span several months, rather than offering drop-in classes. Students pay a one-time registration fee of $100, followed by monthly tuition for approximately four classes per month. The three younger age groups are charged around $112 per month, while Art Portfolio classes cost $140 per month, according to the Artist Alley website.

The extended program format allows students to build upon their skills progressively and work on projects over multiple sessions rather than completing everything in a single class. Li emphasizes that her classes are technique-based while still providing engaging and unique projects that allow children to explore different artistic styles. "I don't just say, 'this is a painting class,' or 'still life class' or 'cartoon class.' When they sign up for it, they sign up for everything," Li explained. "It's more complicated than just one class's project."

Beyond the structured youth programs, Artist Alley will also offer drop-in adult classes designed for adults of all skill levels who want to paint and relax. All art supplies will be provided for these sessions. Additionally, Li plans to introduce party and group event packages for both children and adults.

The party options will include various creative activities such as creating acrylic paintings on canvas, painting crafts like terracotta vases and picture frames, and hosting wearable art parties where guests can paint tote bags or t-shirts. These offerings are designed to provide unique entertainment options for celebrations and group gatherings.

While Li acknowledges and praises Richmond's existing art scene, including well-known programs like VCUArts, she believes there is a gap in the market for comprehensive art training specifically designed for younger students. "For art-based training for kids – I don't feel like we have it in the market in Richmond. I see more in California or even in Northern Virginia, but I don't really see much in this area. So I'm like, 'Let's do this,'" Li said.

Artist Alley currently employs a team of three instructors, including Li herself. The studio joins other family-oriented businesses in the Gayton Crossing shopping center, including Les Crepes restaurant, Goldfish Swim School, and pet store Dog Krazy. The majority of the shopping center was acquired last year by Continental Realty Corp., a Baltimore-based real estate investment and management company, for $22 million, according to Henrico County records.